Normanby-by-Spital is an attractive small village of stone built houses close to Ermine Street. The area has been occupied since Roman times and there were several Roman villas here. The village was mentioned in the Domesday book and the church has some Norman work.
The church is surrounded by a graveyard in the centre of the village. The church is no longer used and is looked after by the Churches Conservation trust and is always open.
It is a plain building with massive square tower with battlements and tall corner pinnacles. There is a short nave with a clerestory, chancel and side aisles.
Entry is through a small doorway on the south wall. At the back of the church is a Norman arch into the base of the tower. Above it are 18thC wooden boards with the Lord’s Prayer, creed and a Benediction board.
12thC round pillars and round arches with carved capitals separate nave and north aisle. The south aisle is later and has pointed arches. The chancel arch is also pointed and has small carved bases.
Walls are whitewashed and there is a wooden ceiling. The floor is covered with red and black tiles. At the back is a 12thC stone font on a 19thC base. Furniture and fixings are 19thC and include the remains of an old cast iron stove. There is a small organ at the end of the south aisle and simple altar at the end of the north aisle.
The chancel is plain with a few memorials on the walls. The 19thC east window has scenes of the crucifixion and burial of Christ at the bottom. Above are scenes of Easter Day and at the top is the risen Christ in Majesty.
It is a typical small medieval church. There is nothing special to attract visitors, but we liked it.
