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There has been a place of worship in Goathland, on the North Yorkshire Moors, for at least eight centuries and the present building, which was completed in 1896.

First mentioned in 1037 by Archbishop Aethelnoth and containing what is debatably the earliest image of St Thomas Becket this fine Norman/Saxon church with Butterfield updates is one of the five Jane Austen churches and sits picturesquely next to the River Stour.

In medieval days the parish of Godstone stretched for eleven miles along the Roman Road from Marden Park in the north to Felbridge in the south, at no point was it more than two miles wide.

A hermit’s hut, chapel or church has stood on this site for at least 1500 years, and St Sampson’s lies on the ancient Saints Way along which many of the Celtic Saints came from Padstow to Fowey, thus avoiding a perilous sea route around Land’s End.

St Mary's is unusual in that is has two main parts, the older is a typically 15th century village church dating from 1228 and the later is the new 20th century nave and sanctuary.

The church was built by the 2nd Viscount Halifax, keen to inspire the local community and encourage their spiritual wellbeing.

A Tudor chapel by a lost village.

Completed in 1975 the church is shaped like the prow of a ship.