Skelton cum Newby – Christ the Consoler

This church, in the country estate of Newby Hall, North Yorkshire, was built in 1871-6, as a commemoration to Frederick Vyner, who was kidnapped and murdered by brigands in Greece, during a rescue attempt by Greek troops.  An unused ransom was used to build this church (another church was commissioned on a nearby estate at Studley Royal).  The church was built by William Burges.

Outside

Gargoyles

Plaques

Fixed around the outside walls are a number of stone wall plaques bearing various coats of arms (armorial). I’ve picked the detail out of a couple.

 Sculptures

There are some small sculptures above the entrance to the porch and the west end window.

West window

West window

West window

Above the south porch

Doors

There is a small door in the south side of the chancel – it’s middle opening but the frame narrow enough for a single door.

The main door, the south porch, has some elaborate ironwork.

 Inside

I don’t usually visit ‘new’ churches, concentrating of those with medieval roots instead, so my visit here was quite eye opening.  Relatively dark, because of the stained glass, the seemed to be almost a sense of scaffolding round the walls because of the many decorative columns.  It seemed a shame that in the building they chose to use a dark grey for some of the columns, unfortunately these gave me the impression of waste pipes – my modern sensibilities I have no doubt.  I don’t thin there was any wall area that wasn’t decorated in some way – pillars and arches everywhere.

Decoration Above Chancel Arch Nave Side

Organ

The balcony for the organist

Organ with marble pulpit to the left

Detail under organ balcony

Figure under the arrangement of decorative organ pipes – one each side.

Choir Stall Ends

Stained Glass

As I mentioned elsewhere in my blog, this particular church is decorated with stained glass in every window, including the clerestory – I can’t remember visiting a church with quite so much.  Many of the windows take clauses from various parts of the bible.

And Jesus took the loaves And when he had given thanks he distributed.

The ‘rose’ window at the west of the nave

Window detail

Window detail

Window detail

Font Cover

The church is looked after by the Churches Conservation Trust.

 

—-Stephen—