You have come to St Helen's Church.

Unfortunately most of the records of this beautiful little church which was once used as a boundary line between the twin villages of West Cottingwith and Thorganby have disappeared.

This ancient church is acknowledged to be one of the most exquisite pieces of brick and stone work in the country.

On entering the church, the first thing to strike you is the segmented archway dividing the nave from the chancel. This arch is very possibly a somewhat rare example of a rounded Saxon arch as the mason's marks are very clearly of that period. The East window belongs to the perpendicular period. The diamond panes have a rose and scroll design and, by their slight irregularities, are obviously hand marked. The date of manufacture was late C18th. The "wave" effect in the glass, viewed from the outside, shows it to be prior to the development of the sheet glass process. The edging of the window is a dull, brownish red due to the fact that two hundred years ago the art of producing brilliant reds and earlier stained glass had been lost. This is an excellent example of the nearest to red that could then be produced using seaweed potash as the colouring medium, hence the name "kelp" given to this type of glass.

A curious feature of the octagon font on its stone pillar is that it is exactly the same measurement as the middle stone of the pillar supporting the chancel arch. It is noticed that at some time it has been damaged and the repair is somewhat crude. There are many recumbent gravestones in the church, mostly of the Dunnington Jefferson family and those of the Saltmarsh family, well known in the East Riding of Yorkshire.

Sir John's Memorial	Detail of Stained Glass

If you look closely at the exterior of the church you notice at once the difference in the construction of the tower and the body of the church. The former is of stone, 45 feet high, and the lower stages, from their dimensions and shape, date them as being of the C12th. The top portion has been added during the C15th. The building was restored and, most probably with exception of the tower, entirely rebuilt between 1740 and 1770. As there are no stone quarries in the district bricks were used. This restorative architecture in brick is not uncommon in the East Riding, the finest example being that of the Holy Trinity Church in Hull. The coigns and other stone work blend well with the rich red of the bricks and the effect is not unpleasing. When repairs were carried out in 1930 to the church tower excavations disclosed some fragments of the centre of an alabaster altar, dated to the C15th, representing the Holy Trinity. These have been pieced together and are on loan to the Yorkshire Philosophical Society where they can be seen in the Yorkshire Museum. On the right, incorporated as part of a stone seat in the porch, is "Wm Hall 1763". This is probably either the monumental mason's advertisement or part of Wm Hall's tombstone. The act of vandalism perpetrated by John Savage in 1746, carved in the stone mounting on the right of the doorway, may confirm the date of the rebuilding of the church. It is possible that the church was enlarged at this period to accommodate an increased population. The site also, on the slightly rising ground, points to its antiquity, as often in early days the tower was used as a look-out against hostile marauders and a position giving the best view would have been chosen.

In 1948, owing to the deterioration of the inside of the building, particularly the ceiling, it was decided to to restore and redecorate the interior of the church. This should have been undertaken years beforehand but, owing to the Second World War, it had not been possible to put the work in hand. The organ was removed from the chancel to its present position at the back of the church. A step was also taken out which had led to the chancel.

The vestry is probably the latest part of the church and is said to have been added in the early C19th. There are the Royal Arms of Victoria over the chancel with the words "Dieu et mon droit" underneath meaning "God and my right". A medieval slab in the chancel commemorates Alice, widow of Edward "Saltmarsh", perhaps a member of the Saltmarsh family.

There were three bells in 1770 and there are still three. The plate consists of a silver flagon, cup, paten and basin, said to have been given by Francis Annesley about 1719, and a pewter cup. These are now stored at York Minster undercroft. The Registers begin in 1653 and, except for baptisms and burials for the period 1792 - 1812, are complete.

The church was extended in 1897 and 1966.

The Parish Chest and the Bible are both dated 1874 and the organ is possibly of that date as well. The door is 300 years old.

Most recently the church was redecorated in August, 1995 and repairs have been made to storm damage to the church porch.

TO MAKE A GIFT AID DONATION TO THE HISTORIC CHURCHES PRESERVATION TRUST
WRITE TO THE SECRETARY AT FULHAM PALACE, LONDON, SW6 6EA