The Saxon Monastery

The Stone church mentioned by Bede was on the site of the site of the present Church. Our knowledge of the monastery after Bede's history ins then rather scanty, but it would seem to have been a thriving monastic foundation for may years. There is in the Church's possession a remnant of a large abbots throne, such as would have belonged to an important monastery, which provides archaeological evidence for this belief.

Although the Danish invasion of the 9th and 10th centauries probably caused the destruction of the monastery, it seems certain that Christianity still persisted. Various of the carvings on the stones in the crypt bear witness to this. However there is no definite record of the history of Lastingham from the death of St. Cedd until A. D. 1078

In that year Stephen, Abbot of the Benedictine monastery of Whitby, requested permission of the king (William the Conqueror) to betake himself and his monks to Lastingham. Stephen began to re build the monastery; in fact he did not remain long, finding the neighbourhood somewhat unsafe, but his work forms the basis of St. Mary's Church as it is today.