Wetwang is a long linear village on the A166 and the main attraction seems to be fish and chips from the shop eaten by the village pond. We were heading for the church in the centre of the village.
The church dates from the C12th with the tower, north chapel and porch being added later. It is on the tourist beat as this was one of the churches restored by Sir Tatton Sykes of Sledmere House and his son in the C19th at the cost of £1500.
From the outside it is a typical small church with a battlemented square tower at the west end with a long low nave, chancel, north aisle and chapel.
Entry is through north door which has remains of carvings on capitals. The inside is very dark, especially on a dull day. The light switches are behind the north door.
One of the main reasons for visiting is the big round Norman font inside door, with its arcade of arches round the tub. The other reason is for the C19th stained glass by Burlison and Grylls, with images of saints which was part of the Sykes restoration.
The arcade between the nave and the north aisle is a mix of round Norman pillars, one still with carved capitals, and octagonal pillars with pointed arches above. The nave has a tie beam wooden ceiling supported on stone corbels. The chancel has a slightly more ornate barrel ceiling. There are simple wooden pews in the nave, those in the choir are slightly more elaborate with carved poppyheads.
The simple altar reached up steps is set under the east window with large blue banners with the monogram of the Virgin Mary and lilies. On the south wall is a sedilia, piscina and aumbry cupboard
Across the north chapel is a modern wood screen. This was originally the village school. Now it has a painted statue of the Virgin and Child, a simple stone altar with stone credence shelf to the right with crucifix above.
This is an attractive parish church but apart from the Norman font, C19th glass and the Sykes connection, there is little else to attract the tourists.
The church is open daily from March-December and is set back off the min street. There is a ramp up through the lych gate and level entry into the church. There are parking spaces by the Black Swan otherwise there is some parking to the rear of the church in Church Lane.
There are more pictures “here.”:http://wasleys.org.uk/eleanor/churches/england/yorkshire/east_riding/east_three/wetwang/index.html
