St Mary's Church, Whitby arch is a Jacobean pew. There is a monument to Sir Richard Cholmley who died in 1631. Two significant land slips due to broken drainage and torrential rain, the first occurring in November 2012, have placed the churchyard, and properties below the cliff, in significant jeopardy. Whitby town councillor Steve Smith stated the church was in no danger, having been built on solid rock. Human remains have fallen onto the street below, and pathways on the cliff-side of the church have been closed. Bram Stoker used St Mary's Church graveyard as the setting for a scene in his novel, "Dracula":
Bram Stoker's Dracula by Eiko Ishioka created a new image for the Count and for the first time freed him from the black cape and evening wear the character had become associated with since Bela Lugosi's portrayal in 1931. The film was also a landmark in vampire horror as it is the only "Dracula" adaptation to win Oscars. The film appeared in "Entertainment Weekly"s "5 best vampire movies", "Forbes"s "Top 10 Best Vampire Movies Of All Time", "Esquire"s "20 Best Vampire Movies", and "Sexiest Horror Movies Ever Made". and "IndieWire"'s "The 100 Best Horror Movies of All Time". Oldman's Dracula featured in "Forbes"s