St Benedict's Church, Haltham-on-Bain facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Benedict's Church, Haltham-on-Bain |
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St Benedict's Church, Haltham-on-Bain, from the southwest
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| OS grid reference | TF 246 638 |
| Location | Haltham-on-Bain, Lincolnshire |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Anglican |
| Website | Churches Conservation Trust |
| History | |
| Dedication | Saint Benedict |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Redundant |
| Heritage designation | Grade I |
| Designated | 14 September 1966 |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Style | Norman, Gothic |
| Specifications | |
| Materials | Greenstone with limestone dressings and some red brick. Roofs slated |
St Benedict's Church is an old Anglican church in a small village called Haltham-on-Bain, in Lincolnshire, England. It is a very important historical building. It is listed as Grade I, which means it is a super special building. The Churches Conservation Trust now looks after it. You can find it right between the River Bain and the main A153 road.
Contents
History of St Benedict's Church
The church was first built a very long time ago, in the early 1100s. Over the years, more parts were added and changed. This happened in the late 1100s, late 1200s, 1300s, and 1400s. In 1842, people described it as "an ancient structure." This meant it was very old and had been affected by time.
The church was repaired and updated in 1880 and again in 1891. The 1891 repairs made space for more people to sit. The number of seats went from 67 to 140. In October 1977, the church was declared "redundant." This means it was no longer used for regular church services.
Exploring the Church's Design
Outside the Church
St Benedict's Church is built from a type of stone called greensand. It also has limestone decorations. Some parts of the walls and the gables (the triangular parts of the roof) are made of red brick. The roofs are covered with slate tiles. The bellcote, which holds the bell, is made of timber boards.
The church has a main area called the nave. It also has a north aisle (a side section) and a porch on the south side. There is also a chancel, which is the part of the church near the altar. The bellcote sits on the roof towards the west end of the nave.
At the west end of the church, there is a doorway from the 1300s. Above it is a window from the 1400s with three sections. You can also see two old medieval stones carved with heads. These were placed there again after being moved.
The north aisle has windows with two or three sections. There is also a doorway that has been blocked up. The north wall of the chancel has windows and two blocked-up windows with a special "ogee" shape. The east window has four sections and fancy Decorated patterns. The south wall of the chancel also has windows and an ogee-shaped doorway. The south wall of the nave has a window from the 1200s with a "Y" shape.
The porch on the south side was built in the 1300s. It has an arched doorway and special supports called buttresses. The inner doorway is in the Norman style. It has a round top and three rows of carved patterns. There is also a carved tympanum (a carved space above the door). This carving shows a Maltese cross inside a circle, a fan-shaped shell, and a knot in a circle.
Inside the Church
Inside, the main area (nave) and the north aisle are separated by an arcade. This is a row of arches supported by eight-sided pillars. The two arches on the east side are rounded and from the late 1100s. The arch on the west side is pointed and likely from the 1200s. The arch leading to the chancel is pointed and from the 1800s.
In the chancel, there is a piscina from the 1300s. This is a stone basin used for washing sacred vessels. It has two ogee-shaped arches. There are also four brackets where statues might have stood. An aumbry (a small cupboard) is also in the chancel.
The pulpit, where sermons are given, is from the 1700s. Above it is a "tester," which is like a canopy. Below the pulpit are seats in boxes. Around the pulpit, there are pews (church benches) from different times. Some of these are family pews. They were rebuilt using wood from a screen that was there in the 1400s.
The font, used for baptisms, is eight-sided and from the 1300s. Its bowl is carved with flower-like shapes called fleurons. Inside the church, you can also see boards painted with the royal arms of King Charles I and verses from the Bible.
Churchyard Features
In the churchyard, there is a cross from the 1300s. It has an eight-sided shaft (the main upright part) on a square base. This cross is also a listed building, designated as Grade II.
See also
