This Grade II listed building was once a barn on a nearby farm before being moved here, stone by stone in 1879.

This small church is a restored Elizabethan building which originally stood at Newton Grange, one and a half miles distant, then in the Parish of Oswaldkirk. Newton Grange was owned by Rievaulx Abbey in medieval times and its lands were farmed by the monks. Such monastic outposts sometimes had small chapels and the origins of this building may lie in that connection to Rievaulx.

The church we know today would originally have been designed as a chapel for family use but has gone through various owners and indeed spent time abandoned and in ruin, then as a farm shed before Rev. C. N. Gray, Vicar of Helmsley, persuaded the 1st Earl of Feversham to help move the building to the nearby hamlet of Sproxton to serve a local community once again. This was part of a broader mission of church building in the parish that also saw small churches appear in Carlton, at East Moors, and at Rievaulx.

The architects at the time the chapel was moved to the present site in 1879 were George Gilbert Scott Jr and Temple Moore who supervised the removal by local farmers of the fabric, stone window frames, doorway and black and white floor, and who tried to retain the atmosphere of a sixteenth century church. (See information on St Mary Magdalene, East Moors for further information on the work of Scott and Moore.)

It appears the exterior structure was faithfully rebuilt, apart from the addition of the western bell turret which contains an old bell from Coxwold. What is visible inside is more evidently Temple Moore’s work, executed by local craftsmen: the woodwork, oak roof, panels and so forth were carved and made by a Mr Worthy of Pockley and Mr George Waines of Helmsley. The balustrade across the gallery was constructed later in 1903 by Mr W. Worthy of Helmsley, who also made the fine oaken doors. The total cost of re-establishing the church was £1,100.

A panelled ceiling was not replaced (see note below) nor was the crypt, originally built as a private burial place but not reinstated after the move, although there is a small under-ground room for a now defunct boiler! The crypt was formerly accessed via an internal door with steps that descended down under the raised altar. It was presumably raised higher than it is today. The churchyard at Sproxton has never been used for burial purposes.

It is interesting to note that Moore designed the Frosterley marble altar, probably to meet the High Church taste of Lord Feversham, at a time when such altars were illegal under the Public Worship Regulation Act of 1874. This was generally recognised as ill-conceived law, but that did not prevent several members of the clergy being brought to trial and five imprisoned. The figures on the Rood screen were carved in Oberammergau, Germany and the reredos is fine plasterwork after a design by Michelangelo.

The gallery at the western end is worth noting. Ernest Williams in his guide 'Rievaulx Abbey and The Helmsley District' specifically mentions the “western gallery in Elizabethan style” as contributing to the building’s exceptionally beautiful interior.

In the early 18th century the Sandwith family moved from Newton Grange (into Helmsley and abroad), the Cholmleys left West Newton Grange and the chapel gradually fell into disrepair. By 1765 it was nearly ruined but repairs were made by Thomas Duncombe which kept it in use up to around 1820. After that time it was used as a farm shed or barn until the Rev C.N. Gray organised its removal to its present location.

The Archbishop of York re-consecrated the church to St. Chad after he had satisfied himself that it would be used frequently. However, church attendance has deteriorated significantly since WWII and this wonderful small building, as with so many rural churches all over Britain, is once again struggling to find a congregation.

Within the churchyard is a memorial to Charles, 2nd Earl of Feversham who was killed in action in 1916 and also to two other men of Sproxton who died in WWI. (See the information on St Mary the Virgin, Rievaulx for more information on the 2nd Earl.) A memorial bench has been placed in the churchyard on the south side of the church in memory of the late Queen Elizabeth II.

[Note referring to the ceiling: Whether it was panelled or not we can no longer be sure. Thomas Gill, writing in 1852, described the “arched roof which lies broken and crumbling on the ground was once highly ornamental.” (Vallis Eboracensis)]

For further information:
The Church of St Chad, its gate and gateposts are Listed Grade II. Information available on https://historicengland.org.uk
See also www.templemooretrail.co.uk