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 in Harpswell is a historic church in the village of Harpswell, Lincolnshire. It is part of the Church of England. This church is very old and has many interesting features to explore!
Contents
Discovering St Chad's Church History
St Chad's Church is an ancient building located in Harpswell, about 12 miles north of the city of Lincoln. It was first built around the year 1042.
The Ancient Tower and Early Additions
One of the most special parts of St Chad's 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.
Later, in the 1200s and 1300s, parts of the church were added or changed. For example, its Norman south arcade (a row of arches) was made longer. The whole church also had a big makeover between 1890 and 1891. This was a common practice called "Victorian restoration."
A Site with Ancient Roots
Experts believe that the church was built on a much older, pre-Christian site. This ancient spot was likely used for special ceremonies related to water. The church is very close to a spring, which are natural water sources.
St Chad's Church is considered a very important building. It is a Grade I listed building, which is the highest level of protection for historic places in England.
Exploring the Church's Monuments
St Chad's Church has several old monuments inside. These are like special memorials to people from the past.
Memorials to Past Priests
Two of the most famous monuments are in the south aisle (a side part of the church). They are dedicated to priests who used to serve here.
The largest monument is a stone effigy (a statue of a person) of William de Harrington. He was a former Rector (a type of priest) of St Chad's. This statue 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 cap). At his feet, you can see images of the "green man", a mysterious face made of leaves.
There is also a large stone slab with the figure of another Norman priest named John Gere. He was from "Harpperswelle" and died around the year 1300. His statue shows him wearing all his special vestments (religious clothes).
The Whichcote Family Memorials
On the north wall of the chancel (the area around the altar) is a special brass from the 1400s. It shows John Whichcote in his armour and his wife, Elizabeth Tyrwhit, wearing a fancy butterfly headdress.
One of their family members, Thomas Whichcote, also has a memorial. He was a strong supporter of the King and Queen (a monarchist or Royalist). He also supported the Act of Settlement, which decided who would be the next ruler of Britain.
Thomas Whichcote added the coat of arms (a special symbol) of Queen Anne to the church. He also had a notable memorial stone placed on the tower. This stone has an inscription that remembers a clock put up in 1746. It celebrates the "victory over the rebels" by the Duke of Cumberland at the Battle of Culloden. This battle was an important event in British history.
Other Interesting Features of the Church
St Chad's Church has more to see than just its monuments!
Ancient Woodwork and Stained Glass
You can find some amazing oak bench ends from the mediaeval period (the Middle Ages). One of these is decorated with the five Holy Wounds, which are symbols important in Christian faith.
The stained glass windows in the church contain small pieces of glass from the mediaeval period. The font, where baptisms take place, also dates back to the Norman period.
War Graves in the Churchyard
A part of the churchyard (the area around the church) is set aside for the graves of service personnel. This special area has four rows of graves. It includes the war graves of a soldier from the Royal Engineers, eighteen British airmen, and one Canadian airman. There are also six graves from outside the World War periods.
This is because a former RAF base, RAF Hemswell, is very close to the parish. It was first opened in 1918 as Harpswell Aerodrome by the Royal Flying Corps.
St Chad's Church Today
Today, St Chad's Church is part of the Diocese of Lincoln. It is now connected with the Glentworth Benefice, which means it shares a priest and resources with other nearby churches.
Images for kids
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Effigy of William de Harrington, a former Rector of St Chad's
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