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St. Helen, in St. Helen's-square, opposite the Mansion
House, built upon the site of a Roman temple, dedicated to
Diana. Decorated. The church consists of nave, aisles,
chancel, and vestry. It has but few examples of ancient
glass. There is a Norman font, with curiously sculptured
sides, dating from the eleventh century. Peculiarly placed
on an arch over the western entrance, rising above an embattled
parapet, is a small octagonal lantern, of chaste and
elegant design. There are two bells.
St. John, Micklegate, corner of North Street, Decorated^
the windows being Perpendicular^ with a few good specimens
of old stained glass. It has nave with aisles and tower,
having small turret built of timber, filled in with brick
and plaster, in which are hung six bells (three of these were
brought from the church of St. Nicholas when destroyed at
the time of the Reformation) and one sanctus bell. This
church formerly had a steeple, which was blown down in the
16th century, and has not been rebuilt.
St. Lawrence, without Walmgate Bar, has nave and
chancel with tower in dilapidated condition ;
Mixed^ chiefly
Norman^ with some windows of the Decorated period. The
north porch is a splendid specimen of a Norman doorway,
with deeply recessed mouldings. On the opposite side is a
plainer example of the same style. During the siege of York,
in 1644, this church was nearly destroyed, but was rebuilt
from the old materials in l(j6y. Just within the churchyard
are the remains of the stocks, a relic of the past, and the only
example in York. One bell. This church had, perhaps, the
most picturesque appearance of any in the city. It is now
taken down, and will shortly be replaced by one more suited
to the increasing population of the parish.
St. Margaret, Walmgate, on the north side behind some
houses nearly opposite Margaret Street, is justly celebrated
for its Norman porch, which, according to Drake, was brought
from the hospital of St. Nicholas, without Walmgate Bar, at
the dissolution of the religious houses. This remarkable porch
consists of four recessed circular arches, the outer one showing
the signs of the zodiac, with an additional one agreeing with
the thirteen months of the Anglo-Saxon calendar. Between
the signs are figures emblematic of the months. The inner
arches are also enriched with grotesque and elaborate carvings.