History

A Brief History of St John the Baptist Church, Cayton.

The church of St John the Baptist was built in Cayton in the 12th century and in nearly 800 years there have been 37 vicars.

The village of Cayton was in the old North Riding of Yorkshire and is now part of the deanery of Scarborough in the Archdeaconry of the East Riding of the Diocese of York. It is situated about 4 miles south of Scarborough on the B1261. The church is in Church lane.

The most noticeable piece of Norman architecture is the main doorway, with typical zigzag carving. The original building consisted of the nave, the north aisle and the sanctuary. The Norman pillars have now gone but their bases can be seen at the west end of the nave and at the chancel arch.

The tower was added in the 15th century and the nave was extended to join with it. At the same time the chancel arch was rebuilt and a Chantry Chapel (to pray for the souls of the dead), and probably the vestry, were built.

In the 19th century, the west end gallery was removed, the flat roof was replaced by a pitched one and sash windows were taken out and the present ones installed. Three bells were hung to replace the original two.

Points of Interest

  • The tower contains three bells. Inscribed: The Jubilee Year *1897* Rev F.G.Stapleton *Vicar / The Jubilee Year* 1897 Matthew Haw, John White Churchwardens / James Cooper of Killerby Hall October 1897.
  • There is ancient graffiti on lintel of tower door: These made by Me Thomas Shaw and Ralph Spencerley Churchwardens This Year of Our Lord 1678.
  • The Norman door arch, best seen from outside. There is an early 19th century Georgian house organ, presumed to have come from Killerby Hall.
  • Ancient piscina in angle of the wall, is part of the old Chantry Chapel. The pulpit was given by Sir Lionel Pilkington. The 15th century chancel arch has been restored to its original stonework.
  • The Reredos (screen at back of altar), is alleged to have been carved by James Cooper of Killerby Hall and also given by Sir. Lionel Pilkington. The illustration is of the child Jesus being found by his parents teaching in the Temple at Jerusalem.
  • Monuments set into the floor to the Beilby and Wyville families.
  • There is an Aumbry of ancient origin.
  • The entrance to the vault can still be seen but is long filled in and inaccessible.

The Church Clock

In 1947 the clock on the tower was installed as a thank-offering for the fact that no-one from Cayton was killed by enemy action during either World War. It was paid for by public subscription. Electric lighting was installed in 1948 but the former kerosene lamps were retained as light holders.

The landlord of the nearby Blacksmiths Arms was chatting to some regulars over the bar when someone mentioned that no one from Cayton was killed as a result of enemy action during either of the world wars though many served in the forces. It was decided to commemorate this in some way as a thank you. Money was raised and the clock installed by Potts of Leeds. It is the responsibility of the Cayton Parish Council and they pay for the annual service and any repairs. The pendulum clock is powered by heavy weights for both the time and the striking mechanism, these are now rewound electrically. The two pence coined seen on the pendulum are used to make minor adjustments; clock losing a minute or two a week add a coin, gaining take one off. Bigger adjustments can be made by changing the length of the pendulum.

 
 

 Church bells

The current three bells are:

  1. Treble: 30 inches diameter, Note C, weight 5-0-10
    Inscription band; THE JUBILEE YEAR 1897
    Waste; K G STAPLETON VICAR.
  2. Second: 33.5 inches diameter, Note A, weight 7-0-04
    Inscription band; THE JUBILEE YEAR 1897
    Waste; MATHEW HAW, JOHN WHITE CHURCH WARDENS.
  3. Tenor: 37.5 inches diameter, Note G, weight 9-3-24
    Inscription band; PRESENTED BY JANE COOPER OF KILLERBY HALL OCTOBER 1892
    Waste; JOHN TAYLOR AND CO. FOUNDERS LOUGHBOROUGH.

The bells are hung in a 5 bell metal frame. The intention probably to augment soon after they were installed. Did WW1 put a stop to this?

These three bells replaced 2 bells.

  1. Treble: 22.5 inches diameter.
    Inscribed; IHC; CAMPANA; MARIE in Gothic capital letters.
    It was cast by John Potter , a York bellfounder around 1380.
  2. Second bell: 25.5 inches diameter weight 3-0-0
    Inscribed; IESVS; BE; OVR; SPEED; ANNOI; DOM; INI; 1634 in Roman capital letters. The lettering was the same as other bells by John Conyers bellfounder of New Malton, he died in 1634.
    This bell was badly cracked and scrapped when the current bells were installed.

In 2012 members of the National Change Ringers Association inspected our bells and carried out some servicing free of charge. This enabled us to ring up the bells to give full use particularly for weddings and other special occasions. We had to find some church members to be trained in ringing and three came forward, one has had to stand but we still have the original two supplemented as required by ringers from other local churches.

Church Organ

The organ dates back to 1854 and was reputedly the house organ at Killerby Hall. At some point it was acquired by John Woodall a wealthy banker from Scarborough. He put it in storage and then either donated or sold it to the church. A label stuck to the inside panel reads;

Woodall Esq.
Banker
Scarbro.
Station till called for
1864.

In it’s early days it would be pumped by hand but an electric pump is now
installed. The keyboard could originally be retracted and a wooden panel could be lowered to make it look more like a piece of furniture when not in use.
It is in regular use and is retuned annually.

The Font

The upper part of the font is Norman, which for many years was standing
outside the church in the church yard, until rescued by the Rev Denzil
Wright in the1940’s. He renewed the base and restored it to it’s proper use.

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Re-Order Project

The church at Cayton have been very busy over these last few years (2018-2020) with fund raising and applying for grants to get our Re-order project off the ground. As we have no other building, we wanted to transform the back of church to provide a toilet, servery and children’s area and this has has been a real challenge for us. However, we are pleased to say that at last’ the work is complete and below are pictures to show just what’s been happening in 2020.

The church family would like to thank all of you for your financial support over the years to make these beautiful church facilities possible.

We pray that you will be pleased with what you see and make this church your spiritual home.

Our special thanks go to:

  • Architect: Mr Andrew Boyce of Ferrey and Mennim 
  • Builders: F. A. Stockill & Son Builders Ltd. 
  • PCC Project Manager: Mr John Walker
  • Churchwarden: Mr Alan Green
  • This project would not have been possible without the generosity of the following grant–making bodies:
  • Allchurches Trust 
  • Laing Family Trust 
  • Garfield Weston Foundation
  • Jack Brunton Charitable Trust 
  • Diocese of York
  • Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme