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- Cowthorpe, North Yorkshire (St Michael's Church)
St Michael’s is an impressive, imposing-looking church. It was built by eminent lawyer Bryan Roucliff in 1458 and is full of treasures bestowed by the Roucliff family.
Its military looking tower recalls those belligerent times. In the chancel is an elaborate Easter Sepulchre - a canopied wooden chest that played an important role in Easter worship in Medieval parish churches.
A monumental brass in the chancel has effigies of a man and woman, believed to be Roucliff and his wife.
Soft light streams through the church’s fine leaded windows enhancing the stone interior.
To locate this church on a map, click on the 'View on map' link that appears below the address information at the top of the page.
3 miles north of Wetherby and east of A1. Take B1223 from Wetherby towards York. Turn left at Bickerton crossroads. Turn left at next crossroads. Cowthorpe is signposted 1 mile. In village take first right turn
Nearest railway stations: Cattal (2.4 miles) or Harrogate (8 miles).
SE 427 427
01/05/12
Following on from the success of our Discover Wallpaintings project last year we are delighted to announce the launch of…
St Mary's Church, Lead, North Yorkshire
The Ramblers' Church
All Saints' Church, Harewood, West Yorkshire
A fashion parade of effigies. A church from our finest…
Harewood House
Heritage site
Last year, we welcomed over two million visitors to our churches. If each person donated just £2, this would enable us to keep our churches open, safe and watertight for you and future generations to enjoy.
Text code 'OCCT05' to 70070 to donate now (free from all networks).
Or use the button below to donate online.
Last year, we welcomed over two million visitors to our churches. If each person donated just £2, this would enable us to keep our churches open, safe and watertight for you and future generations to enjoy.
Text code 'OCCT05' to 70070 to donate now (free from all networks).
Or use the button below to donate online.
Click on images to view larger
The CCT is grateful to the Flickr group, Friends of the Churches Conservation Trust, for the images shown here. CCT is not responsible for the quality or content of images taken from Flickr.
Last year, we welcomed over two million visitors to our churches. If each person donated just £2, this would enable us to keep our churches open, safe and watertight for you and future generations to enjoy.
Text code 'OCCT05' to 70070 to donate now (free from all networks).
Or use the button below to donate online.
Why not make your visit more enjoyable and informed by finding out more about this church and the CCT before you visit?
You can download a range of publications below including the relevant county guide, and any walk round guides we have for this church.
Yorkshire County Guide (PDF, 5.2mb)
This free of charge short guide contains details of all the churches CCT cares for in North, South and West Yorkshire. Printed copies of the county guide are also available at the church.
St Mary's Church, Lead, North Yorkshire
The Ramblers' Church
Lead, Saxton, Tadcaster, North Yorkshire, LS24 9QN
See church page
All Saints' Church, Harewood, West Yorkshire
A fashion parade of effigies. A church from our finest shortlist.
Harewood Park, Harewood, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS17 9LG
See church page
St Martin's Church, Allerton Mauleverer, North Yorkshire
A neo-Norman church located in parkland
Allerton Park, Allerton Mauleverer, Knaresborough, North Yorkshire, HG5 0SE
See church page
Last year, we welcomed over two million visitors to our churches. If each person donated just £2, this would enable us to keep our churches open, safe and watertight for you and future generations to enjoy.
Text code 'OCCT05' to 70070 to donate now (free from all networks).
Or use the button below to donate online.
Last year, we welcomed over two million visitors to our churches. If each person donated just £2, this would enable us to keep our churches open, safe and watertight for you and future generations to enjoy.
Text code 'OCCT05' to 70070 to donate now (free from all networks).
Or use the button below to donate online.
All our North Yorkshire churches are in CCT’s North region.
Discover North Yorkshire tourism website
Days out with the kids in North Yorkshire
North Yorkshire Moors Steam Railway
A history of North Yorkshire in 10 objects
The City of York and District Family History Society
Family History Section of Yorkshire Archaeological Society
Yorkshire Archaeological Society
Last year, we welcomed over two million visitors to our churches. If each person donated just £2, this would enable us to keep our churches open, safe and watertight for you and future generations to enjoy.
Text code 'OCCT05' to 70070 to donate now (free from all networks).
Or use the button below to donate online.
If the access information for this church is listed as ‘Keyholder nearby’, this means that the key is kept by one of our invaluable volunteer 'keyholders', who usually live just a short walk from the church and can give visitors the key; sometimes this is a nearby hotel, pub, library, art gallery or other venue. You will find instructions explaining how to get the key when you arrive at the church.
Doorway into church is very narrow so wheelchair access is not possible.
Due to the historic nature of our buildings, only a very small number of them have heating or running water meaning that they can be cold, and very rarely have toilet facilities. The lighting is usually operated via a 'push button' timer or a motion sensor. We do apologise for any inconvenience the lack of facilities may cause.
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Beautiful. Stunning. My earliest ancestors (Thackray) can be traced to Cowthorpe in the 1600’s, so being able to see the place they lived and the church they worshiped in was a very memorable occasion.
This is a fascinating church, worth diverting from the A1 to visit. The only disappointment is that the extraordinary wooden Easter Sepulchre is so difficult to see, tucked away behing the font. Please could you move it to its proper place on the north side of the chancel?