The church is dedicated to Saint Lawrence, a Roman Deacon who was martyred for his faith during the persecution of Valerian in A.D. 258

When you approach this small, but very special country church you will notice above the doorway a sundial dated 1696, which was probably part of an earlier church building. The church was rebuilt in c. 1782 in the Georgian - Gothic style and is the church you see today. In the account and minute books of the George Smith Charity of 1697 the Chapel is described as being 'in decay'. At the end of the 17th century many churches would have been in a similar state after all the changes and destruction wrought by the ruling authorities in the 16th and 17th centuries. Ten pounds was given by the Charity towards repairs and the 'beautifying' of Aldfield Chapel in 1697.

The new oak doors of the church open into a chapel-like interior with three bays. To your right is a very fine example of a three-decker pulpit-the clerk's seat and desk, the parson's seat and desk, and the pulpit. The oak three-decker pulpit and the box pews are very picturesque and characteristic of an 18th century church. Church records from the mid 19th century give details of where each member of the congregation had to sit and also for the building of the vestry. When the church was built, decorative painting was restricted in churches. The two wooden panels either side of the altar are typical examples of what was acceptable.

They have written upon them the Lord's Prayer, the Creed and the Ten Commandments. The stone work of the east window is more elaborate than the others and is said to have come from the earlier church. All the windows have well proportioned lancets with simple Y tracery of stone, and in three of them there are stained glass lozenges.

The font is identical in design to the 13th century marble holy water stoop which is now in the Museum at Fountains Abbey.

The unique organ was made by Stephen Frankland, one of our parishioners who studied his craft with the organ builders Harrison and Harrison of Durham. , he took a great deal of care in the construction of the organ and has successfully kept its appearance in character with the style and charm of this little church.

The only other wall decorations are the memorial tablets, the saddest of which is to the Brook family and testifies to the state of child mortality of that time. Seven of their children died between 1814 and 1834. A most interesting gravestone, which was recently brought inside the church to protect it from the weather, is that belonging to Anthony Robinson, a blacksmith of Fountains. His epitaph reads -

'Here lieth Anthony Robinson late of Fountaines

who died May the first 1756 Aged 81

My Hammer and stiddy lies declin'd,

My bellows too, has lost their wind,

My fire extinguish'd - my forge (decayed)

And in the dust my vice is laid.

My coals is spent, my iron gone,

My last nail driven, my work is done.'

(The above notes are extracted from the leaflet ''The Church of St Lawrence the Martyr" by Anna Horsey copies of which are available for purchase in the church.)