Stow Minster facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Stow Minster |
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| Minster Church of St Mary, Stow in Lindsey | |
Stow Minster
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| Denomination | Church of England |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Heritage designation | Grade I listed building |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Stow in Lindsey |
| Deanery | Deanery of Corringham |
| Diocese | Diocese of Lincoln |
The Minster Church of St Mary, Stow in Lindsey is a very old and important church in Lincolnshire, England. It is one of the largest and oldest parish churches in the country. Some people believe it was once the main church, or "cathedral," for the diocese of Lindsey way back in the 600s. Because of its long history, it is sometimes called the "Mother Church of Lincolnshire."
This church has parts that were built by the Anglo-Saxons and parts built by the Normans. It is a special building, listed as a Grade I building by English Heritage. It was also put on a list of the world's most endangered sites in 2006 by the World Monuments Fund. Stow Minster has some amazing features:
- The tallest Saxon arches from its time in Britain.
- The earliest known Viking graffiti in England. This is a rough drawing of a Viking ship, probably from the 900s.
- An old font (a basin for baptisms) with nine supports and ancient symbols.
- An early wall painting dedicated to Thomas Becket.
Today, Stow Minster is part of a group of churches in the Stow area.
A Look Back: The History of Stow Minster
There was a church in Stow even before the Danes arrived in 870. Sadly, the Danes burned that early church down. The building stayed in ruins for a long time.
A new abbey was built in 1040. It is thought that Bishop Eadnoth II helped build it. Some historians believe that Aelfnoth, a bishop from around 975, built a church here. He might have built it on the site of an even older wooden Saxon church. This church was meant to be a "minster," or a main church, for the Lincolnshire area. Part of the bishop's group of priests lived in Stow. They helped manage this part of the diocese. This is why people remember Stow as the "Mother Church" of Lincoln Cathedral.
In 1054, Leofric and Godiva are said to have helped restart and support the church. Later, in 1091, Remigius of Fécamp turned it into a Benedictine abbey called Stow Abbey. He brought monks from another abbey to live there. He described the church as having been empty and ruined for a long time. But within five years, the monks were sent back. St Mary's then became a regular parish church.
In 1865, an architect named J. L. Pearson made some changes to the church. He built a new stair tower outside. This staircase used to be inside the church. At the same time, some windows were changed, and the roof was replaced. A new room for the clergy, called a vestry, was added in the early 1990s. During this work, some old skeletons and a broken stone cross from the 1200s were found.
About a mile west of the village, you can find the remains of a medieval palace. This palace belonged to the bishops of Lincoln. It was built in 1336. Today, you can only see the earthworks of its moat. You can also see the remains of old fish ponds that were part of the palace.
Protecting Stow Minster
Stow Minster is a very important building. It is listed as a Grade I building, which means it has special historical value. In 2006, the World Monuments Fund included it on a list of the 100 most endangered sites in the world. This means it needs help to be preserved.
The first step to protect the church is to make sure it is safe from the weather. This includes fixing the roof and walls to keep out rain and wind. After that, work can begin on the inside of the church. Experts believe this work will take at least 10 years to finish. It is also expected to cost between £2 million and £3 million.
See also
- List of ecclesiastical restorations and alterations by J. L. Pearson
