The North-East corner of the church taken from the nave, showing two of the pillars and arches of the north aisle. These arches are higher and the pillars are both wider and taller than those in the older south aisle.

The north aisle was added in the 15th century and rebuilt wider in the late 16th century. Four of the windows were re-used in this rebuild.

The West window of the North Aisle.

The first pane shows an angel and 'Faith in God'.
The second is of a small child and 'Innocence. Trust in God'.
The middle shows an angel and 'Charity. Love to all Men'.
The fourth shows a kneeling man and 'Reverence. With Gratitude to God'.
The fifth shows an angel and 'Hope. For the Future'.

The brass below reads: To the glory of God and in loving memory of dear ones gone before. This window was placed in this the Mother Church of Swaledale. By Captain Francis Horner Lyell. Lord of the Manors of Healaugh Old Land. Healaugh New Land and of Muker. AD 1897.

The former North door, possibly used by the monks from Bridlington Priory who resided in part of what is now Blackburn Hall.

The British Legion standards may be seen here.

The former North door is now filled with the war memorial window.

The figures are David, Saint George and Jonathan.

Below the war memorial window are two brass plaques commemorating the fallen of the two World Wars (show below).

On the left is an area for reading and private prayer.

On the right is the broken stoup besides the former North door.
(A stoup was a holder for holy water so people entering the church could cross themselves. Many stoups were destroyed at the time of the Reformation.)

The upper brass reads: 'The above window is erected to the honour and memory of those men of this parish whose names follow and who, loving not their lives unto death fell in the service of their country, in the Great War 1914-1918.'
There follows 19 names, listed here.
'To the living - Gratitude. For the Dead - Remembrance. For Posterity - Imitation.'

The lower brass reads: 'The electric organ blower was installed in grateful memory of the men of this parish who gave their lives in the war 1939-45.'
There follows 8 names, listed here.

The inscription reads: In memory of Thomas Peacock of Marrick who died December IV MDCCLXII aged CII years and Dorothy his wife who died December VI MDCCX aged       years.

Note that the engraver didn't know her age and left a space for it, but it was never completed!

The Barker window. It portrays, presumably, Jesus holding an infant in his arms and surrounded by other figures.

The inscription reads: ' To the Glory of God and in memory of Ancestors buried in this Church this window is given by John Barker AD 1895'

The memorial stone in the floor reads: 'ANN BARKER DAVGHTER TO ADAM ANN ELLEN BARKER DEPARTED THIS LIFE JANUARY THE 17 1692.' (All the 'N's are reversed.)

To protect the wool trade, at that time is was the law that bodies had to be buried in wool. Ann was buried in linen. Adam Barker of Level House, Old Gang was fined £5 by the High Sheriff of Grinton. Half of the fine went to the poor of the parish and the other half to Ralph Elliott who informed on Adam. ‡ep128

This floor monument is very worn and difficult to read. My best effort follows. I have used italics for guesses (they don't make sense) and / to mark new lines.

Here / lies the body / of Mary the Daugh / tor of Thomas Margillel / Birkbeck who departed / this life at Thornton Rust / May 1 1812 agen 6 Years / Short was niv (her?) Stay on Earth. / Long Time must lie niv Rest. / The Lord give me il all / When lie ??? ??? ???

The double-sided Royal Arms of William III & Mary II(1689-1702), dated 1693. This originally hung at the top of the Chancel arch. It was usual for the congregation to be reminded who was king! The other side usually had the Arms of the bishop to remind the priest who was in charge! However, because at the Reformation Bridlington Priory had been taken by the crown, Grinton Church belonged to the king.

In fact, the coat of arms is wrong. When William came to the throne he added the Dutch escutcheon of Nassau, a golden lion on blue, to the centre of the Arms. This is missing. It has been suggested (tongue in cheek) that this was deliberate by a Roman Catholic painter showing his displeasure of the Protestant favouring King William. ‡pm

Click here to see the correct coat of arms. Please use your browser back button to return to this page.

At the East end between the North aisle and the Chancel is this small former vestry or chantry chapel with its arched stone roof.

The candle style light shows the Holy Sacrament is kept here in the aumbrey. This is so the vicar can take the bread & wine to the sick and others unable to attend the Holy Communion.

The church before the Victorian restoration in the late 1890s.

The box pews and their oil lamps may be seen.
The Peacock Monument is in its original position alongside the pulpit where it was hiding the doorway to the former rood screen.
The remaining plaster covering the walls was removed and the exposed stonework re-pointed. There are still very small fragments of the ancient painted plasterwork on the Chancel side of the centre North aisle arches.