St Gregory's, Kirkdale, Coast to Coast
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Side view of St Gregory's Minster
St Gregory's Minster, Kirkdale, Coast to Coast
St Gregory's Minster in Kirkdale is located beside the Hodge Beck and Kirkdale Wood, and is only yards away from the Kirkdale Cave in which the remains of prehistoric animals were discovered. Kirkdale is about 1 mile west of Kirkbymoorside in the North York Moors, and the same distance east of Nawton. It links to the Coast to Coast path via the Rudland Rigg, which is 2 miles to the north.
Identifiying the age of St Gregory's Minster was aided by the existence of the rare sundial in the porch, which dates as 1055 to 1065. The inscription, in Old English, reads: "Orm Gamal's son bought St Gregory's Minster when it was all broken down and fallen and he let it be made anew from the ground to Christ and St Gregory in Edward's days, the king, and in Tosti's days, the Earl. This is day's Sun marker at every tide. And Hawaro me wrought and Brand, priests." The name Tosti refers to Tostig Godwinson who rebuilt the Tynemouth Castle and Priory during the reign of Edward the Confessor, about 1065.
The sundial has been very well preserved, mainly because of its covered position in the porch and because it had a plaster covering over it for several centuries.
St Gregory's Kirkdale
St Gregory's Minster is an Anglo Saxon Minster dating to 1060, and was erected on the site of an earlier church. The Minster was dedicated to St Gregory II who was the pope from 590 to 604. It has a Grade I Listing with Historic England, and it has a rare sundial at the top of the exterior wall of the Nave, in the porch. It was he who initiated the conversion of the Anglo Saxons to Christianity by sending Augustine to King Ethelbert of Kent in 597.
Orm's Sundial
Historic England refers to this sundial as being the finest example of a Saxon sundial in England. The sundial's lines with cross bars refer respectively to 9am, 12 noon, 3pm and 6pm. The lines without a cross bar are 1.5 hour divisions. A line on the left of the sundial has a cross on it. This represents the day's beginning, at 7:30am.
Ancient Grave Slabs
Two ancient grave slabs were found buried into a wall of the prior ruins of the church that this church was built over. The sculpted stone can be dated to early 8th century, probably about 750. One relates to St Cedd and the other to St Ethelwald. Such elaborately decorated coffin stones would be reserved only for persons of high prominence.
St Gregory's View from Rear
The rear view of the Minster exhibits many ancient gravestones and aged yew trees. The exterior work of the restored walls has many surprises including remnants of the older Minster.
Remnant from Older Minster
St Gregory Minster sits upon the site of a more ancient minster. Some of the remains of the older minster have been incorporated into the walls of this 10th century one. The image is a close up of the Minster's rear wall, showing an intricate interwoven carving of the type that could be expected on a cross shaft from an earlier period.
Ancient Cross built into Wall
A close up of the south wall where it adjoins the Tower reveals an Angle Saxon or Viking Cross taken from the wall of the former Minster and incorporated into the current one. It is thought to date to about 750. It Appears as a large horizontal stone in the upper centre of the image where the two walls meet. A closer view will reveal the detail on and below the head of the cross.
Ancient Grave Stone
The churchyard has been in use since the 8th century, and excavations have revealed a number of very old grave stones, two of which are on display in the porch at each side of the church door. A further grave stone, gathering a lot of moss, is laying recumbent in the churchyard.
Nave and Chancel
An ancient grave stone stands at each side of the Minster's south door inside the porch, each bearing a similar cross. The chancel's arch has been re-used fron the earlier minster.
Archer Stone
The ancient Archer Stone takes its name from the gravestone's relief of a bow, or part of a bow, and it is thought that it may have been the gravestone for a medieval huntsman.
Old Gravestone St Gregory's
The churchyard at St Gregory's Minster contains some very old graves, that have designs pertinent to the 18th and 19th centuries. Graveyard talks are frequently held in the churchyard.
Coast to Coast Trail Guide
Hiking the Coast to Coast
"Hiking the Coast to Coast" is a digitally enhanced eBook available from Apple Books for all people who have either a Mac, an iPhone or an iPad, and is designed to accompany you on your walk of the Coast to Coast path. The trail guide contains Ordnance Survey maps and other advanced mapping features, step by step directions, hundreds of colour photographs, details of the route, its conditions in different weather and research snippets relating to places of interest along the way.
