Churches, Abbeys & Priories

Explore the tiny chapels, medieval churches and magnificent Minsters of Yorkshire.

From tiny chapels and Medieval market town churches, to magnificent Minsters – Yorkshire has it all. Discover some of Yorkshire’s best kept secrets…If you wish to have a church wedding, you should speak to the vicar / priest / minister of the church. It is generally required that you or your partner should live in the parish, attend the church regularly or have some connection.

Churches

Ranging from the virtually untouched medieval in idyllic rural settings, to ornately impressive Victorian in busy town centres. Below is a selection of churches in Yorkshire for you to enjoy:

Holy Trinity Goodramgate, York

Holy Trinity Goodramgate, York has the air of a hidden treasure. It stands in a small, secluded, leafy churchyard, with the Minster towering behind, tucked away behind Goodramgate – one of York’s busiest shopping streets.

Christ the Consoler, Newby Hall

Christ the Consoler, Newby Hall stands inside the gates of Newby Hall park, and is surrounded by huge beech trees. With a lofty spire, pinnacles and fine rose window, the design is based on Medieval French church architecture with a unique interpretation.

All Saints, Harewood House

All Saints, Harewood House nestles in the grounds of Harewood House & dates from the 15th century. It is remarkable for six pairs of effigies, dating from 1419 to 1510, commemorating the owners of Harewood and the nearby Gawthorpe estate.

St. Stephens Old Church, Robin Hoods Bay

St. Stephens Old Church, Robin Hoods Bay is likened to an old mariner gazing out to sea, standing majestically on the hillside between Whitby and Ravenscar, overlooking Robin Hood’s Bay.

Holy Trinity Old Church, Wentworth

Holy Trinity Old Church, Wentworth is an atmospheric, partly ruined building which started life as a church in the 15th century but was converted to a mausoleum in 1877 after a new church was commissioned. Today, only the chancel and north chapel remain intact.

Holy Trinity Church, Wensley

Holy Trinity Church, Wensley was built on 8th-century Saxon foundations. The 13th-century church sits on the bank of the river Ure at the eastern end of picturesque Wensleydale. Inside, rich history is all around.

York Minster

York Minster dominates the skyline of this historic yet vibrant city. It is the largest medieval gothic cathedral north of the Alps, has traces of every age from the Roman occupation of York, and is home to over 800 years of stained glass.

Ripon Cathedral

Ripon Cathedral is a wonderfully atmospheric building that inspired the likes of Lewis Carroll and Wilfred Owen. 

Leeds Parish Church

Leeds Parish Church is a Grade I listed Victorian building and at its opening in 1841 it was the largest Church to have been built in England after St Paul’s Cathedral.

Bradford Cathedral

Bradford Cathedral is a hidden jewel waiting to be discovered. Set in tranquil gardens where once battle raged, the Cathedral is alive with a sense of story from its 13 centuries right in the heart of Bradford.

Wakefield Cathedral

Wakefield Cathedral is a landmark in this West Yorkshire city. Worship began on the site of the Cathedral around Saxon times and the Normans began the first build in the 11th Century.

Rotherham Minster

Rotherham Minster has stood at the centre of the town for over a thousand years. Beginning as a small Saxon church sometime around the tenth century and then devloping via a larger Norman structure to the present perpendicular church that has graced the town centre since the fifteenth century.

Abbeys & Priories

Selby Abbey

Selby Abbey: One of the most notable parish churches in the country, founded in 1069 by Monk Benedict.

Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal

Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal, Ripon – Hold your wedding or civil partnership at this stunning Yorkshire wedding venue, Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal estate, and immerse yourselves in nine centuries of British history.

Newburgh Priory, Thirsk

Newburgh Priory, Thirsk – Newburgh Priory is a magical location for your perfect day. Brimming with old fashioned charm and elegance it provides the ideal venue for civil ceremonies and wedding receptions.

Hodsock Priory, near Worksop

Hodsock Priory, near Worksop – At Hodsock Priory, you’ll have exclusive use of the house and famous gardens which provide a romantic backdrop for memorable wedding pictures. Secluded Splendour for you Special Day. Capacity 120. Accommodation for 26 Guests.

Bolton Priory

Bolton Priory – Explore the ruins of the Priory and discover a landscape full of history and legend on the historic Bolton Abbey Estate.

Thicket Priory

Thicket Priory – A dream location for any gathering, from a corporate event to a family celebration, this Victorian masterpiece is the perfect setting for a truly memorable wedding.

Rievaulx Abbey, North Yorkshire

Rievaulx Abbey, North Yorkshire, is one of the most complete and impressive abbeys in Britain. Explore the atmospheric ruins, which are surrounded by stunning moorland, and visit the interactive museum to explore 900 years of history and view unique archaeological finds.

Roche Abbey

Roche Abbey in South Yorkshire is beautifully set in a valley landscaped by Capability Brown in the 18th century. 

Whitby Abbey, North Yorkshire

Whitby Abbey, North Yorkshire: The moody and magnificent ruins of Whitby Abbey have drawn successive generations – from Saints to Dracula – to this site of settlement and religious devotion.