St Wilfrid's Church - Burnsall

Nestling in the curve of the River Wharfe, St Wilfrid's lies towards the northern end of the village of Burnsall. The church is open every day during daylight hours.

St Wilfrid's history goes right back to its foundation by St Wilfrid of Ripon before 700AD.

Although most of the building has been rebuilt over the years, there are parts that go back many centuries.

The font dates from an original Norman church, and the current Lady Chapel in the South Chantry was built in the twelfth century. The Tower and western portion of the church were built during the reign of Henry VIII (1509 - 1547).

During a refurbishment in the mid 19th Century, a number of Viking stones and artifacts were discovered. Some of these have been retained in the church, and form a facinating exhibition at the back of the building. 

The welcoming lyche gate was moved to its current position in 1858 when the churchyard was extended. The gate turns on a central spindle, with weights controlling its operation. This gate is believed to be just one of four in the country which operate on this principle.

Lyche gates were sometimes called "corpse gates" as a reminder that it was at one time customary for a bier to rest beneath the lyche gate during the initial part of the funeral service.