St Mary’s, Lastingham

St Cedd, Lastingham church

St Mary’s, Lastingham

Where is it – England, Yorkshire and the Humber

Who looks after it –  Church authorities 

What is it –  Church, Free access 

When is it from – Medieval, Saxon

St Mary’s, Lastingham, is a really unusual church, architecturally, as well as historically significant.  The building has an ancient apsidical crypt (it has an apse), which is said to be unique, and a wonderful vaulted roof. It is early Norman, dating from 1078, but built on or near the site of a 7th century monastery founded by St Cedd, brother of St Chadd. Cedd was from the Lindisfarne Celtic Christian tradition and attended the Synod of Whitby in 664 AD when it was determined that the Roman Christian branch of Christianity should prevail over the Celt. He was buried at Lastingham – according to Bede “to the right of the altar.” The first stone church was built in c725 AD. The current structure, begun by Stephen of Whitby, was never finished – for reasons unknown. Standing to the west in the churchyard, it can be seen that the nave is truncated – it was originally planned to extend this much farther west. There was extensive repair and refurbishment in the 19th century – this is when the vaulted roof was installed. The crypt is extraordinary, like stepping back a thousand years, with massive round columns and side aisles – the only crypt in England to have these features, apparently. It also contains various relics, including the remains of a large, 9th C, cross.

 


Address

North Yorkshire YO62 6TL 

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