Churches of the British Isles

St Peter's Church Birkby lies immediately south of Birkby Manor, on the south-western corner of Birkby Lane. The original church building was probably twelfth century, but this was replaced in 1776 by the present Georgian construction. The rectangular Gothic building was extensively altered in 1872 by the Victorians, but some surviving original Norman parts were discovered during the work, including part of the shaft of an old Saxon cross built into the west end wall.

The Parish Church of All Saints East Cowton stands on the southern side of the main road, with St Mary's Close behind it and the junction of Raby Lane opposite The church was built in 1909 to replace the old church, since demolished, which stood outside the village, at the cemetery on the North Cowton road. The location is an elevated one at the west end of the village and the building contains an interesting circular Norman font and a fine decorated organ.

The Church of St Mary the Virgin, South Cowton, is located to the south of the village, off the B1263 at Atley Fields, midway between North Cowton and Pepper Arden (and about three hundred metres north by north-west of the castle). It appears to date from the fourteenth century, although elements of the nave and chancel may be older. As it was some distance from the village, and in a bad state of repair, it was made redundant, but it still holds a few services.

Danby Wiske Parish Church is on the eastern side of Mounstrall Lane, at the southern end of the village. The Norman church, which bears no dedication, was first built around 1100. The south door and the lower part of the south wall date from this period. The chancel was rebuilt and a north aisle added to the nave in the fourteenth century, giving the church very much the same plan that it has to day. The tower was added in the sixteenth century and was restored in 2010.

St Wilfrid, Great Langton, is on the eastern side of the lane which heads south from the village, with a footpath leading across the fields to the church. The nave was built about 1140, but only the entrance doorways in the north and south walls survive (the north has been blocked up). Rebuilding was undertaken in the thirteen and fourteenth centuries, and the bell cote was added about 1680. The Good Shepherd Mission Chapel was licensed to serve Great Langton in 1877.

All photos on this page kindly contributed by Colin Hinson.