St Wilfrid
Hickleton, Yorkshire
Welcome to this ancient parish church, extensively renovated and adorned by 2nd Viscount Halifax, who is buried here. The interior is by Bodley, and has many interesting features.
People have lived in this area for over 4000 years and there was probably a wooden Anglo Saxon church on this site before the present building. The Domesday Book of 1086 mentions a Saxon Oswulf owning land in Barnburgh under Earl Harold prior to the Norman Conquest.
The lowest section of the tower is the earliest part of the church and there is an original Norman window. There are five bells including the treble bell dating from 1490.
St Peters is the church of the Cat and Man Legend. The porch, dating from 1330 is reputed to be the place where “The cat killed the man and the man killed the cat”. Details of this fascinating local legend can be found at the church.
There are many interesting things to see here, including a plainly carved 12th century Norman font and the remains of a Saxon or Norman Cross found buried in the churchyard. St Peters is home to the Cresacre Chapel, with its beautifully carved wooden screen (12th century). There is a magnificent 15th century stone tomb of Sir Percival Cresacre, featuring an oak effigy on the tomb has been dated a century earlier and may be of Sir Thomas Cresacre. It is reputed to be one of the best 14th century wooden statues in England. There are also portraits of the Cresacre family.
