Church of St Mary Bishophill Junior

St Mary Bishophill Junior is a Grade I listed parish church in the Church of England. It stands in the Bishophill area of York, a quiet part of the city south of the river Foss. The oldest part is the tower, built in the 10th century and partly made from reused Roman stones. The nave dates from the 11th century, with a 12th-century north arcade and aisle. The chancel was added in the 13th century, and the church still keeps medieval fonts and bells. The building has seen many changes. In the 15th century battlements were added around 1411. Between 1860 and 1861 J. B. and W. Atkinson carried out a restoration, raising the floor and removing flat ceilings to reveal the open timber roof. Temple Lushington Moore added the pulpit and reredos in 1889, and the tower was restored again in 1980. The organ has travelled through several buildings before finding its home here in 1986. Inside, visitors find a plain stone porch leading to the nave. The open timber roof spans the 11th-century nave, while the 13th-century chancel holds the altar. The organ, installed in 1986, stands on the north side, its pipes rising above the pews. Outside, the tower rises above the surrounding houses, its Roman stones a reminder of York’s long past. The church shares its parish with All Saints’ Church, North Street, a short walk away.