St Mary's Church, Welwick

St Mary’s Church stands in the small village of Welwick in the East Riding of Yorkshire. Built mainly of limestone, the church has a west tower, a four-bay nave with aisles and clerestory, and a three-bay chancel. Parts of the building date back to the 13th century, though most of the structure was rebuilt in the 14th century during the Decorated period. The tower was rebuilt in the 15th century, and the south porch was added in the 18th century using the original south door. The church is a Grade I listed building, recognised for its historical and architectural importance. The church is worth visiting for its fine examples of 14th-century Decorated architecture and its later Perpendicular additions. The nave windows show varied tracery, some square-headed, a common feature in East Riding churches of the time. The east window, dated to 1358, is notable for its five lights and intricate reticulated tracery. Inside, the four-bay arcades have octagonal piers and double-chamfered arches, while the oak screen is from the Perpendicular period. The tomb in the south aisle, dating to around 1340-50, is of exceptional quality and is attributed to a carver from Beverley Minster. Inside, visitors find the tomb of a priest, thought to be William or Thomas de la Mare, richly decorated with tracery, carvings, and heraldry. The pulpit dates to 1618, and remnants of post-Reformation wall paintings remain on the clerestory walls. The east window’s stained glass, from 1877, is by Clayton & Bell. The exterior features buttresses, varied windows, and a Perpendicular-style tower. The south porch holds a 14th-century doorway with a niche containing a figure of the Virgin and Child. The church’s craftsmanship reflects the work of the Beverley workshop, which supplied many sculptures to regional churches.