St Vincent's Church, Caythorpe facts for kids

Quick facts for kids St Vincent's Church, Caythorpe
Church of St Vincent, Caythorpe
53°01′34″N 0°36′06″W / 53.026155°N 0.60166365°W / 53.026155; -0.60166365
Country	England
Denomination	Church of England
History
Founded	13th century
Dedication	Vincent of Saragossa
Architecture
Heritage designation	Grade I
Designated	20 September 1966
Architectural type	Decorated, Perpendicular
Specifications
Spire height	156 feet (47.5 m)
Materials	limestone, ironstone, rubble
Administration
Parish	Caythorpe
Deanery	Deanery of Loveden
Diocese	Diocese of Lincoln
Province	Canterbury

Nave from the south-west

Church tower, north transept and north aisle from the north

Blocked door in the west wall of the nave

Nave from the south-west

Chancel, crossing and nave from the east

Memorial to Sir Charles Hussey

Stained glass window to the Airborne Signals

Cemetery cross from the south-east

St Vincent's Church is a very old and important church in Caythorpe, England. It is a Grade I listed building, which means it's considered a special historic place. The church is one of only four in England named after Vincent of Saragossa.

This church is famous for its unique double nave, which is the main part of the church where people sit. Only three other churches in England have this feature! It also has interesting monuments to important people like Sir Charles Hussey and the astronomer Edmund Weaver.

A Look at St Vincent's Church History

How Old Is St Vincent's Church?

Records from the 1086 Domesday Book show there were two churches in Caythorpe a very long time ago. The church you see today was mostly built in the early 1300s. Lady Elizabeth de Burgh, who was related to King Edward II, likely helped pay for its construction.

The church was originally supported by the Knights Hospitaller. These knights were a famous group who had their main base in Lincolnshire nearby.

Lightning Strikes and Rebuilding

Imagine this: on December 30, 1859, lightning hit the church's tall spire! The top part fell through the roofs of the chancel and transepts. Luckily, the spire was rebuilt in 1860 by a famous architect named George Gilbert Scott. He was known for bringing back the Gothic revival style.

Scott made the spire a bit shorter, but people thought it looked even more graceful. He also added a new north aisle to the nave. The spire was hit by lightning again in 1937, but thankfully, it wasn't damaged that time.

Hidden Art and Bells

Inside the church, above the main area, there used to be old wall paintings called 'Doom' murals. These showed scenes like the Last Judgment and the Archangel Michael weighing souls. They were damaged during the 1859 lightning strike and later covered up. You can only see faint traces now, but experts believe they could be restored one day.

In the 1840s, a gallery was added, which could seat 150 people. The church also got a new clock and a set of eight "very fine bells." These bells were later recast in 1912.

The Church Organ and Lost Treasures

The church's organ was installed in 1871. Over time, it needed a lot of repair due to woodworm. In 1986, it was restored using parts from another organ, making it special and unique.

In 1947, some old armour from the 1500s, belonging to Baron Hussey, was given to St Vincent's. Sadly, in 1997, this armour and other valuable items were stolen from the church and have never been found. You can still see the brackets where the armour used to hang.

Modern Times and Memorials

St Vincent's Church was officially given its English Heritage Grade I listing on September 20, 1966. This means it's a very important historical building. In 2011, the church received a large grant to help maintain its spire and nave roof.

In February 2012, the church had to close temporarily because the 2008 Lincolnshire earthquake caused some damage to the spire.

The church also hosts yearly memorial services for the No. 216 Parachute Signals Squadron. This group was stationed in Caythorpe during Second World War and took part in the 1944 Operation Market Garden. In 1994, beautiful Stained glass windows were installed in the north aisle to remember the Airborne Signals, including those who died in the 1982 Falklands War.

Exploring St Vincent's Architecture

What Does the Outside Look Like?

St Vincent's Church is mostly built from limestone and ironstone, with ashlar details and slate roofs. It has a cross shape when viewed from above. The church includes a chancel, a double nave, a tower with a spire, and north and south transepts. It also has a north aisle and a south porch. The building shows styles from the 13th to 18th centuries, with additions from the 1860s.

The tower is in the middle of the church, where the nave and chancel meet the transepts. With its pointed spire, it reaches a height of 156 feet (47.5 m). The spire has small windows and is topped with a weathervane. The tower also has two clocks and gargoyles that help drain water from the roof.

The nave, chancel, and north aisle walls are built with alternating layers of ironstone and ashlar. The west side of the nave has strong buttresses, which are supports that stick out from the wall. One central buttress has a bas relief carving of the Annunciation. There are also two large windows from the 13th century on the west wall. Below one of these windows is an old, blocked-up door from the 14th century.

The chancel, which is the area around the altar, has a large stained glass window on its east wall. The north aisle, added in 1860, has a series of windows along its north side.

The south porch, built in the 14th century, is made of the same banded stone. Its entrance has a pointed arch supported by pillars. Inside, there are stone benches. The main door to the nave has large, fancy iron hinges. Above the door, there's a carving of the Virgin Mary.

What Can You See Inside?

The most special part of St Vincent's is its double nave. This means the main seating area is split into two sections by a row of three octagonal pillars. These pillars support an arcade that goes up to the roof. The main wooden beams of the nave are likely from the 14th century. You can also spot a 17th-century poor box near the west end.

The baptismal font, used for baptisms, is shaped like a chalice and has six sides. Some believe it's 600 years old, while others say it's from the 19th century.

The north aisle, also known as The Arnhem Aisle, has beautiful stained glass windows that remember the Royal Corps of Signals. One window, from 1902, is dedicated to George Henry Minnit.

Between the nave and the chancel, there's a four-arch crossing under the tower. This area connects to the north and south transepts. These arches are from the 13th century. The south transept holds the church's sacristy, which is where sacred items are kept. The north transept is a chapel dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary.

The chancel has 19th-century stained glass windows. The north window shows Mary Magdalene and the risen Christ. The south window shows two images of Christ and is a memorial to a former rector, Rev’d Edward Thomas Lewis. The large east window behind the altar shows Christ, prophets, apostles, and martyrs.

The church also has special silver items, including a paten and flagon from 1732, and a silver chalice from 1569.

Important Memorials and Tributes

Remembering the Hussey Family

Many important memorials in the church are dedicated to the Hussey baronets. These include Sir Charles (who lived from 1626 to 1664) and his wife Elizabeth, as well as Sir Edward (who lived from about 1661 to 1725) and his wife Elizabeth. Both memorials are on the east wall of the nave.

Sir Charles's memorial has a bust (a sculpture of his head and shoulders) set between columns. It's made of marble and has fancy carvings. Sir Edward's memorial is also made of marble and includes a plaque with an urn on each side. The Hussey family were important supporters of the church for many years.

Honoring Edmund Weaver

In the chancel, there's a memorial to Edmund Weaver (1683–1748). He was a famous astronomer and land surveyor from Frieston, a nearby hamlet. His memorial looks like a tombstone with decorative carvings.

War Memorials

On the north wall of the north aisle, there are plaques remembering people from the parish who died in the First and Second World Wars. Another plaque honors the men of the 1st Airborne Signals who fought in campaigns in Italy and North Africa between 1942 and 1945.

A special plaque describes how the north aisle is dedicated to the "men of the First Airborne Divisional Signals." These soldiers were stationed nearby before they flew to Holland for a brave mission to create a bridgehead over the River Rhine in Arnhem on September 17, 1944.

The Churchyard and Its History

Outside the church, to the south, you'll find a 14th-century stone cross. It has a tapering shaft and a gabled lantern added in 1906. This cross is also a Grade II listed and a scheduled monument, meaning it's protected for its historical importance. It might have been a village market cross in the past.

Right outside the church gates, there's the village war memorial. Next to it, set into the churchyard wall, is a plaque remembering members of the Airborne Signals who died in the 1982 Falklands War. This plaque was moved here in 2000. Nearby, there's a large rock brought from the Falkland Islands with another plaque dedicated to two members of the Parachute Signals who also died in the Falklands War.

Rectors of St Vincent's Church

Here is a list of the rectors, or priests, who have served St Vincent's Church over many centuries:

Images for kids

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  Church organ

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  Chancel memorial to Edmund Weaver

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  Baptismal font

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  North arcade foliate stop

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  North arcade from nave

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  South door exterior within porch

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  North aisle stained glass window to George Henry Minnit

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  Nave memorial to Robert Dawson

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  North aisle World War memorial

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  Village war memorial adjacent to churchyard gate