St Oswald's Church Flamborough
St Oswald's Church, Church Street, Sewerby, Flamborough, East Riding of Yorkshire, YO15 1PE
Around 1200, a south aisle was added to the nave and chancel, to be followed fifty years later by a similar extension on the northern side. An Early English arch survived in the west wall of the nave until it was 'restored' in 1897 when the present tower was built. This arch would seem to indicate that a tower of some kind was in existence by 1300 or shortly afterwards. The ordination of a vicarage was made in 1310, although the controlling body remained the Priors and Canons of Bridlington Priory. This influence ceased with the dissolution of the Priory in 1537. When the Archdeacon visited the parish in 1663 he reported witnessing... 'the steeple being down and the church being out of repair.' The parishioners found the cost of repairing the steeple too much for their slim resources and it remained where it had fallen for two hundred years. By 1825 the need for renovation became paramount and a series of alterations and repairs were undertaken. Box pews were installed, and a new gallery was created on the west side. A new wall on the northern side of the churchyard was built in 1846, while a very extensive programme of rebuilding was initiated between 1846 and 1869. Most of the exterior was rebuilt, and the wooden bell turret was replaced by a much larger one in stone, containing three bells. The gallery at the west end of the nave was removed and the rood loft front erected in its place, the rood screen being left, as before, spanning the chancel arch.
St Oswald's Church, Church Street, Sewerby, Flamborough, East Riding of Yorkshire, YO15 1PE
Wheelchair access is possible from Church Lane, once in the Church yard access is good.
A fascinating church which predate the Norman invasion. The Roodscreen is said to have been taken from Bridlington Priory at the dissolution, the woodwork is of a high order and is well worth a detailed inspection. The Font is also of considerable age and is highly decorated on a simple form.