STAMFORD BRIDGE GROUP OF THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND
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The Church
All pictures are copyright Chris Chapman
The main part of church, built between 1150 and 1250, is a fine old English church , approached by a small lane beside which are four iron lamp standards commemorating Victoria's Diamond Jubilee.
Set in a situation almost hidden behind tall trees, on a high bank to the River Derwent, the various influences present an unusual external appearance with the sturdy embattled tower at the west end of the southern aisle and the rall lane beside which are four cast iron lamp standards commemorating Queen Victoria's Jubilee.
The pitch of the chancel is much higher than that of the nave |
The Original Building
 | | The original building was Norman (with cruciform), of which little now remains, the north transept, the nave and aisles, all reflect interesting detailing of the period, the waterleaf capital of the east window, the respond of the south arch, the arch itself with two chambers. |
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The Exterior
The exterior of the chancel is expressive but the outside conflicts with the earlier building. A round arch near the pulpit possibly belongs to an earlier period and some authorities believe that there is evidence of Saxon foundations. |
The North Arcade
This is mainly 13thy century and each of the three piers differ in their design. The first is round, the second is quatrefoil and the thirds square with attached demi shafts. The arches are pointed and double chambered. The south door is of the same period, or later. The south archade, again a little later, the three bays giving way to the south western tower with its perpendicular top. |
The North Precept
This and the aisle again are late 13th century and early 14th century. The south aisle has perpendicular windows |
Restoration
 | | The church was restored by George E. Street in 1866 (Street was an enthusiastic restorer of old churches) The very fine east window, the central panel of which depicts the crucifixion, is a fine example of William Morris' work. Morris originated a revival in architectural techniques and attempted to re-introduce the dying craft of English stained glass, bringing it to a peak not enjoyed for over 300 years. The window is considered to be one of the finest examples of his work in the north. |
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The Belfry and Tower
 | | This is part of the old building. The belfry contains three splendid bells: (1) 1681, Samuel Smith, Elder of York; (2) 1719, (3) 1742 both by E. Seller of York. Only two of the bells are included in the picture. |
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The Hole in the Wall
This is found in the south wall of the choir, behind the Rector's desk. It has given occasion for much speculation. It is probable that the reason for it is to give some light at the desk which otherwise would be in deep shadow but also could be considered to be a Hagioscope |
The Children's Window
 | | Most of the windows in the church are memorials of parishioners and benefactors and in the transept on the north side of the church there is a small window which has been much admired. When the church was restored in 1908, a small splayed window was found to have been built up on the west wall of the transept. The Sunday School children undertook the raising of funds to reglaze it and it is now known as "the Children's Window." More recently the Sunday School placed beneath it a brass tablet to record the fact. The centre of the west window was damaged in 1941 by a land-mine and restoration was fully completed in 1958. Additional photos of the windows are in the "pictures" section. |
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The Registers
These go back to 1592 and prior to 1868 there are entries in them of residents of Catton, Stamford Bridge and Scoreby and also of Kexby which was once part of this parish. In the registers, High Catton is sometimes called "Upper Catton" and Low Catton is distinguished as "Nether Catton" for which one of the curators in charge used interchangeable to form "Xch Catton." |
Rectors
There is a list of rectors in the Church which goes back to 1248 (Richard Dey Vill). Tho. De Percy, Rector from 1352 - 1356 became Bishop of Norwich according to this list. According to certain Cornish authorities the Hon. Fitzroy Stanhope, Rector form 1814 -1859 fought in the Peninsular War and lost a leg at Buryan, Cornwall, which he appears to have held in plurality with Catton and Wressel in Yorkshire. |
Parish Name Change
The parish was called Catton with Stamford Bridge and Scoreby. Until the late 1920's worshippers from Scoreby, situated on the north side of the River Derwent, were rowed across the river to attend services at All Saints'. Since 1978 the parish is now known as Stamford Bridge with Catton and Scoreby, when St John the Baptist Church Stamford Bridge became the Parish Church. |
Brass Tablet
 | There is a small brass tablet on the north wall of the church, about which a message was received in July 1955. "When the late Archdeacon Palmer was Rector of Burton Agnes with Harpham an oak reading desk was given to him and placed in Harpham Church. The desk is not a new one nor is it of any great age. A short time ago I noticed that there was a brass memorial plate attached to the side of the desk next to the wall. It appears that the reading desk and brass plate came from the church of Catton. The brass has been returned to the church." (The Rev. C. V. Collin's note)
The transcription of the brass plate is: "Heare lyeth Thomas Tryll who died the iv day of July a.d. 1591 in begyning of xxiii years of his age not married. Sonn of Anthony Tryll, gentleman, and Barbara his wife, who for their love towards him heare to be buried. And this to be wrytt in memorial of him." |
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The Percies Presented to Catton Rectory in 1268
This and the advowson (the right of presentation to the benefice) descended with the manor until the 17th century. It was said in 1577 to belong to William Stanley, Lord Monteagle, and the Crown presented, presumably by lapse, in 1578 and 1592. There were unexplained presentations in 1678 by Sir William Pierrepont and Sir Orlando Gee and in 1685 by Gee alone. By an exchange of 1693 -3 the advowson passed from the Duke of Somerset to the Crown, which presented in 1739 and 1755. The Earls of Egremont later laid claim to the advowson by virtue of a settlement of 1687 whereby it was passed on to the heirs of Elizabeth, Duchess of Somerset. They successfully disputed the Crown's right of presentation in 1786 - 7 and 1814. Thereafter the advowson descended with the manor and in 1972 belonged to Lord Leconfield's trustees. The church was worth £40 in 1291, £21.12s.8d. net in 1535 and £116.16s.8d net in 1650. The average net value was £410 in 1829 - 31 and the income was £500 in 1884 and £390 in 1915. Tithes provided £21 of the gross income in 1535, £8 coming from Kexby and Scoreby. There were several disputes over their payment in the 16th and 17th centuries. In 1650 moduses of over £10 were paid in lieu of tithes in the townships and in 1716 moduses totalled over £15, comprising over £4 from Kexby, about £2.10s. from Scoreby, £1.10s. from Burton Fields, nearly £2 from Scoreby Grange, over £1 from Stamford Bridge mills, nearly £2 from Full Sutton. At the inclosure of Catton in 1766 the rector received allotments of 270 acres. for his glebe and tithes, but most of the moduses remained payable. The moduses from Scoreby and Scoreby Grange were apportioned as rent - charges in 1841 and those for Catton, Kexby and the mills in 1843. |
The Most Recent Rectory as it is Today
 | This was said in 1539 to have been let to the countess of Northumberland. It stood close to the church in 1616 and was recorded among the property of the Rectory from 1663 onwards.
During the Rector's non-residence, the Curate lived in the "Parsonage" in 1743. The house was described as ruinous but about to be rebuilt in 1818. it was presumably the present Glebe Farm of which part of the south front and staircase remain from a substantial house of c.1700 which has been curtailed on the north and completely remodelled in the earlier 19th century. In 1746 the Curate lived in the "Hall House" and inclosure in 1766 the Rector was awarded the Hall House by exchange, as well as a house that was presumably the old Rectory. The Hall House stood in the angle of the village street and Church Lane, in Hall Garth and was formerly the court house of the manor. It was described as the Rectory in 1851. It was sold in 1957 and replaced by a new Rectory near the church in Stamford Bridge. |
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