The church of ST. OSWALD (fn. 72) consists of chancel 16 ft. by 13 ft. 6 in., nave 32 ft. 6 in. by 17 ft. 6 in., south porch 6 ft. square, and west tower 13 ft. 9 in. by 14 ft. 6 in., all these measurements being internal. The nave only is ancient, and belongs to an aisleless 12th-century structure, the chancel of which was rebuilt in 1857. The tower was added in 1901, in which year the church was restored, a new oak roof erected, the floor relaid, and a stone altar provided. (fn. 73) The porch is of uncertain date, but is apparently comparatively modern. The chancel and nave are under separate modern blue-slated roofs, and the walls of the chancel are plastered internally. Two old stones with crosses are incorporated with the modern piscina. The semicircular chancel arch is of 12th-century date, and of two orders, each with continuous roll moulding towards the nave. The soffit is plain, and facing the chancel the arch is of a single square order without ornament. The opening is 6 ft. 5 in. wide, and both orders spring from a plain chamfered impost returned on both sides along the walls. There are outer angle shafts with capitals and moulded bases, but the capitals are very worn, and any carving or ornament that they may originally have had has disappeared. The south doorway is apparently a modern reproduction or restoration of the 12th-century opening. It is distant 7 ft. 6 in. from the west wall. The north doorway is built up, but retains its ancient features. Externally it is very plain in character, with lintel, tympanum, and semicircular arch of nine voussoirs. There are no windows in the north wall, and only one on the south side, a restoration of a comparatively late opening with rounded head, perhaps suggested by an older window. On the gable of the porch and at the south-east corner of the nave outside are two old circular crosses, and built into the south side of the tower is an old stone found in 1827, when the building underwent some repairs and a new floor was laid, on which are carved two animals, one a dragon, apparently attacking each other. (fn. 74) A stone coffin found at the same time is preserved in the churchyard. The outer opening of the porch has a shouldered arch, the top stone of which is a mediaeval grave slab with a floreated cross raised upon steps upon which stands a figure of an animal which seems to be a rude representation of an Agnus Dei. Another grave slab with a floreated cross lies in the churchyard. The font was brought here from Ingleby Arncliffe, and is of 12th-century date. It consists of a tubshaped bowl, ornamented all round with interlacing arches and a band of cable moulding above. It is 30 in. in diameter by 26 in. in height and stands on a modern base. The font has at some period been shorn down and spoilt by the arcading having been cut flat. There are two small brass chandeliers, each of six lights, in the chancel, but the pulpit and all the fittings are modern. There is one bell in the tower. The plate consists of a modern cup and paten of silver, and a plated cup and paten 'given to the church of Newton in Cleveland by Elizabeth, Ann, Mary and Harriet, Daughters of the late James Lee of Pinchingthorpe Hall 1850.' There is also a pewter flagon. (fn. 75)
The registers begin in 1725.
"Parishes: Newton, A History of the County of York North Riding: Volume 2. (1923) pp 273-276"
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