Kirkby Malham Church Historic Buildings Fund Grant

The Historic Churches Fund was renamed The Historic Buildings Fund in 2015 to allow support of a wider range of historic buildings at risk. The medieval church of St Michael the Archangel has received several NCHT grants for repairs in recent years. The roof and windows in particular have needed renovation. It attracts many visitors from around the world and the visitors’ book testifies to the appreciation of this fine building in such peaceful and beautiful surroundings. In 2017 £1000 was granted to St Michael the Archangel Church, Kirkby Malham for renovating the Priest’s door in the Lady Chapel of Kirkby Malham Church

In recent times the church had only one door, the one through the porch, yet three others had been blocked in the past. The ‘Priest’s Door’ was walled up on the inside but the old wooden door remained outside. This door originally gave access to the pre-Reformation Chantry of Our Lady to allow the priest to come and go. The church needed better access and exits for larger audiences for concerts and lectures and school visits. The old door to the Lady Chapel has been replaced by a new oak door and was re-opened in 2017. The old door is to be conserved and displayed in the church in front of the still-blocked ‘Devil’s Door’ in the north wall.