St Swithin's Church, Lincoln facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Swithin’s Church, Lincoln |
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St Swithin's Church, Lincoln
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| 53°13′45″N 00°32′14″W / 53.22917°N 0.53722°W | |
| Location | Lincoln, Lincolnshire |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Churchmanship | Charismatic Evangelical Anglican |
| Website | www.stswithinslincoln.org.uk |
| History | |
| Status | Active, but church currently closed due to repairs needed |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Parish Church |
| Heritage designation | Grade II* listed |
| Architect(s) | James Fowler |
| Groundbreaking | 1869 |
| Completed | 1887 |
| Specifications | |
| Height | 55m |
| Number of spires | 1 |
| Bells | 1 |
| Tenor bell weight | 213kg (4-0-21) |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Lincoln, St Swithin |
| Deanery | Christianity |
| Diocese | Diocese of Lincoln |
| Province | Canterbury |
St. Swithin's Church in Lincoln is a very important old building. It is a parish church located in St Swithin's Square. The church building itself is currently closed. This is because it needs important repairs to its roof. However, the church community is still very active.
Contents
History of St. Swithin's Church
The first St Swithin's Church was located near the Sheep Market. Sadly, it was badly damaged by a fire in 1644. This happened during the English Civil War, a big conflict in England's history.
The church was rebuilt in stone in 1801. Later, a brand new building was planned for Sheep Square. The first stone for this new church was placed on Easter Day in 1869. This special event was led by the Bishop of Lincoln, Christopher Wordsworth.
Famous Connections
A famous mathematician named George Boole was christened in the earlier church. This happened on November 3, 1815. He had a strong connection to the church. Its leader, Rev. Dickson, even helped him with his math studies.
Building the Church
The church was designed by an architect named James Fowler from Louth. A rich industrialist from Lincoln, Alfred Shuttleworth, paid for the building.
The main parts of the church, like the nave and aisles, were built first. This happened between 1869 and 1871. The chancel, which is the area around the altar, was finished in 1879. Finally, the tall tower and spire were built between 1884 and 1887.
A famous expert on buildings, Nikolaus Pevsner, said this church was James Fowler's most important work. During the building work, an old Roman altar was found. The church also has a beautiful west window made by A. L. Moore & Co. In 1973, the church was officially recognized as a Grade II* listed building. This means it's a very important historical site.
St. Swithin's Church Today
In October 2014, St Swithin's Church started a new chapter. The Bishop of Lincoln invited a team from Holy Trinity Brompton (HTB) in London to help. This team, led by Revd Jim Prestwood, helped the church grow.
The original church building is still closed for repairs. The church community now meets in a different place. They gather at the Salthouse in Free School Lane. This building used to be the Co-op Ballroom. They have services every Sunday at 9:15 AM, 10:15 AM, and 6:15 PM. The hope is that the old church building can be reopened for worship one day. This would happen if enough money is found and the repairs are possible.
Church Organ and Bells
The church has a pipe organ. You can find more details about it on the National Pipe Organ Register.
Organists of the Church
Over the years, several people have played the organ at St. Swithin's:
- John Pullein (1896–1903)
- A. A. Osborne (1903–1917)
- Gerald Conran Hodgson (1917–1937)
- Michael Boltz (2010–2014)
Church Bells
The church has one bell. It weighs about 213 kilograms (470 pounds). This bell was made in 1851 by Charles & George Mears. They were bell makers in Whitechapel, London. The bell is designed to swing and chime.
