Exploring St Nicholas Church, Butterwick: The Church in a Yorkshire Field

Our latest Yorkshire exploration begins at the parking area of the former Fimber railway station on the historic Malton and Driffield Junction Railway. From there, we take a scenic drive through the rolling Yorkshire Wolds to the quiet, tiny village of Butterwick.The main objective of today's drive is a visit to the isolated St Nicholas’ Church, uniquely situated right in the middle of a pasture field. Historic County Bingo Challenge Update:While Butterwick is administered as part of North Yorkshire today, it sits within the traditional boundaries of the East Riding of Yorkshire. This visit successfully ticks off the "Church in a Field" category on our East Riding bingo sheet! A Brief History of Butterwick & St Nicholas' Church:Ancient Origins: The village of Butterwick has long roots, and St Nicholas' Church was first recorded around 1130 as a chapel of ease for St Mary’s Church in nearby Foxholes. The Structure: Most of the current structure was rebuilt in the 14th century, though the western walls survive from the original 12th-century Norman chapel. The church features a distinctive drum font from the 1100s, a late 13th-century grave slab, and an early 14th-century stone effigy believed to be of Robert FitzRalph. The Setting: Like the nearby church at Speeton, the building features no windows on its north wall—a traditional design choice often intended to keep out the cold northern winds. Today, it stands completely surrounded by grazing land, accessible only via a farm track, serving as a peaceful reminder of the area's medieval past. If you enjoyed this look at Yorkshire's hidden history, please like, leave a comment, and subscribe for more walks and historic drives!