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 | |
| OS grid reference | SK 97742 71227 |
| 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 special old building. It is a Grade II* listed parish church, which means it's very important historically. The church is located in St Swithin's Square in Lincolnshire, England. The church community is still active, but the main building is closed right now because its roof needs repairs.
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History of St. Swithin's Church
The very first St. Swithin's Church was located near the Sheep Market. It was badly damaged by a big fire in 1644 during a war called the English Civil War. The church was rebuilt in stone in 1801.
Later, a completely new church building was planned for Sheep Square. The first stone for this new church was laid on Easter Day in 1869. This special event was done by the Bishop of Lincoln, Christopher Wordsworth.
Famous Connections to the Church
A famous mathematician named George Boole was christened in the earlier church on November 3, 1815. He had a strong connection to the church. The church's leader, Rev. Dickson, even helped him with his math studies.
Building the Current Church
The church you see today was designed by an architect named James Fowler from Louth. A local businessman, Alfred Shuttleworth, paid for the building.
The main part of the church, called the nave, and the side sections, called aisles, were built between 1869 and 1871. The chancel, which is the area near the altar, was finished in 1879. The tall tower and spire were added between 1884 and 1887.
A famous expert named Nikolaus Pevsner said that St. Swithin's was James Fowler's most important church design. During the building work, an old Roman altar was found, showing how much history is in the area. The church also has a special window on the west side, 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 and architectural site.
St. Swithin's Church Today
In October 2014, St. Swithin's Church started a new chapter. A team from Holy Trinity Brompton (HTB) in London came to help restart the church. This happened because the Bishop of Lincoln invited them.
The original church building is currently closed for repairs. However, the church community still meets every Sunday. They gather at the Salthouse in Free School Lane, which used to be the Co-op Ballroom. Services are held at 9:15 AM, 10:15 AM, and 6:15 PM. Everyone hopes that the main church building can be reopened for worship in the future, if enough money is found for the repairs.
Church Organ and Bells
The church has an organ, and you can find more details about it on the National Pipe Organ Register.
Past Organists
- 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 (4-0-21). This bell was made in 1851 by Charles & George Mears in Whitechapel, London. The bell is designed to swing and chime.
