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St Andrew’s Trust
Why St Andrew’s Matters
St Andrew's Old Church has a history that predates Domesday. The surviving West Front is one of only three examples of a style of architecture that became known as 'Bishopthorpe Gothick'
Gatehouse to Bishopthorpe Palace
Bishopthorpe Palace Main Frontage- St Andrew's West Front
Our Aims
St. Andrew's Trust was formed around 20yrs ago with the objectives of
"...preserving and protecting for the public benefit the land and buildings of St. Andrews Old Church, facilitating heritage led regeneration, and enhancing the character and appearance of the historic areas."
The Trust has worked hard to conserve and restore the site to its present condition, and now plans further work to bring even more value to the local community.
About St. Andrew’s
A few facts about the history of the old church and the surrounding area
Viking Origins
Of Anglo-Scandanavian origin, the church was founded close to the River Ouse, the main highway between the North Sea and York at the time, and on the central axis of the main street of Bishopthorpe village, then called Thorpe St. Andrew.
1226 AD
In 1226, around the time of Magna Carta and the beginning of the rebuilding of York Minster in Gothic style, St. Andrew's church was absorbed into the Archbishop of York's private manorial estate. Here it remained for the next seven and a half centuries.
Archbishop Drummond
In the 1760s Archbishop Robert Hay-Drummond used his private wealth to make three neo-gothic additions to the manor house - a free-standing gatehouse; a new frontage to the main house; and a new west front to the old church.
The Architect
Thomas Atkinson was the York-based architect tasked with delivering Drummond's vision. Atkinson produced a Gothick style design, working in a friendly rivalry with the architect Horace Walpole who was designing similar alterations to his own mansion at Strawberry Hill. Drummond and Walpole corresponded about their new ‘Anglican’ style of architecture as a spiritual antidote to the prevailing Roman or Neo-Classical forms.
Grand Designs
The three elements of Atkinson's design - the gatehouse, the main front, and the ornamental facade of the church - were carefully arranged around a fourth design element, a small lake, in which they were mirrored simultaneously. The visual effect must have been stunning, fulfilling its intent of instilling 'shock and awe' in Drummond's visitors. Sadly the lake has since been drained, but the main components of this 18th century pleasure ground remain.
Abandonment
Being close to the river the church often flooded, and the situation became critical in 1892 when the Great Flood washed many bodies from their graves. The location was declared unsafe, and the majority of the structure was demolished in 1899. A new church was built, on a site opposite Bishopthorpe Palace. Fortunately Atkinson's facade was left intact, although it sufferred badly from neglect until the Trust took over responsibility in 1998.
Help the Trust
Whenever you shop at Amazon, why not use AmazonSmile?
Nominate the charity of your choice, and Amazon will make a donation to that charity everytime you buy something, at no cost to you.
Naturally, we hope you'll nominate St Andrew's Trust as your charity. You can make this selection here:
Our Achievements
From our start in 1998 we've made significant progress in securing and conserving the site.
Here's a brief summary of some the work we've done so far, and our plans for the future.
About the Trust
St. Andrews Trust is a registered charity, formed in 1998 to preserve and protect the the land and buildings of St. Andrew's Old Church, Bishopthorpe, York. The Trust is not a grant-giving body or a religious organisation
How to find us
St. Andrew's Old Church is located in Bishopthorpe, a village just to the South of York and famous for being the seat of the Archbishops of York.
St. Andrew's is historically an element of the Archbishop's Palace, but now the Trust has sole ownership of the Old Church site.
St. Andrew's Old Church
Chantry Lane
Bishopthorpe
York
YO23 2QF
Our location
Contact us
You can contact the Trust by mail at the registered office:
St. Andrew's Trust
Stable Yard
Chantry Lane
Bishopthorpe
York
YO23 2QF
You can email the Trust at info@standrewstrust.co.uk
Our Charity No. is: 1068768