St Andrew's Church History
The Church stands on a low hill at the northern end of the village. The first documentary evidence for the church is the Tax Roll of 1246. Originally there were two churches on the site the other being named St Peter's. Andrew and Peter, who were brothers were disciples of Christ. At the beginning of the C15th the parishioners were given permission to disregard the upkeep of St. Peter's
"At the same time (1401) the two parishes of St. Peter and St. Andrew, West Dereham, situate close together in one churchyard, were united. It was stated that St. Peter's was so diminished in income that a priest could not be maintained. The convent and the parishioners of St. Peter's were freed from the repair of the church and chancel, and considered parishioners of St. Andrew's." (Calendar of Papal registers)
As well as the two churches West Dereham also had an Premonstratensian Abbey founded by Hubert Walter, Dean of York in the year 1188. He afterwards became successively bishop of Salisbury and Archbishop of Canterbury. The canons were to pray for the souls of the founder, who was born in West Dereham, and his parents, his brothers and sisters and all his relatives and friends, as well as for the souls of Ralph de Glanville, justiciary of England, and Bertha his wife.
The round tower is impressive and is made from conglomerate stone.More information on round tower churches can be found on the Round Tower Churches Society's web page.
The tower may have been built in Saxon times. On top of the tower is a brick octagonal belfry. This was added in the C16th
Items of note inside the church are the C14th Font and the Jacobean pulpit. The communion table is made of English oak circa 1620. In the tower is a bier on folding legs made of English Oak inscribed R.Stafford, R Coope 1683.
In 1901 the church roof fell in. Thankfully the parishioners of the time worked hard to make repairs and there is now a fine scissor beam roof to protect us from the elements.
Kirkby Malham Connection
Often known as ‘The Cathedral of the Dales’, the Parish Church of St Michael the Archangel, Kirkby Malham was built of millstone grit, in a style known as Craven Perpendicular, by the monks of West Dereham Abbey in the 15th century on the site of a much earlier church.