St Peter & St Paul, Drax

St Peter and St Paul is a Grade I Church of England parish church on the north side of Main Street, Drax, North Yorkshire, in the Diocese of York.

Overview

Historic England records a twelfth-century church with thirteenth- to sixteenth-century and nineteenth-century additions, including work of about 1230 for Letticia, Baroness of Drax. The fabric is magnesian limestone ashlar with slate and lead roofs. The plan is a three-stage west tower with octagonal spire, a four-bay clerestoried nave with aisles and south porch, and a five-bay chancel with north chapel. The tower has paired west lancets, blocked trefoiled second-stage openings and twin-light trefoil-headed bell openings. The south porch has a pointed roll-moulded opening containing seven reset corbel heads, said to have come from Drax Priory. The clerestory is an arcade of eight Perpendicular three-light windows under a continuous hoodmould, with gargoyles and enriched battlements. The chancel is lit by lancets, three at the east end with an oculus in the gable.

Inside, a double-chamfered round tower arch stands on plain imposts. The north arcade is twelfth-century, three bays of round arches with chevron and later fleurons, including a cylindrical pier with waterleaf capital. The south arcade is fourteenth-century, four bays of pointed arches on octagonal piers. Fixtures include a twelfth-century tub font, a piscina, carved bench ends of about 1535–50, a late seventeenth-century altar rail, and remains of wall painting on the north nave wall. William Paynel, founder of nearby Drax Priory, is associated with the church’s early patronage.

Further Information

• Historic England list entry 1148397
• British Listed Buildings: Church of St Peter and St Paul, Drax
• CRSBI: St Peter and St Paul, Drax