Welcome!!

WELCOME TO THE WEB SITE OF THE STAMFORD BRIDGE GROUP OF PARISHES IN THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND (ANGLICAN)

The group is made up of two Church of England parishes.
Stamford Bridge with Catton and Scoreby
Scrayingham with Leppington.
We are part of the South Wold Deanery, in the Diocese of York.

Stamford Bridge, at a crossing point on the River Derwent, is best known for the battle on the 25th September 1066 between King Harold and his brother, Tostig, Earl of Northumbria. Tostig asked for and received assistance from the Norwegian king Hardrada and his Viking army.

After winning the battle, Harold marched his army to Hastings where he tried to fight off the invasion of William of Normandy also known as "the Conqueror." Harold both lost the battle and his life thus allowing William to be crowned King of England. Had the results of both battles been other than what they were, the history of England might well have been very different. Had Hardrada won the battle of Stamford Bridge he certainly would have dominated the north. William of Normandy would have landed unopposed at Hastings and would have controlled of the south. The north of England could have become part of a Norwegian empire and the south could have become a province of France and the country of England might never have been. Yet the battle of Hastings, which the people of England lost, is remembered far more than the battle of Stamford Bridge which they won. Thus is the way of things!

Although there have been many attempts to find exactly where the battle of Stamford Bridge took place there has never been any trace of it found. It is thought that the acidic soil has done its toll in destroying all traces.

Low Catton Church is known for its east window. Designed by William Morris, it is considered one of the finest examples of his work.

Scrayingham Church has in its churchyard the grave of George Hudson, known as the "Railway King," who was one of the leading developers of the railway system in England.