History of St Mary the Virgin, Great Ouseburn

Great Ouseburn, which is mentioned in the Doomsday Book,1 is situated on the edge of the Vale of York and at the source of Ouse Gill Beck that gives its name to the River Ouse. The church stands on the highest ground in the village and probably dates from the C12th.2 The right of presentation to the church was signed over to the Convent of Eggleston at Cawood on the 23rd May 1348. At the Dissolution the patronage passed to the Crown.3 The most interesting features of the church are the unbutressed tower with round headed slit windows in the lower stages and the Norman tower arch.

The church was not always in a good state of repair. A visitation by Archbishop Sandys in 1578 or 1579 found "the glasse windowes in the chauncell be in decay." Ten years later we learn the whole "Chauncell is in decay."4

The registers began here in 1538, but the oldest are lost . They start about 1658.5

Major work was undertaken twice in the C19th which involved rebuilding many walls but retaining some of the window tracery.3

Work on St Mary the Virgin continues. In the last 10 years we have added a porch, a toilet, moved the organ twice, restored the chapel, now known as the ‘Chapel of the Resurrection’ Further information on recent work can be found below.

The nave and aisles were rebuilt in 1823, retaining the mainly C13th arcades. The chancel arch is C15th.13 A small chapel, was added in the 18834 alterations for the Thompson family of Kirby Hall. They had previously used a high-sided pew that would hold about ten people. The pew had red curtains and the only stove in the church.6 Recent changes to the chapel are detailed later in this history.

Some of the woodwork was replaced in 1823, it had been "noteworthy by virtue of its somewhat rudely carved black benches."7 This is supported by a historian who visited the church on 11th May 1868, "the nave has regular pews which are badly arranged down the centre passage." Another source says the pews were made in 1883, probably by Hodgson-Fowler.13 The pulpit was very tall, "the reading desk and clerk’s desk in regular stages one below the other."6 In 1867 the altar had been semicircular standing on three legs, as at Holy Trinity Church, Little Ouseburn, prompting the suggestion that they had once been a large circular table, but measurements disproved this.5 The communion rail was also in a semicircle. The 1883 restoration was carried out at a cost of £3000, during a year long closure of the church. During this time an evening service was held at Holy Trinity.8

On the eve of St Peter’s Day 1927 noted for its "wonderful eclipse", the three lights of the window behind the organ were reglazed and new chancel curtains fitted. These were dedicated to the memory of the Rev C R Scholfield (Vicar 1869 to 1889) and his wife. The glass illustrates the Sower of Seed, the Faithful Shepherd and the Good Samaritan, which illustrate the work of those whom they honour.9

The tower arch is "unquestionably Norman" and is "plain and unmoulded."5 The windows were Norman slit windows, but the western one has been altered.

The chamber on the north of the tower is probably C14th13.

The font is an interesting "baluster type" of the C17th, the lid is C19th.13

There are several mural monuments.14 One, on the south aisle wall, is to Dr John Crosby who came to Gt Ouseburn in 1829 and was a friend of Branwell Bronte who was tutor to the Robinson children at Thorpe Green Hall. Dr Crosby went to London to consult a physician about his health but, "died before he got back."8 A poem by Edward Greenhow a curate of the parish at this time, records the kindness of the Great Ouseburn people.10

Before you leave the church note the kneelers in the pews and at the communion rail. These were designed and made by parishioners who meet on Thursdays to sew and chat.

In the early C19th it would have been necessary to step up to leave the church. We are told. "This was due to the fact the ground was raised outside by repeated burials"!7

The unbuttressed tower is built of quite large regular stone blocks, unlike at Holy Trinity, with which the tower is often compared. In our case however the two light belfry windows have rectangular mullions and delightful wooden vents. The bells were cast by Edward Seller, at one time Sheriff of York, one in 1738 and the other in 1750.11

The clock was in place and going on the 22nd March 1898. It had been bought by public subscription at a cost of £87.13s to celebrate Queen Victoria`s Jubilee. It was dedicated two months later due to illness in the village.9

In 1905 a flagstaff was erected and the clock needed cleaning! The clock requires rewinding once a week.

In 1916 one of the elm trees which stood between the church and the wall, lost a branch in a storm, as it fell it knocked off two pinnacles, one of them crashing through the roof making a large hole and landing on the paved floor in the nave.9 One of these pinnacle survives in the vicarage garden.

A small portion of a churchyard cross is built into the wall six metres southeast of the gate. This is Medieval and was in this position in 1867.5

The stonework of the south wall is clearly seen for its regularity, but the east window’s tracery seems to have been raised about a metre at some period, most likely 1883.12 The brickwork on the north side is curious.

There are several interesting stones in the churchyard, the oldest are to the south and west of the church.14

An obelisk in railings 40 metres north of the church is to the memory of John Crosby, who is mentioned above.

To bring our history up to date we would like to mention the Church porch. This was designed by our architect, built by local craftsman Mike Rampling and dedicated in 1994.

More recently we have had a toilet with access for the disabled fitted in the former vestry north of the chancel steps.

A kitchenette has been created just off the bell tower. This will probably be locked but if not please make yourself a cup of tea or coffee. The bell tower itself is now the vestry, the old vestry as mentioned above has been converted to toilet facilities.

Our rather old organ has been replaced by a more modern and versatile instrument. The organ was previously in the side chapel. The organ pipes were moved to their present position and the new organ console sited to the left of the communion rail in 1999. This position proved to be unsuitable and in 2000 the console was moved again to its present, hopefully final, position.

The removal of the organ has meant that the side chapel could be restored. Though the side chapel had a few pews it had not been used for many years. The side chapel, now the ‘Chapel of the Resurrection’ and the recent changes detailed above were dedicated by the Bishop of Ripon and Leeds, the Rt Revd John Packer on 28 January 2001.

In July 2001 an audio system and discrete security system were installed; and finally in April 2003 to round off the recent work new carpeting was laid throughout the church.

We are very proud of The Church of St Mary the Virgin in Great Ouseburn, and would be very pleased if you would like to come and visit. Everyone is welcome at all our Services.

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