St Gregory's Minster, Kirkdale

St Gregory's Minster is an Anglo-Saxon church with a rare sundial, in Kirkdale near Kirkbymoorside, Vale of Pickering, North Yorkshire, England. It is a Grade I listed building.

St Gregory's Minster
54.26306°N 0.96278°W / 54.26306; -0.96278
LocationKirkdale, North Yorkshire
CountryEngland
DenominationChurch of England
History
DedicationSaint Gregory
Architecture
Heritage designationGrade I listed
StyleAnglo-Saxon
Years builtc. 1060
Administration
ParishKirkdale
DioceseDiocese of York

The minster was built c. 1060 on the site of an earlier church, and is dedicated to St Gregory, who was pope 590–604. Major modifications were completed in the 15th century and in the 1800s. The church was restored during 1907–1909.[1] The building is similar in style and age to that of St Hilda's, Ellerburn.

The church is open during the day; volunteer stewards provide information to visitors; services are offered weekly.[2] The maintenance of the fabric of the building is helped by financial contributions from The Friends of St Gregory's Minster.[3] The Friends Annual General Meeting is followed by the Kirkdale Lecture about the parish and its environs.[4]

Parish status
St Gregory's Minster, Kirkdale

The Parish of Kirkdale is a local ecumenical partnership[5] with

  • Aerial view from the north-west
  • From the west
  • Interior from the west
  • Interior from the east
  • Stained glass
  • Font
  • Organ
  • Weathercock
  • Roof

Sundial
Main article: Kirkdale sundial
The Kirkdale sundial

The sundial above the church door dates to the 11th century (c. 1055 to 1065).[6] The inscription is in Anglo-Saxon and is translated as follows by Historic England: "Orm Gamal's son bought St. Gregory's Minster when it was all broken down and fallen and he let it be made anew from the ground to Christ and St. Gregory, in Edward's days, the king, and in Tosti's days, the Earl. This is day's Sun marker at every tide. And Haworth me wrought and Brand, priests." The name Tosti refers to Tostig Godwinson, the Earl who rebuilt a monastery in Tynemouth Castle and Priory at Tynemouth, during the reign of Edward the Confessor, in about 1065.[7]

References
  1. Historic England. "St Gregory's Minster, Welburn (1149213)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 4 July 2018.
  2. "St Gregory's Minster Kirkdale". Retrieved 14 January 2019. Worship ... (weekly throughout the year)
  3. "Friends of St Gregory's Minster". Kirkdale Churches. Retrieved 14 January 2019.
  4. "Kirkdale Lecture". Kirkdale Churches. Retrieved 14 January 2019.
  5. "Welcome". Kirkdale Churches. Retrieved 14 January 2019.
  6. Kilpatrick, Kelly A. (16 September 2010). "St Gregory's Minster, Kirkdale, North Yorkshire". Project Woruldhord. University of Oxford. Retrieved 4 July 2018.
  7. Gibson, William Sidney (1846–1847). The history of the monastery founded at Tynemouth, in the diocese of Durham, to the honour of God, under the invocation of the Blessed Virgin Mary and S. Oswin, king and martyr, Vol. 1. London. pp. 15–17.
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