The church was rebuilt on a site near Skelton Castle in 1785 by John Hall-Stevenson. It replaced an older church on the same site that had been built by the Fauconberg family in the 14th century. Part of the fabric of the older church was incorporated into this church; this consists of part of the north wall of the chancel, supported by a buttress. This, on its interior, includes memorials to the Trotter family of the castle.[3] In 1859 a font in Caen stone was given to the church.[4] In 1884 a new church, also dedicated to All Saints, was opened in High Street. The font and one of the bells were moved to the new church.[5] The roofs of the church were repaired and re-slated in 1911.[6] The old church was vested in the Trust on 1 December 1996.[7]
Architecture
Exterior
The church is constructed in sandstone. It has Lakelandslate roofs, with a stone ridge and copings to the gables. Its plan consists of a three-baynave with a north transept and north-west vestry, a chancel, and a west tower.[1] The nave measures 61 feet 6 inches (18.75 m) by 25 feet 6 inches (7.77 m), the chancel 26 feet 9 inches (8.15 m) by 18 feet 6 inches (5.64 m), the transept 16 feet (4.88 m) by 9 feet 6 inches (2.90 m), and the interior of the tower is 9 feet (2.74 m) square.[6] The tower has three stages; in the bottom stage is a round-headed south doorway, in the middle stage is a west window with a pointed head, and in the top stage are round-headed bell openings. The summit has a battlementedparapet. In the north and west walls of the church are square windows, and in the south wall is a sundial. The transept has round-headed sash windows, and at the east end is a Venetian window. In the chancel is a round-headed priest's door and another round-headed window.[1]
Interior
The interior of the church is plastered. There is a panelled west gallery carried on four thin fluted wooden columns containing raked seating. There is a three-decker pulpit with a tester, and panelled box pews. The transept was used as a family pew and contains box pews and a fireplace. On the north wall of the chancel are memorials dating from the 17th and 18th centuries. Also on the chancel walls and arch are painted boards containing the Ten Commandments and biblical texts. Elsewhere in the church are three medieval stone coffins and a carved coffin lid.[1]
^1773–1785, Skelton-in-Cleveland in History, retrieved 12 September 2010
^1857–1865, Skelton-in-Cleveland in History, retrieved 12 September 2010
^1883–1885, Skelton-in-Cleveland in History, retrieved 12 September 2010
^ abPage, William, ed. (1923), "Parishes: Skelton", A History of the County of York North Riding, Victoria County History, vol. 2, University of London & History of Parliament Trust, pp. 405–410, retrieved 13 September 2010
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