A Brief History of Our Church

History Of Our Church

Cecily Spall, Senior Archaeologist, FAS Heritage

There has been a church in Wilberfoss since at least the 1150s, when the Church of St John the Baptist was granted to the foundation of a priory. Nothing of this early church survives above ground, but a late 12th-century grave cover probably adorned a burial inside, and now serves as the church threshold stone. Today, the earliest church fabric dates to the late 14th to 15th century when the nave and chancel were built. The nave was used by parishioners and the chancel as a nuns’ quire, the two separated by a timber screen. The chancel south window and part of the old priest’s doorway are the earliest surviving features.

In 1445, the south aisle was endowed and built as a chantry chapel by Robert de Hoton of Newton on Derwent. Both Robert and his wife, Joan, died shortly after and their memorial slab and brass lie in the aisle, where they were probably laid to rest. This Lady Chapel would have been used for private masses led by the parish priest. The ‘piscina’ – stone basin set in the wall – was used to wash the vessels after mass. The church door is also probably of the 1440s.

In 1461, Thomas Nicksone died and left monies in his will for the building of the church tower. Nicksone requested to be buried near Robert de Hoton, and a memorial slab of Egglestone marble now missing its brass, which also lies in the south aisle, probably marked his grave. The tower was built by a team of skilled mason’s, many of whom left their mark on the stones.

Following the suppression of the priory in 1539, the church was given over to the parish, served by a vicar or curate paid from a variety of small landholdings. The interior was stripped of decoration. During the 16th and 17th centuries, several recusants were recorded in the parish, in 1571, Roger Wilberfoss and Edward Harling appear to have kept the timber of the rood loft and stones of the church cross.

The church was repaired during the late 17th century following an assessment which named many individuals who contributed, including several of the Wilberfoss family. The church bells were rehung in 1629 and payments made for recasting in 1753 and 1791; there are three surviving bells from 1667, 1759 and 1790.

In the 18th to 19th centuries the church was painted white inside and had a gallery, perhaps set to the rear of the nave. The chancel interior and roof were heavily restored in the mid-19th century.

History of Priory (Reconstructed plan of priory and cloisters)

No charter of foundation survives for the Benedictine Priory of St Mary the Virgin. A charter issued by Henry II in 1175, confirms that in c.1150, Jordan son of Gilbert, gave the Church of St John the Baptist, it’s chapel at Newton on Derwent and seven bovates of land to found the priory. A much later charter issued by George, Duke of Clarence in 1464, confirms that Alan de Catton, son of Elias, also granted his hall with a croft in Wilberfoss, and all the land he held lying towards the river Derwent to the priory. It is likely that together both grants founded the priory, the church was developed with cloisters and the land formed the estate.

Further gifts of land were made including at Meltonby, given by Robert the son of Ernisius de Melthaneby; at Yapham by Simon Archer and Robert de Neuby and John the son of Ivo; at Youlthorpe by Matilda, daughter of Alan de Catton. The nuns also held a meadow in Cave, land with tofts and crofts in Easthorpe, land in Newton- and Sutton-on-Derwent, and tenements in Seamer near Scarborough. Matilda de Catton, also gave a mill to the priory, which was perhaps located in the field to the north of the church.

The names of some Prioresses and nuns are recorded in documents. During the 1230s, a Christiana was named as Prioress, followed by Letitia in 1240 and Isabella in 1276. Emma de Wallcrimgham was elected Prioress in 1298 and resigned in August 1310. The following election recorded 19 nuns including their roles. Alicia Vghtred was named as ‘sacrista’ or sexton; Isolda Cayvill was the ‘cantrix’ or choir leader; Margareta Chauncy was the ‘celeraria’ responsible for food supplies and preparation and Margareta de Brampton was her deputy.

The priory was dissolved on the 20th August 1539. A detailed survey from that year describes the priory, allowing the plan to be reconstructed. The nun’s quire was fitted with 16 stalls and a gilt altar. The north wall of the nave was originally built ‘blind’ – without windows – forming the south side of the cloisters. A chapterhouse, dormitories, kitchen, brewhouse, hall, chambers and stores are among the buildings listed. The buildings were timber, taken down soon after, leaving little trace of the nunnery.

The Churchyard and Burial Ground

It is quite true to state that all churchyards attached to ancient churches are a wonderful repository of the history of the area. Those who in the past were able to erect a memorial of their loved ones have left a footprint, a little bit of history, and a memory of the people who have gone before us.

That churchyards are history is only one facet of their value to the community; because of their nature, churchyards are able to protect and to nurture a huge variety of plants, of flowers, and an equally good home for animals and insects. We try and encourage wildlife at Wilberfoss by leaving a fairly large part of our land free to grow with a minimum of management. Most of the rest is closely mown, yet even those areas have free-growing grass and flora growing close to the memorial stones.

The churchyard is bounded on the South by a fine row of horse Chestnut trees, and other smaller trees are present. All this provides shelter and cover for a variety of insects, invertebrates, small rodents, together with the larger residents which feed off them. The finest collection of wildflowers are within the far Eastern boundary with among others; Knapweed, Ladies bedstraw, vetches, and clovers. During the springtime, we have a wonderful show of wild daffodils; quite near to the roadside, on the Southside of the church.