St Paul's Church, Stamford facts for kids
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The Church of St Paul in Stamford, Lincolnshire, England, has a long history. It was once one of Stamford's fourteen Medieval churches. During the Reformation, much of it was taken down. The part that remained became a schoolroom for Stamford School. Later, in 1929-30, it was rebuilt and made bigger. It became the school's chapel, remembering students and teachers who died in the First World War. The oldest parts left are from the church's south side and nearby sections.
A Church Through Time
The Church of St Paul was dedicated to St Paul. It stood inside the old town walls in the north-eastern part of Medieval Stamford. This church has some of the oldest stone parts of any church in Stamford. It was built by 1152.
The two eastern parts of the south wall are from the early 1100s. The church was likely large, but its exact shape back then is not known. You can see its old Norman style from the outside. The walls are made of Barnack stone. They have small arches and rounded stone supports. A later wall top with battlements was added. A sealed doorway from the 1400s is also there.
Inside, where the altar stands, there are three special carved areas. These are from the 1300s. They were likely used for church items. Parts of two figures from the 1300s were found during digs. They are thought to be St John and the Virgin Mary. These are now high up on the south wall.
There are also two tomb spaces in the south wall. One is from around 1300. It holds a stone coffin lid with old French writing. This remembers Henry de Elyngton, who was a church leader here from 1384 to 1400. The other space holds a small coffin lid from the 1200s, likely for a child. Above the west door inside, there is writing for Eustace Malherbe. He was a Member of Parliament for Stamford in 1322. There is also a stone head, believed to be of Christ.
A small room for a female hermit was once connected to the church. A hermit was a person who lived alone for religious reasons. This person was walled up in the room for life.
St Katherine's Chapel
The main part of the building today was once a chapel for St Katherine. A religious group called the Guild of St Katherine met there. This group was very rich. Important people like Lady Margaret Beaufort and Princess Cecily of York were members. After the Reformation, some of the guild's property went to the Cecil family.
St Paul's was not a very rich church. This might have led to its closing. The church was also damaged when an army attacked Stamford in 1461. In 1548, a law allowed Stamford's churches to combine. St Paul's joined with St George's. The old church was then mostly taken down. Its items were sold.
From Church to Schoolroom
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During the big changes of the Reformation, Stamford School needed a new home. The school, started in 1532, moved into the remaining part of St Paul's church. This move happened around 1548. A former student, William Cecil, helped secure the school's future.
From the mid-1500s until 1929, the remaining part of St Paul's was used as a schoolroom. This part was mainly the south side of the old church. In 1833, another schoolroom was added. Around 1902, a marble plaque was put on the north wall. It remembered two former students who died in the Second Boer War.
A Modern Chapel
Between 1929 and 1930, the building was made longer. It was brought back to its original size. It was then used again as a church, becoming the chapel for Stamford School. This was done to honor those from the school who died in the First World War. Architects Traylen and Lenton oversaw the work.
A special old carved stone head, known as "the Old Man," was used as a foundation stone. Lady Burghley laid this stone on October 17, 1929. The work finished in 1930. The building now has a main area for services and a north side section.
Inside, there is a lot of oak wood paneling. The altar, cross, and candle holders are also made of oak. The chapel was blessed again by the Bishop of Lincoln, William Swayne, on June 21, 1930.
The names of staff and students who died in the First World War are carved near the altar. After the Second World War, more names were added. The benches also have names carved on them. These are people who gave a lot of money for the rebuilding or helped the chapel over the years.
Since May 22, 1954, the chapel has been a Grade II listed building. This means it is an important historical building.
In 1961, a pipe organ was put in. But this was later replaced with an electronic one in the 1990s.
