St Oswald

There has been Christian presence in Fulford from before the Norman Conquest and a church since 1150, but by 1860 it was too small. A new site closer to the village was purchased in 1864 and the new church opened in 1866. The architect was JP Pritchett junior of Darlington.

The church was destroyed by fire in 1877 but rebuilt by the generous donations of parishioners and reopened in 1878. In the 1920’s the original fine steeple was deemed unsafe and removed. In 2005 the entrance to the church was enhanced with glass doors, a large porch area and access ramp. Other than this most of Mr Pritchett's design, both externally and internally, remains intact.

Significant architectural features of the 1866-1878 church are the superb stone carvings, the gold mosaic and the stained-glass windows. The carvings by Burstall and Taylor of Leeds include carved heads either side of the windows, fern and foliage on the pillar capitals and angel corbels holding instruments or symbols of the passion. The mosaic reredos was designed by Pritchett, made by Salviati & Co and given by the then incumbent Henry Clifford. The great east window is by Clayton & Bell and was given by the Key family, the manor lord and patrons of the church. Later stained glass windows is by Clayton & Bell, Ward & Hughes and Burlison & Grylls.

The bell by William Blews &Sons, Birmingham dates from 1869 as does the clock by T Cooke & Sons, York. Furnishings from 1878 include a pulpit of alabaster and Caen stone by Forsyth & Co, who also made the font given in memory of the LeFroy family. The organ was built by Messrs Bindley and Foster of Sheffield in 1878. The deaths in World War I of two young parishioners are commemorated in a beautifully carved wooden font cover and a small altar and reredos designed by Walter Brierley who also designed the War Memorial in the church yard.

Our church was carefully designed, strongly built and beautifully furnished.