St Mary's Church, Roecliffe

St Mary's Church is a stone building in Roecliffe built in the 1840s with Romanesque Revival design elements. Its interior layout includes a three-bay nave, a shallow chancel, a north-east vestry, and a bellcote with a pitched roof housing a single bell.

The church was built in 1843 as a private chapel for Andrew Lawson of Aldborough Manor, using stone from a Roman quarry. Strengthening buttresses were added to it in the 1870s, indicating structural modifications made decades after its original construction.

The church holds wooden furnishings moved from other places of worship, including a 17th-century pulpit originally from Holy Trinity Church Hull and a 15th-century door salvaged from York Minster. These pieces reflect how religious communities once shared and repurposed items between their buildings.

The building opens for visitors on Saturdays and Sundays from mid-morning to late afternoon. Weekday visits can be arranged by contacting local keyholders in Roecliffe village, so plan ahead if you wish to visit during the week.

The entrance features five black-and-white marble steps that once belonged to York Minster, creating a striking visual effect as they lead to a rounded archway supported by columns. These recycled architectural elements from one of England's great cathedrals add unexpected elegance to this small village church.

Location: Roecliffe

Inception: 1843

Architects: Richard Hey Sharp

Architectural style: Romanesque Revival architecture

Website: http://visitchurches.org.uk/Ourchurches/Completelistofchurches/St-Marys-Church-Roecliffe-North-Yorkshire

GPS coordinates: 54.08850,-1.42770

Latest update: December 14, 2025 18:45