Church of St Lawrence, Kirby Sigston

The Church of St Lawrence lies on a ridge of land just to the south of the village of Kirby Sigston, near to the remains of Sigston Castle.{{sfn|Page|1968|p=405}} It is by a lake and close to the 19th century rectory.{{cite book |last1=Pevsner |first1=Nikolaus |title=The buildings of England; Yorkshire, the North Riding |date=2002|orig-date=1966 |publisher=Yale University Press |location=London |isbn=0-300-09665-8 |page=211}} The main body of the church dates back to {{circa|1190}},{{cite news |last1=Lloyd |first1=Chris |title=Hitting the headlines: looking back |work=Darlington & Stockton Times |issue=2024–31 |date=2 August 2024 |page=28|issn=2516-5348}} and this oldest section of the church consisted of just a chancel and a nave, but in 1200, the north aisle was added and the chancel was extended out eastwards.{{sfn|Page|1968|p=408}} The tower is of Norman origin, but was largely rebuilt during the 18th century.{{cite journal |last1=Kennet |first1=David |title=Brick and its Uses by the Church of England: The Archdeaconry of Cleveland, Yorkshire, 1541-1836 |journal=Information |date=April 2019 |issue=141 |page=27 |publisher=British Brick Society |issn=0960-7870}} The chancel shows evidence of having an arcade of two bays, possibly from the 14th century, and the capitals have dragons carved into them, something which Pevsner states is common for this area of the north of England.{{cite book |last1=Pevsner |first1=Nikolaus |author-link=Nikolaus Pevsner |title=The buildings of England; Yorkshire, the North Riding |date=2002|orig-date=1966 |publisher=Yale University Press |location=London |isbn=0-300-09665-8 |page=212}} The base of the font dates back to the 13th century being carved from Frosterley Marble, and the bowl dates back to 1662. The stained glass displays various coats of arms, including that of the Colville family. This window used to be in the east window, but is now in a window by the aisle.{{cite journal|last=Brown|first=William|title=Heraldic glass from Ingleby Arncliffe and Kirby Sigston churches|date=1913|volume=22|publisher=Yorkshire Archaeological Society|location=Leeds|journal=Yorkshire Archaeological Journal|issn=0084-4276|page=138}} The church was restored in the 1890s by Temple Moore, and during this time, the south porch was installed.{{NHLE|desc=Church of St Lawrence |num=1150888 |grade=I|access-date=12 February 2025}}{{sfn|Page|1968|p=408}} The church was grade I listed in 1970.

Some archaeological evidence points to the church building being possibly larger than it currently is, and that it was located quite close to a village, some {{convert|0.5|mi}} to the east.{{cite book |last1=Whellan |first1=T |title=History and topography of the City of York, and the North Riding of Yorkshire, volume II |date=1859 |publisher=John Green |location=Beverley |page=334|oclc=931180030}} The name of the village is first recorded in 1088 for Kirby (Kirkja-by(r)), and in 1086 in the Domesday Book for Sigston (Sig(h)estun).{{cite book |last1=Smith |first1=A. H. |title=The Place Names of the North Riding of Yorkshire |date=1979|orig-date=1928|oclc= 19714705|publisher=English Place Name Society|pages=211–212}} Many of the places that have names beginning with Kirkby or Kirby, have documented evidence showing churches in either the eight, ninth, tenth or eleventh centuries. So the name could indicate a church of earlier origin than the current building.{{cite book |last1=Pickles |first1=Thomas |title=Kingship, society, and the church in Anglo-Saxon Yorkshire |date=2018 |publisher=Oxford University Press |location=Oxford |isbn=978-0-19-881877-9 |page=249}} Foundation stones discovered during the renovations of the 1890s are believed to be from an earlier church than the current structure.{{cite news |title=Restoration of Kirby Sigston church |work=The York Herald |issue=12314 |date=21 November 1890 |page=4}}

The church is in the benefice of Kirby Sigston, part of the Deanery of Mowbray and the Archdeaconry of Cleveland, and is in the Diocese of York.{{cite web |title=St Lawrence |url=https://www.achurchnearyou.com/church/19394/more-information/ |website=achurchnearyou.com |access-date=12 February 2025}} In the 14th century, difficulties arose in the provision of advowson of the church; the prior and abbey at Durham laid claim, and with the assistance of Edward III, they installed their preferred priest, John de Halnaby, to the benefice. However, the pope wanted 'his man', Thomas de Carleton, to be the incumbent at Kirby Sigston. de Carleton won out, but thereafter, and until the Dissolution in the 1530s, the advowson remained with Durham.{{sfn|Page|1968|p=409}}

The churchyard contains the grave of Francis Lascelles.{{cite news |last1=Lloyd |first1=Chris |title=A family history steeped in slavery |work=Darlington & Stockton Times |issue=2020–27 |date=3 July 2020 |page=34|issn=2516-5348}}

• Grade I listed buildings in North Yorkshire (district)
• Listed buildings in Kirby Sigston

{{Reflist}}

• {{cite book |editor1-last=Page |editor1-first=William |title=The Victoria History of the Counties of England; Yorkshire, the North Riding Volume 1 |date=1968 |publisher=University of London |location=London |oclc=878120}}

{{commons category|St Lawrence's church, Kirby Sigston}}

• [https://facultyonline.churchofengland.org/CHR/ChurchDetails.aspx?id=15193 Church faculty record]
• [https://www.cofe-northallerton.org.uk/page10.html Church webpage]

{{Deanery of Mowbray churches}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kirby Sigston, St Lawrence}}

Category:Grade I listed churches in North Yorkshire

Category:12th-century church buildings in England

Category:19th-century church buildings in England

Category:Church of England church buildings in North Yorkshire