ST ANDREW'S CHURCH, NEWTON KYME

Serving the community of Newton Kyme

Meet St Andrew's

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There is no mention of a church in Domesday although in Longborough Field is evidence of a Roman military site and there was possibly the original village.

We do not know who founded the church nor the date, but it is likely to have been provided by the Lord of the Manor for his tenants and workers. The tithes from the land owned by the church paid for the Rector, and the Lord of the Manor was his Patron throughout history until recent times when the Archbishop of York assumed the patronage.

The Kymes came originally from Kyme in the Kesteven area of Lincolnshire and the patronage came through their family until they died out. (Ruins in the grounds of the Hall are the remains of their castle.) The Tailboys then inherited the manor until 1602 when it was sold to Sir Thomas Fairfax of Steeton who died in 1615. For 275 years it remained in the Fairfax estate.

The income to Lord Fairfax in 1650 was £50.

As with St Mary’s at Tadcaster, the pension of St Andrew’s (i.e. income from the tithes) was paid to Sawley Abbey and there were 44 acres of glebe (church) land.

The Church Building

The nave and western chancel are pre-conquest in style but built in the 12th century together with the lower part of the tower. On the outside of the south chancel there is a blocked up semicircular slit indicating this early style.

The entrance would have been semicircular but was altered later.The north aisle is the earlier widening of the nave and the windows are Y-tracery which indicate that period.

In the chancel on the south wall is a piscina and sedilia dated 1220 and a blocked up priest’s doorway.

The Fairfax chapel to the north of the chancel is (thought to be!) 1290 but the window and the east window of the chancel are later.

The belfry stage of the tower and windows of the nave and chancel are 15th century. The high window to the south of the chancel arch is evidence that there was a rood loft i.e. a large wooden cross upon a beam.

In 1883 the seating was replaced and a gallery removed, a new floor built and the organ placed in its present position with a stone tower screen to accommodate a vestry. The roof was exposed and the whitewashed plastering to the walls removed. The 13th century lancet windows were reopened.

The 12th century font was moved to its present position in 1894.

There are three bells dated 1768 which were recast and hung in 1938.

There WAS a brass eagle lectern and an oak sanctuary chair but these were stolen only a few years ago.

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