Church Heritage Record 646287

The present building dates largely to the medieval period. Sections of the nave are of the 11th century, the chancel was extended in the 13th century, around the same time the west tower was added, and, as with many churches, it underwent a Victorian restoration in the 19th century, which included adding the south porch and the vestry to the north of the chancel. A 9th century Anglo-Danish cross has been reused as a door lintel, hinting at activity on the site beyond the 11th century church building.

Prior to the Dissolution of the Monasteries, the patronage of the church was given to St Mary's Abbey in York. Since 1620, the advowson has been linked with Hauxwell Hall, passed down through the Dalton family, giving the two a historical connection beyond their proximity.

From 1825 until 1865, the church's rector was Reverend Mark James Pattison, who is buried in the churchyard. He was father of Sister Dora, a notable nurse in the mid-19th century, and Mark Pattison who served as Rector of Lincoln College, Oxford. There are a number of other tombs and memorials to notable local figures, such as Mark Milbanke, 2nd Baronet, Henry Thoresby, and several of the Dalton family, such as Charles Dalton, who served as Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod in Parliament from 1727 to 1747.

The church was listed Grade I in 1967.

The approach to St Oswald's is through a set of estate gates for Hauxwell Hall, with the church hidden behind the tree line until a gap reveals the north side of the church, allowing a full view of its embattled parapets, roof lines rising to the four-storey tower.

Circling around the building, the 13th century, early English-style tower dominates, with its offset angled buttresses reaching up three stories to finish just below the trefoil-headed belfry openings around all sides. The 19th century south porch protrudes from the nave, enclosing a 12th century, Norman doorway to the church. The doorway is well decorated, with scallop capitals to the columns either side, a trellis motif in the tympanum with a zigzag pattern above.

The nave gives away its 11th century origins with sandstone rubble construction, with patches of herringbone masonry indicative of that period. Walking along the south side of the church, from nave to chancel, there are five windows of varying design, including a two trefoiled light window with quatrefoil above and a hood mould, and a 19th century priest door, also decorated with a hood mould. The east end features a window of three pointed lights in a chamfered surround, flanked by two offset angle buttresses.

Moving around to the north side, the main feature is the blocked doorway, interesting in its square design, with a lintel from a re-used Anglo-Danish cross-shaft, with characteristic interlacing design, possibly 9th century. Looking up, the eye is caught by the battlements topping the parapets of the tower, nave and vestry, though not the chancel.

The churchyard is extensive and is occasionally known to be grazed by sheep, reflecting its countryside setting. The churchyard remains open for burials.

A more detailed, technical description of the architecture can be found in the Historic England list entry.

Inside St Oswald's, there signs of continued activity throughout the lifespan of the building. Architecturally, medieval arches are found indicating work and expansion of the church across multiple centuries. The tower arch is 12th century, chancel arch is 13th century, and the north chapel has a 14th century arch. Similarly the windows hint at development through the medieval period, with the chancel lancet windows presumed to be late 12th or early 13th century and more recent, Victorian windows found dotted around the church, such as the north side of the nave and the west window of the tower.

Located around the church are numerous monuments, further indicating the importance of the church to the history of the local area, including two gesso effigies of Sir William de Barden, a 13th-14th century knight, and his wife, situated in the tower. There is a 17th century floor slab in the sanctuary commemorating Mark Milbanke, 2nd Baronet and a large monument to William Dalton of Hauxwell Hall, alongside a marble, scrolled pediment containing an urn, dedicated to Sir Marmaduke Dalton, who died in 1711. The Dalton family is well-commemorated within the church, recognising their patronage of the church and the links between St Oswald's and its neighbour, Hauxwell Hall.

The octagonal font is on an 18th century baluster shaft with a 13th century column base. The pulpit is Jacobean wood panels on a modern stone base.