From the general resemblance to the church at Oswaldkirk it is possible that the nave of All Saints & St James, Nunnington dates from the latter part of the 12th century, but the earliest details at present existing are of late 13th-century date. The tower appears to have been rebuilt in 1672. The whole church was restored and refitted in 1884, when the present vestry and organ chamber were erected in place of a dilapidated vestry added about 1824.
The east window of the chancel is of late 13thcentury date, and consists of two trefoiled lights, with a quatrefoiled circle within a two-centred head. There are now no windows in the north wall of the chancel, but the small lancet now reset in the north wall of the modern organ chamber originally occupied the position of the organ opening formed at the northwest of the chancel. In the south wall are the remains of an original piscina with a projecting bowl beneath a modern shouldered arch. To the west of this is an original window with tracery similar to that of the east window. To the westward of this, again, is a priest's door with shouldered head, the jambs and lintel of which appear to be original. Next to this is a small lancet with shouldered rear arch, also of original date. The chancel arch, which is also original, is of two chamfered orders. The inner order is stopped upon semi-octagonal corbels, and the chamfer of the outer orders is continued down the responds and stopped about 4 ft. from the floor level.
The north wall of the nave is lighted by three late 13th-century windows of two trefoiled lights with uncusped spandrels within two-centred heads. The north doorway at the western end of this wall is of the same date and has a two-centred head with a label and head stops externally, and a segmental rear arch. Externally a string-course runs beneath the sills of the windows, broken by the label of the north doorway. The string-course is not returned round the angles of the wall, but is cut off flush with the east and west walls. The tower arch is modern and of two chamfered orders. The south wall is lighted by three two-light windows of similar date and character to those of the north wall. The south doorway is also of the same date and has a two-centred head. The present porch was rebuilt in 1884 and replaces a 17th-century porch. A string-course similar to that on the north wall runs beneath the sills of the windows. The tower is in two stages with an embattled parapet and modern crocketed pinnacles. The west window of the ground stage, which was originally square-headed, is of two lights with tracery of 15th-century character and has a modern two-centred head. The bell-chamber is lighted by two-light windows in each face. The roofs are modern and with the exception of that of the tower, which is leaded, are covered with slates.
In the south wall of the nave, within a recess with a multifoiled moulded ogee arch, flanked by gabled pilasters of one offset, is the effigy of a knight of the late 13th or early 14th century wearing a hauberk of mail, with camail, surcoat and knee-cops and holding his heart in his hands. A sword hangs by a belt; most of his shield has been broken away, but from what remains it appears to have borne the arms of Teye, lord of Stonegrave: (or) a fesse between two cheverons (gules) with three molets pierced (or) on the fesse. The feet rest upon a lion; the lion upon which the pillow supporting the head rested has nearly disappeared, one foot alone remaining. Another animal, portions of which remain, perhaps held the bottom of the shield in his teeth. On the north wall of the chancel is an elaborate marble mural tablet to Richard Viscount Preston and Lord Graham of Eske, who died at Nunnington in 1695. On the south wall of the nave is a mural tablet of marble to William Lord Widdrington, son-in-law of the preceding, who died in 1743. This monument was removed from the chancel in 1884. The pulpit is Jacobean.
In the tower there are three bells: the first, by Samuel Smith of York, inscribed 'Venite Exultemus Domino 1675'; the second, 'Soli Deo Gloria 1638' (no maker's mark); the tenor, also by Samuel Smith of York, 'Gloria in excelsis Deo 1675.'
The registers begin in 1539.
The majority of above text has been taken and add to from the British History Online webpage for the Parish of Nunnington
Now to find the cache. Close to the stated coordinates you will find a gate leading towards the church porch and to the left of the gate a large blue coloured board
The Reader's telephone number is 01439 7A8B19
Andrew John Thompson was born on 2C.6.1956 and died on 7.8.1999
Proceed through the gate, under the ornate lamp toward the church porch then turn right and head eastwards along the path to the grave of Rita & George Jackson at waypoint 2 N54 12.195 W000 58.783
Rita died aged D4, George died on 4.E.1994
The cache can be found at N54 12.(E-C)A(D-A) W000 58.(A+B)(E-D-B)(C)
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For full information on how you can expand the Church Micro series by sadexploration please read the Place your own Church Micro page before you contact him at churchmicro@gmail.com.
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