Canon Latimer Kyle
Carlton was without a parish church for 15 years, from 1881 to 1896, and services were held in the local schoolhouse. When the Reverend Latimer Kyle came to Carlton he found a parish in disarray, and a ruined church with a disinterested congregation, but he was young, recently married into a wealthy family and full of zeal for missionary work.
The new vicar was six foot tall, and spoke with an Irish brogue. His parents were Irish but there is no memory of him having lived there. He was well educated having gained a Master's of Arts degree at Cambridge University. Within a few days of arriving at Carlton he was ridiculed by some village youths. He suggested that a boxing bout might be in order as he happened to have some boxing gloves in a shed behind the vicarage. He did not mention that he was a Middleweight Boxing Champion at the University such that the youths came off the worse. The young people of the village showed him great respect after the incident.
With commendable zeal, the sporting vicar set about the formidable task of raising yet more money. to build another new church so soon after the last, and he engaged a firstclass architect to prepare plans.
On 20 August 1896, after much work by Kyle, the Patron, Mrs Reeve, laid the foundation stone of the new St Botolph's Church and work began. It was built in the 14th Century Gothic Style at a cost of less than £3,000! The architect appointed by Canon Kyle was Temple Moore, who was a pupil of Giles Gilbert Scott who designed Liverpool Anglican Cathedral. The stone for the Church was quarried locally and brought from some 1,000 feet up in the hills, by local farmers using horse and cart or sledges.
Work continued until at last on 15 October 1897 the Archbishop of York, consecrated the building and Carlton once again had its Parish Church. Initially, there was little furniture in the building, gradually more was added, and when Great Ayton purchased a new organ in 1899, Carlton were given the old oneThe Tower was not completed in time for the consecration but in 1900,
the Archbishop of York was able to dedicate this completing the stonework of the Church, which remains largely as it is today
But the indefatigable vicar was not content until he had added a peal of bells. In 1908 the tower received its peal of 8 bells, which were dedicated by the Bishop of Beverly on 3 June.
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The Bells were detailed as follows:
1. "Goodwill towards men" a gift from Lawrence Farrar Gjers
2. 'When`ere the sweet church bell, peals over hill and dell, May Jesus Christ be praised!" a gift from Annie Gatertby Gjers.
3. A gift from John, Lawrence & Olga Gjers.
4. Strangers’ Bell “Be not forgetful to entertain strangers”
5. The Village Bell "Here will I dwell, for I have a delight therein”
6. The Wheat Bell ”A thank offering for good wheat years 1905‑1906 "
7. The Children's Bell, 'Heaven lies about us in our infancy
8. "God bless Susan, Frances & Frederica". a thank offering for K.F.L. Kyle.
Kyle held no Parochial Church Meetings after the church was built, in fact after one parish meeting a clerk had taken a written account of the gathering to the vicarage for the priests approval only to see them put on the fire. He 'ruled' the parish with a rod of iron; he was 'in charge'.
He was also an enthusiastic farmer who not only farmed his own glebe most efficiently, but also acquired and worked another two farms. His sermons were full of pungent illustrations from the farm, of the earth earthy, and he often dropped into the vernacular to give point to his remarks. He was in great demand at harvest festivals, and was extremely popular over a wide district. An excellent horseman, he followed hounds to mix with the upper class of the district whenever his duties permitted, and thought nothing of riding forty miles to preach a sermon and riding to hounds the following day.
Many stories are remembered about Kyle whose reputation caused him to be appointed a Canon of York Minster. It was Canon Kyle who made it possible for Carlton Outdoor Centre to be established by selling the Trustees land behind the School in 1931. In doing so he made the Trustees promise that the children attending the Centre attended his church on a Sunday to worship God.
At one time Kyle acquired a local Public House, The Fox and Hounds, from its owner, Colonel Morrison. He was incensed at the way trippers from Teesside used the village on a Sunday. Kyle asked the magistrates to review the licence and had it altered to a six day one, leaving the establishment closed on Sundays. The Archbishop asked for an explanation as to why a vicar had become the owner of a drinking house. He replied that the language and songs that came through the windows of the Fox and Hounds were not fit for the ears of women and children. He was often seen in the pub talking to the men but was never seen to partake of strong liquor.
There are few aspects of village life untouched by Canon Kyle; he was involved in all things. Above all, he was concerned about the religious life of the people and their spiritual needs, both young and old. Feared yet respected, he died in 1943 and his body lies in the churchyard.