Early history of the church

The first mention of Grindale Church is in 1153 when 'Serls' the priest resigned his Prebendary. Following the resignation of 'Serls' in 1153 the curacy was more or less continuous to the present day, barring the times when the church seems to have fallen into disrepair, i.e. 1282-1308, 1370-1431, and possibly 1806-1830 as well. In the middle 1800s Grindale was incorporated into a new parish with Sewerby. This brought to an end the long association with the Priory Church, which had supplied most of the curates serving the Parish of Grindale.