St Michael's Church, Kirkby Malham

St Michael's Church is a Gothic parish church built with millstone grit walls and covered with lead and slate roofs. Inside, the building features a four-bay nave lit by clerestory windows and flanked by side chapels, with an 11th-century baptismal font still in place.

The church underwent complete reconstruction during the 15th century, when the current stone structure was built to replace earlier buildings. Major restoration work took place from 1879 to 1881, when Lancaster architects reinforced and renewed parts of the building for the Victorian era.

The church is named after the archangel Michael, a common choice for English parish churches. Visitors can see wooden box pews from the 17th and 18th centuries that show how worshippers sat during services in past centuries.

The church is open to visitors during daylight hours, though you should expect variable weather conditions as the building sits in an exposed location. Sturdy shoes are advisable since the path to the church and the surrounding grounds can be uneven.

The church tower holds eight bells, including two historic pieces cast around the turn of the 1600s by a York craftsman that still ring today. These older bells are rare survivors of medieval metalwork that have endured without major replacement or repair.

Location: Kirkby Malham

Inception: 15 century

Architectural style: English Gothic architecture, Gothic Revival

Website: http://kirkbymalhamchurch.org

GPS coordinates: 54.04490,-2.16330

Latest update: December 14, 2025 14:26