St Oswald’s Church is situated on the North side of Filey on top of the cliff overlooking the Bay. Fishermen used to use the church to guide them safely into port as they came home with their catch. The weather vane mounted on the tower is in the shape of a fish which is an ancient Christian symbol, but could also be symbolic of the fishing trade in Filey.
The Parish Church was built during the reigns of King Henry II, Richard I, John and Henry III. It was probably founded by the Augustinian Friars of Bridlington when the land came into the ownership of Walter de Gant of Hunmanby who founded Bridlington Priory between 1114 and 1124. The earliest work dates from 1180 and the church was substantially complete by 1230.
The church is dedicated to St Oswald who was King of Northumbria and one of the great Celtic founders of Christianity in the north. He was killed in battle in AD641.
The tower was originally to have been built at the West end, but the supporting pillar is out of perpendicular and probably the reason why the scheme was aborted. The tower was subsequently built in the middle.
The church has been through several periods of change and restoration including the lowering of the roof. In the 19th Century many of the ancient features were obliterated, possibly including frescos (as seen in Pickering Parish Church), when the walls were white washed. In 1885 the plaster was removed revealing the original stonework for the first time in 700 years.
In the early part of the 20th Century a stone altar was discovered in the stone floor at the centre of the church. Probably pre-reformation and possibly even dating back to the time the church was founded, a small cross can be seen on each of the four corners. These represent the wounds on Christ’s body made by the nails, the spear and the crown of thorns at his crucifixion stressing the identity of the altar as a great and holy sign of Christ. The altar is now situated at the back of the church.
In 1908 a fire at the West end of the church destroyed the organ, this was replaced by the present organ built on the side of the chancel. It is a fine organ recently having been restored.
In the year 2000 a meeting room at the West end of the church was completed, it has a separately controlled heating system and incorporates a kitchen and lavatory.
There are many historical artefacts to be seen, including fine specimens of Sedilia in the south transept and the Reredos. The angels painted on the front panels of the altar were done by Miss Wheelhouse of Scarborough (known to exhibit at the Royal Pulpit), and on the south nave wall is a crudely carved figure possibly of a Boy Bishop. This was saved from destruction when someone offered to buy a workman a pint of ale if he would desist from smashing it up. There are also many beautiful stained glass windows dating from 19th Century and the Fisherman’s Window by Harry Harvey, installed in 1983.
4 июл 2024
