Tuesday, 5 June 2012

Visit to Sand Hutton and Bossall churches

Monday 28 May 2012


Despite the vagaries of last-minute commitments more than a dozen members of the York branch of the CEGV managed to gather north of the historic English town of Stamford Bridge on Monday 28 May 2012.
We were visiting two contrasting churches in the Sand Hutton Group of 10: St Mary’s in Sand Hutton itself and St Botolphs in Bossall. St. Marys was completed in 1847 and built by the Walker family, replacing the former church of St Leonards, the ruins of which were immediately adjacent. The ruins, of St Leonards, are now officially listed, with all the administrative and financial problems that this entails. After a brief tour of the church and the ruins, we celebrated Communion with our Branch Chaplain and our Chairman played the Makin organ installed just 4 years ago.
After lunch at a local pub, we travelled to the tiny village of Bossall, reputed to be the smallest parish in the York Diocese, consisting of just seven buildings, including the church! The village had been decimated by the Black Death and many of the former dwellings were never re-occupied. This cruciform church was completed in 1147 and is set in a stunning location with wonderful views of the Wolds from the churchyard, which is a site of Special Scientific Interest and therefore cannot be cut until July.
The building itself is in good condition after a special fund-raising effort to mark its 850th anniversary last century and there is also an early lych gate by Thomson of Kilburn, manufactured before he had adopted the mouse as his emblem, stained glass by Kempe and a pipe organ by Harrison and Harrison (1906).
The weather was hot and sunny after recent rain, which showed off the countryside to marvellous effect – a good time was had by all. Our thanks to the Churchwardens of both churches for looking after us so well and to the Rev Ivan Howitt for facilitating the visits.