Driffield Wolds visit to two of the Sykes Churches

On Saturday 25th May, members and friends had the opportunity of a guided tour of two Sykes churches near Sledmere.

We met at St Mary's, West Lutton to join our guide Dr Louise Hampson, a research fellow at the University of York with a strong background in heritage and Christianity.

We were treated to an in-depth account of the complete rebuilding of St Mary's to the design of G.E. Street with an unlimited budget provided by the first Sir Tatton Sykes! Sumptuously decorated inside, the stone-vaulted chancel had a magnificent painted reredos by Burlison & Grylls who were also responsible for the stained glass windows. Outside, there was a variety of mullioned windows which blended to great effect and there was a very pretty wooden bell-tower in the Home Counties style.

The majority of the group retired to the Blue Bell at Weaverthorpe for an excellent lunch and then met again at St. Andrew's, Kirby Grindalythe.

This was restored to G.E. Street's design by the second Sir Tatton Sykes on a more restricted budget so a lot of the original structure remained from the 12th Century. The chancel was reconstructed and a new nave built with stained glass by Clayton & Bell and H.V. Milner.

The west wall was taken up by an astonishing depiction of the Ascension in a glass mosaic thought to be designed by Antonio Salviati from the Venice & Murano Glass Company. It is of international significance and unusual to be found in a small, rural church.