---
title: "St Peter & St Paul, Drax"
description: "Located in Drax, Yorkshire. Built C12; additions C13–C16 and C19, including work of c.1230 for Letticia, Baroness of Drax. Diocese of York. Grade I. Norman and Gothic; Perpendicular clerestory style."
category: "Church"
tags: ["Church","Church of England","Yorkshire","Drax","Grade I","Norman","Perpendicular","Magnesian Limestone"]
canonical: "https://thebritishgazette.com/post/st-peter-st-paul-drax"
pubDate: "2026-09-06T01:35:12.798Z"
dateModified: "2026-09-09T12:29:36.065Z"
location: "Drax, Yorkshire"
country: "England"
county: "Yorkshire"
town: "Drax"
address: "Main Road, Drax, Yorkshire, YO8 8NJ"
postcode: "YO8 8NJ"
built: "C12; additions C13–C16 and C19, including work of c.1230 for Letticia, Baroness of Drax"
denomination: "Church of England"
dedications: ["Peter","Paul"]
diocese: "York"
grade: "I"
style: "Norman and Gothic; Perpendicular clerestory"
materials: "Magnesian limestone ashlar with slate and lead roofs"
openingHours: "Opening times are under review, however our intention outside of COVID restrictions is to have the building open to visitors in daylight hours."
parish: "Drax St Peter and St Paul"
listEntryUrl: "https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1148397"
gridReference: "SE 675 263"
accessNotes: "Accessible toilets in church. Level access to the main areas"
---

# 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](https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1148397)
- [British Listed Buildings: Church of St Peter and St Paul, Drax](https://britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/101148397-church-of-st-peter-and-st-paul-drax)
- [CRSBI: St Peter and St Paul, Drax](https://www.crsbi.ac.uk/view-item?i=7453)