St Wilfrid’s is the splendid brick building next to “Dean Court Hotel.”:http://www.silvertraveladvisor.com/blog/boutique-country-house-spa-and-luxury-hotels/dean-court-hotel-york It is a splendid C19th Gothic Revival building, copying C13/14th architecture. When completed at a cost of £10,000, it was considered to be one of the most perfectly finished Catholic Churches in England, rich in sculpture and paintings and stained glass. The tower with its pyramid top can be seen from much of York. The carved tympanum above the west door is some of the best carving in York.
The inside is equally as splendid with massive pillars with carved capitals and pointed arches. The clear glass windows of the clerestory flood the church with light, while the brightly coloured stained glass windows in the south aisle provide welcome colour.
The Baptistry with the font is at the back of the south aisle and there are statues on the north wall.
The apse at the east end has stone arcading round the walls with pictures showing the life of Christ from the Annunciation, Nativity, Crucifixion , Rising from the Dead and Ascension to Heaven.
The high altar is made of white stone with coloured marble insets and columns. There is a huge silver gilt host box. At the base is a carved scene of the body of Christ in the tomb with the four Marys, Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus.
The church isn’t on the tourist route. There is little information about the church on the web or inside the church. It is open daily from 8-6, although there may be people sitting inside the church for private prayer. It is very different to the other medieval churches in York. The post code is YO1 7ED and the grid reference is SE601521.
There are more pictures “here.”:http://wasleys.org.uk/eleanor/churches/england/yorkshire/north_yorkshire/york/york_2/st_wilfrid/index.html
