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History
of the church
The church comprises a Chancel and a Nave with a
bellcote. Built about 1150, Redmire church was for 300
years, from the mid-13th century until the Dissolution, served by
one of the Canons of Coverham Abbey who lived in Redmire where
"Priory House" now stands (opposite the Post Office.
There is a well preserved Norman doorway with
typical stone seats outside, on which it is said the Sexton used
to sit on Mid-Summer's Eve and saw the ghosts of people who were
to die within the next year. A short length of Norman scroll
frieze can be seen high in the north-west corner of the Nave;
narrow windows in the South wall are also probably Norman in their
origin, but have been rebuilt into their present lancet shape. The
perpendicular East window dates from the 15th century and contains
fragments of old glass depicting shields of the Nevilles of
Middleham, and the Scropes of Bolton.
A projecting corbel above the pulpit on the North
wall once carried the rood beam, and the fine timber roof is
mediaeval - probably 15th century. The octagonal stone font is
13th century, but with later restoration.
The church was extensively restored in 1894 and
changes have been made to the original fabric and furnishings on
this and earlier occasions. A bricked-in low side window may
be seen on the South wall of the Nave; this would have been
without glass and shuttered on the inside. From within, the priest
would have heard Confession from people kneeling on the grass
outside. These windows were eventually blocked up on the orders of
Henry VIII. Near to this window is a scratch dial (now
upside down) probably used originally for timing the services in
mediaeval times.
Inside the church are a number of monuments and
the Royal Arms of George I (1720).
(taken from the Church Guide)
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