Historic Nunburnholme Cross finally the right way round after 150 years
Tradition and heritage were present at both ends in Nunburnholme when Celtic folk band Shiftipig performed in the special setting of St James Church and its Nunburnholme Cross.
At the sanctuary end of the church, Shiftipig’s entertained a packed audience with their repertoire of traditional Celtic music and songs in a charity concert.
And towards the rear of the church stood the iconic Nunburnholme cross in its new setting – finally back together in its original arrangement after hundreds of disjointed years.
A spokesperson said: “The Nunburnholme cross – a unique example of Anglo-Saxon, Viking and Norman stonemasonry all combined into one – is the East Riding's top Early Medieval stone sculpture.
“It started out as an Anglo-Saxon outdoor preaching cross from the days after Paulinus arrived to convert pagan Northumbria in AD627, and likely before there was a church on the Nunburnholme site.
“It tells the story of Christianity over some 500 years, with its surviving images showing religious scenes from the 7th Century, adapted following the Viking invasion of 875, and with more new carving added after the Normans arrived in 1066.
“But when St James was erected in the 13th Century, the ancient cross was dismantled and used as construction material in the new build’s walls.
“It remained hidden until a major restoration in 1872, when pieces of the cross shaft were rediscovered and returned to their original use as a standing cross. However, Victorian workmen made a major error – they set the two pieces ‘back to front’, which is how they remained for another 150 years.
“The mistake was recognised years ago; but there was no opportunity to correct it until minor works to the church’s interior in 2025.
“The changes created more community space at the back of the building; and included both moving the cross into a new position, and this time putting it back together the right way round.”
Shiftipig’s St Patrick’s celebration was a big hit all round.
Led by Nunburnholme resident, Peter Halkon, the multi-talented band played an array of wind and string instruments to its appreciative gathering.
The event raised over £800 for CMT neurological disorder sufferer, Patrick Wainwright, plus Nunburnholme causes.