Church of Saint Helen

About

St Helen's Church is the parish church of Skipwith, a village in North Yorkshire, in England. Remains of a 7th- or 8th-century building have been identified at the site, which may represent an earlier church. The oldest part of the current building was constructed in about 950 of probably Roman stone, and originally formed the church porch.

In the 11th century, another stage was added over it, to form a tower, and the nave was rebuilt. The church was given to the Bishop of Durham in 1084, and in the 12th century passed to Durham Priory. A two-bay north aisle was constructed in about 1190.

In the 13th century, it was extended east by a further bay. The south aisle and chancel date from about 1300. In the 15th century the tower was raised again with the addition of a new bell-stage.

In the early 16th century, the north aisle windows were rebuilt, followed later in the century by the construction of a clerestory. A south porch was added between 1821 and 1822, then the building was restored in 1877 by J. L.

Pearson. The building was grade I listed in 1966. Nikolaus Pevsner praises it as a "fine church" with "one of the most noble chancels of the [former] East Riding".