Blink and you will miss Great Givendale. Set in the depths of the Yorkshire Wolds and on an unclassified road between Pocklington and the A166, this is well off the tourist beat.
The tiny church is set below the road in a lovely setting with trees behind and overlooking a small valley with a large pond.
This is a Norman church with a small bell cote at the west end, with a single buttress with two long windows on either side. At the east end is a tiny cross. It was rebuilt in the C19th using the original masonry by the Singleton family who lived in the Manor House. Their graves are in the churchyard.
Inside is a the original Norman chancel arch with two rows of chevron carvings and beautifully carved capitals above the round pillars.
There are simple wooden pews and stone slab floor. Above is a King pin wooden roof. There is no electricity in the church and it is lit by coronas with candles hanging from the roof.
The carved wood pulpit is C19th and has fancy ogee arch panels.
At the back of the nave is a large C19th font standing on sturdy legs and with carved quatrefoils with flower insets round the bowl. Above is a huge wooden crocketted pinnacled cover.
The altar with a carved wood reredos behind with small flower motifs is under the C19th stained glass east window. The choir stalls have carved poppy heads poppyheads. On the south wall is a trefoliate sedilia and piscina.
This is a lovely church in a delightful setting. The seats outside are a sun trap and a good place for a picnic.
The church is unlocked. There is some parking at the junction of road to village. Ignore the driveway and use the footpath to the south of it by the church noticeboard. Steps lead down to a well made footpath to church. There are steps down into church. Watch out for the steps round the font at the back of the church which are a trip hazard for the unwary.
There are more pictures “here.”:http://wasleys.org.uk/eleanor/churches/england/yorkshire/east_riding/east_two/givendale/index.html
