ALL Hallows' Church, at Sutton-on-the-Forest, near Easingwold, is yet another of those in our area that is facing an uncertain future.

Last year, a group of concerned locals formed the Friends of All Hallows in a bid to safeguard the building for future generations.

The group aims to raise £5,000 each year through various events, which recently have included a concert, a talk and an auction.

The following article comes from the annals of the Gazette & Herald:

BY the side of a grass verge at Sutton-on-the-Forest, the Church of All Hallows stands well back in a tidy churchyard. The old vicarage, with its pan-tiled roof and cobbled yard, is nearby.

It was here that Laurence Sterne lived from 1738-68, and to where he took his wife Elizabeth Lumley after their marriage in York Minster in 1741.

It was while he was vicar of Sutton-on-Forest that Sterne wrote the first two volumes of his novel Tristram Shandy, which brought him success and fame.

Unfortunately, the picturesque thatched cottage in which he lived was burned down in 1765.

Sterne does not appear to have been a popular man, but his parishioners tolerated his curious sermons and eccentric ideas.

The first church was probably built here during the great Norman period of church building, for there is an unbroken line of vicars, which begins in 1138.

At that time, Sudtone (meaning the South Town), as it had previously been called, was renamed Sutton-on-Galtres, for it was within the ancient Royal Forest of Galtres.

In the 14th and 15th centuries, the building was enlarged. A chancel and nave were built to the south side of the old church, thus making the former building into the north aisle and lady chapel.

The windows and piscena are probably from this same period, and some fragments of glass, now in a window in the tower, are of a similar date.

The tower was erected in the 15th century, and is an unusual shape, being wider north to south than it is east to west. It contains a weird selection of gargoyles.

On the outside, the south wall has several deep scratches caused by the sharpening of arrows there. Edward IV decreed that there should be archery practice after divine service each Sunday.

Close to the entrance is a crude alms box, made from dark Galtres oak, and dated 1673. The altar table also dates from this period.

The Harland family lived in and around the village for 223 years, so it is only natural that there are several memorial tablets to the family in the church and churchyard.

One plaque, on the south wall of the chancel, commemorates Richard Harland, who lived at the hall, and who fought at the Battle of Marston Moor. He was imprisoned until 1660, and died at a great age in 1689.

Updated: 11:10 Wednesday, April 21, 2004