St Chad's Church, Harpswell facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Chad's Church, Harpswell |
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| 53°23′54″N 0°35′38″W / 53.3982°N 0.5939°W | |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Churchmanship | Broad Church |
| History | |
| Dedication | St. Chad |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Harpswell |
| Deanery | Corringham |
| Archdeaconry | Stow and Lindsey |
| Diocese | Lincoln |
| Province | Canterbury |
St Chad's Church, Harpswell is an old and important church located in the village of Harpswell, in Lincolnshire, England. It is part of the Church of England.
Contents
History of St Chad's Church
The ancient St Chad's Church is found in the village of Harpswell. This is about 12 miles north of the city of Lincoln. The church was built around the year 1042.
Amazing Anglo-Saxon Tower
One special part of the church is its tower. It is one of the few complete Anglo-Saxon towers still standing in England. This means it was built a very long time ago, before the Norman Conquest in 1066.
Changes Over Time
The church had new parts added in the 1200s and 1300s. For example, its Norman south arcade was made longer. The whole church was also greatly repaired and updated between 1890 and 1891. This kind of big repair is called a Victorian restoration.
Ancient Connections
Experts believe the church was built on a much older, pre-Christian site. This site was likely used for special ceremonies involving water. The church is very close to a natural spring, which were often important places in ancient times.
Important Building Status
St Chad's Church is a Grade I listed building. This means it is considered a very important historical building in England.
Monuments and Memorials
Inside St Chad's Church, you can find several historical monuments. Two of the most interesting ones are in the south aisle. They are dedicated to priests who served the church long ago.
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William de Harrington's Effigy
The largest monument is an effigy of William de Harrington. An effigy is a statue of a person, often found on their tomb. This one dates back to 1346. It shows him lying down on a pillow supported by two angels. He is dressed in his priest's clothes, including a cassock (a long robe), a hood, and a pileolus (a small skullcap). At his feet, you can see images of the green man, a mythical figure.
John Gere's Stone Slab
There is also a large stone slab with the figure of a Norman priest named John Gere. He was a priest of "Harpperswelle" and died around the year 1300. The slab shows him wearing his full vestments (special religious clothes).
The Whichcote Family Memorials
On the north wall of the chancel (the area around the altar) is a brass from the 1400s. It shows John Whichcote in armor and his wife, Elizabeth Tyrwhit, wearing a fancy butterfly headdress.
One of their family members, Thomas Whichcote, was a strong supporter of the king. He also supported the Act of Settlement, which decided who would inherit the throne. Thomas had the coat of arms of Queen Anne placed in the church. He also had a special memorial stone put on the tower. This stone remembers the clock that was put up in 1746. It also celebrates the Duke of Cumberland's victory at the Battle of Culloden. Thomas was also the father of Frances Maria Whichcote. She married Rev John Fountayne, who was the longest-serving Dean of York.
Other Interesting Features
St Chad's Church has some special oak bench ends from the mediaeval period (the Middle Ages). One of these is decorated with the five Holy Wounds, which are symbols from Christian belief.
The stained glass windows contain small pieces of glass from the Middle Ages. The font, which is used for baptisms, also dates back to the Norman period.
War Graves in the Churchyard
A part of the churchyard is set aside for the graves of service personnel. This area has four rows of graves. It includes war graves for a soldier from the Royal Engineers, eighteen British airmen, and one Canadian airman. There are also six graves for people who served but not during the World Wars. A former RAF base, RAF Hemswell, is very close to the church. It was first opened in 1918 as Harpswell Aerodrome by the Royal Flying Corps.
Current Use of the Church
St Chad's Church is part of the Diocese of Lincoln. It is now part of the joint Glentworth Benefice. A benefice is a group of churches that share a priest.
