8 St. Mary's Church
A chapel of ease stood on this site in the 15th Century, which was replaced by the Fairfax Chapel in the 7th Century. The church register dates from 1774. In 1841 the Fairfax Chapel was pulled down and a new foundation stone was laid. The new church was opened in 1843 and consecrated by the Bishop of Ripon. The clock was set going on 22 December 1855. It is 6 yards in circumference and 6 ft 6 ins across. The hands measure 3ft 11ins and 2ft. In 1856 the church became a parish church and Dr. Charles Ingham Black was the first parish priest. He wrote a carol called "'Twas in the Winter Cold" and this is depicted in a memorial window. Other windows in the church recall some of the earlier benefactors. Changes have been made over the years; gas lighting was introduced in 1858 and following a fire in 1870 the church had to be renovated with donations from Forster, Fison, and Emsley amongst others. In 1952 the stalls, pulpit and altar rail were replaced by ones from "Mouse" Thompson's workshops.