Kirby Grindalythe, St Andrew's Church

Kirby Grindalythe, St Andrew's Church

The first church at Kirby Grindalythe was built in the Saxon period and the current building retains bits of that early church and the subsequent Norman church. Most of St Andrew's is distinctly Victorian, however, the result of a lavish rebuilding by GE Street for Sir Tatton Sykes II beginning in 1872.

Street rebuilt the Norman chancel and created a new nave in 15th-century style, separating it from the chancel with a beautiful cast iron screen.

In the north chapel is the single medieval furnishing, a table tomb set within a niche. Rather optimistically referred to as the Founder's Tomb, we do not actually know who it was built for.

Detail of the 1893 mosaic

The main reason to visit this delightful Victorian church is the superb mosaic which takes up the entire west wall from floor to ceiling. The mosaic was created in 1893 in the style of a richly coloured mural.

The colours are exquisite, and the effect when the sun shines through the stained glass windows and lights the mosaic is quite special. One final Victorian touch is an ornate reredos in the chancel, the work of Redfern.