Parish of Whorlton (Swainby)

The Church of the Holy Cross in Swainby
Church Lane, Swainby, Northallerton DL6 3EA

Churchwardens 
Mrs Sue Crombie 01642 722657
Mrs Gussie Kynge 01642 700212

The Church of the Holy Cross in Swainby was built in 1877, designed by Thomas Wyatt. It is located in the picturesque valley which creates the centre of Swainby. The church, with its recently-built modern parish hall, is a very active centre of religious, spiritual and cultural life for all people living in this area. The church is open during daylight hours.

Early settlement took place in the Saxon period near the site of the present village location where, later, a Norman castle and the old church in Whorlton became the seat of the Norman noble family of De Maynell. The name Swainby first appears in records in 1428, and its settlement may be due to the Black Death driving the 10 surviving inhabitants down the hill from the ancient village of Whorlton.