St Mary's Church, Norman church in Lastingham, England
St Mary's Church is a Norman stone church in Lastingham, North Yorkshire, topped by a square bell tower. The walls feature rounded arches and heavy stonework that are characteristic of Norman construction.
St Cedd founded a monastery on this site in 654, making it one of the earliest Christian settlements in northern England. After the Norman Conquest, the monastery was rebuilt in 1078 and the current church was constructed on its foundations.
The crypt of St Mary's is still used for regular worship today, making it one of the few medieval undercrofts in England that remains actively in use. Visitors can enter this space and witness Anglican congregants praying there, much as generations before them have done.
The church is generally open to visitors each day, though access may vary with the season and any services in progress. It is worth checking in advance whether the crypt is accessible at the time of your visit.
Below the main nave lies a complete underground crypt with its own nave, apse, and side aisles, all dating from the Norman period. A full church layout built underground is extremely rare in Britain, setting this building apart from nearly every other Norman church in the country.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
