Churches in the benefice of Whitby with Ruswarp in Whitby Deanery

Ruswarp St Bartholemew

(N 54.47036, W -0.62966) Post Code: YO21 1NH

Ruswarp was not always the small village it is today. It was an important river crossing point and Whitby Abbey had a large watermill there, and almost certainly a chapelry. In the early nineteenth century large parts of the Whitby of today were included in Ruswarp township, but it did not have its own church until 1869. In that year work started on the present church following an 'Early Decorated' design by Charles Armfield, the York Diocesan Surveyor (also see All Saints' Ugglebarnby). From the outside, its most impressive features are the 120 foot high spire and the 'apsidal' chancel standing like a turret at the east end. Inside, the chancel roof is intricately painted and stained glass windows commemorate local families. The window over the altar, marking the 1877 Jubilee may be by the famous Munich firm Franz Meyer and Co. Most of the woodwork is by the firm of Robert Thompson and his trademark mouse can be found in several places. A unique feature is the rood beam, also by Thompson, which is the First World War memorial. In 1990, redevelopment of the interior created a parish room, kitchen and toilet..

The Deanery Synod Representative is Mrs Lea Marr.
More information may be found at:
http://www.acny.org.uk/19383

Whitby St Hilda

(N 54.48886, W -0.62045) Post Code: YO21 3EX

The arrival of the steam railway brought large numbers of new visitors to Whitby and the West Cliff was developed — largely by the railway company — to encourage and cater for this. By 1884 it was felt that the existing corrugated iron roofed church should be replaced by a building more in keeping with the new prosperity. Also, the Rector at the time, Revd Canon George Austen, believed that, by rights, there should be a Diocese of Whitby with its own cathedral. Today's magnificent Grade II* listed church is the result of these aspirations. It was designed in the fashionable neo-Gothic style by R. J. Johnson of Newcastle. Notable interior features are the fine woodwork: including the painted and gilded reredos and chancel roof above; and the particularly elaborate bishop's chair. A wooden framed painted war memorial depicts the crucifixion watched by service personnel. Except for two modern windows by H.W.Harvey (1959) the beautiful stained glass is by C. E. Kempe (also see St John the Evangelist, Whitby and St John the Evangelist, Sleights).

The Deanery Synod Representative for Whitby is Mrs Anne Mitchell.
More information may be found at:
http://www.acny.org.uk/19388

Whitby St John

(N 54.48546, W -0.61673) Post Code: YO21 1BN

St John's was built in the middle of the nineteenth century in a position where the Georgian elegance of Bagdale merged into the commercial bustle of Baxtergate. The site is a hundred yards from the railway station and the building reflects the prosperity, growth and optimism which had followed the arrival of the railway fourteen years earlier. It was designed by J B and W Atkinson of York and receives today's Grade II listing as a particularly fine example of revived early English style. It was modified between 1904 and 1910 by Hicks and Charlewood of Newcastle. Notable features are the side aisles with their moulded arches and the original wooden pews. Behind the altar is a stone reredos with a beautiful mosaic depicting the Last Supper, and behind that a splendidly painted wall and high mandala-shaped window depicting 'The King of Heaven Enthroned in Majesty'. There is other fine stained glass by C. E. Kempe (also see St Hilda, Whitby and St John the Evangelist, Sleights).

The Deanery Synod Representative for Whitby is Mrs Anne Mitchell.
More information may be found at:
http://www.acny.org.uk/19389

Whitby St Mary the Virgin

(N 54.48892, W-0.60982) Post Code: YO22 4DR

Whitby is famous as the location of the Synod between Celtic and Roman Christians at which the formula for the date of Easter was agreed in 664. However, the abbey of St Hilda at which this occurred was completely destroyed by Vikings in the ninth century, and it was not until after the Conquest that Normans established a new monastery on the cliff top. This development included the construction, between 1110 and 1140 of a church which was and is St Mary's. Originally it was a long narrow church with a steep roof and without tower or transepts, which were added later in the twelfth century and early in the next. The church was almost complete by the time work began on the present ruined abbey (which was not completed until two centuries later). The church continued to be modified over the centuries: the pitch of the roof was lowered in 1614 and many modifications were made in the Georgian era, most obvious of which, externally, are the changes to the windows. Internally, the period brought profound changes which left the church, as expressed in its Grade I listing as: remarkable as being an unaltered example of a large town church retaining intact its fittings of pre-Cl9 date i.e. galleries of from 1695 to 1818, box pews and a 3-decker pulpit of 1778 altered in 1847. Six of the ring of eight bells are Georgian (1762, Lester and Pack, London). The stained glass windows in the chancel are by C. E. Kempe (also see Whitby St Hilda, Whitby St John, and St John the Evangelist, Sleights).

The Deanery Synod Representative for Whitby is Mrs Anne Mitchell.
More information may be found at:
http://www.acny.org.uk/19387

The Benefice of Whitby with Ruswarp

Ruswarp St Bartholemew

Whitby St Hilda

Whitby St John

Whitby St Mary the Virgin