Church Heritage Record 643047

Aisleless nave with chancel. Vestry and baptistery behind screens at the west end.

[Approximate] Nave 13m (43ft) x 5m (16½ft), chancel 8½m (28ft) x 1½m (5ft).

St John’s, though much restored, was built originally with a 4-bay nave with south aisle and chancel c.1240. The north doorway is probably of around this date. Alterations were made to the building in the 15th Century when the chancel was rebuilt, the nave was shortened by half a bay and the south aisle was removed.

Although it is recorded in the York Diocese fabric records that alterations were made in 1803, the main phase of restoration is understood to have taken place between 1878 and 1891. The roofs, pews and screens date to this time. The architects are cited in the list description as either Hodgson Fowler or Temple Moore, whilst G G Scott junior has also been considered [Menzies 2005].

The archaeological interest of the surrounding area is high. The village and former manor were mentioned in the Domesday survey. The possible remains of a Roman road are situated to the north-east of Buttercrambe, whilst the site of a Norman castle is to the south-east of the church - two earthworks representing part of the bailey remain. Construction of the fine red brick Georgian house at Aldby Park and the landscaping of its parkland (both are registered Grade II*) in the 18th Century saw parts of the village destroyed and earthworks are evident within the parkland. The park is said to have been the site of King Edwin’s castle in the 7th Century.

The site of St John’s has considerable archaeological potential. The earliest recorded burial at the church is said to have been that of Johanna Bulmer in 1404. There are no designations relating to the ecology of the plot.

The simple elevations of the small church and its slate roof can be glimpsed between trees and cottages along the Main Street through Buttercrambe. A stone bellcote over the chancel arch contains two bells and culminates in a short spirelet and a weathervane which gives the building some emphasis.

The chancel is at a slight angle to the nave and is smaller. Crested ridge tiles extend along the roofline. A stone cross finial surmounts the east gable. The stone nave and chancel walls are pierced with two-light windows. The east window is of three lights. They are all in the perpendicular style and though restored probably date to the 15th Century. Additional ogee headed single lights are situated within the north and south chancel walls. The nave has two-tier angle buttresses and the chancel, which has a plinth, has buttresses between the bays and at the angles too. That on the south side between the nave and chancel extends above the wall plate.

Evidence of earlier building phases can be identified within the fabric of the church. The piers and arches of the lost 13th Century arcade, as well as a blocked door, are evident within the south wall. The faint outline of a foliated cross can also be made out upon careful inspection in the spandrel between the westernmost arches of the south arcade.

There is a round headed north chancel door with a shallow step up into the chancel, but the main entrance to the interior is through the west door. This is situated beneath a square-headed opening with carved stone shields above. To either side inside carved wood partitions create a baptistery in the south-west corner and a vestry in the north-west corner.

The main body of the church is three steps lower. Light enters through stained glass windows designed by Kempe and clear glass windows with a coloured border. In the south wall the circular piers and moulded capitals that remain of the former arcade can be seen again. The space is roofed by a boarded wagon roof in stained redwood with arched trusses resting on stone corbels (repeated in the chancel). This dates to the 19th Century restoration of the church. An ornate wood carved cornice decorated in vines and shields sits at the height of the wall-plate. The nave is paved in stone flags with carpet in the aisles and partially raised wood block pew platforms. Oak pews, with carpet runners, seat the nave. They are of a simple, but not common, style and were probably designed by the architect c.1890.

The chancel is two steps higher than the nave and is set at a slight angle. A carved oak chancel screen with open tracery panels crosses at a low level within the restored 13th-century double-chamfered, pointed stone chancel arch. In the chancel tiered oak choir stalls (likely also to have been designed by the architect) sit to north and south sides. 18th-century and early 19th-century ledger stones are set within the chancel floor. The sanctuary which is predominantly paved in ledger stones is raised by a further two steps. There is a piscina in the south wall.