a history of ALL SAINTS CHURCH
There is documentary evidence of a church at Swinderby before the Norman Conquest. Many churches in Lincolnshire were built following the conquest of the Danelaw by Edward the Elder after 901 and Swinderby may have been an example. However, no trace of that church has been found.
The oldest parts of the existing church are the south wall and the tower, both dating from the 12th century. It may be that this oldest remaining structure was connected with the coming of the Templars in 1173. The three-bay north arcade is late 13th century, replacing the original north wall. The first known incumbent, Hugh, was instituted in 1220.
Those who succeeded Hugh had mixed fortunes – 4 Swinderby vicars in succession died during the Black Death between 1349 and 1351.
The tower appears to have been originally free-standing and may have originally provided a defensive retreat for the local population in the frequent times of unrest. It was joined to the body of the church in the 13th century. Norman and Early English elements are visible, including a small portion of painted wall plaster. The octagonal font is in the Perpendicular style and may be 15th century. Further work from the 14th to 17th centuries is visible.
BY THE 18TH CENTURY, ALL SAINTS WAS, TO QUOTE THE VICAR OF THE TIME ‘DECAYED AND RUINOUS’. SO, IT IS UNSURPRISING THAT THE CHURCH UNDERWENT THREE PHASES OF RESTORATION IN MODERN TIMES . THIS INCLUDED (1854) THE BUILDING OF A NORTH AISLE ON THE SITE OF A MUCH SMALLER 12TH CENTURY CONSTRUCTION; AND THE BUILDING OF CHAPEL (NOW KNOWN AS THE MORTON CHAPEL) TO THE NEW AISLE, ON THE SITE OF A FORMER MEDIEVAL CHANTRY. A VESTRY WAS ALSO CREATED. EXTENSIVE CHANGES IN 1879 SAW A ROUNDED APSE WAS CONSTRUCTED AND THE ORGAN INSTALLED. MINOR CHANGES WERE MADE IN 1910.
THE CHURCH CONTAINS MANY MEMORIALS TO LOCAL FAMILIES, IN ADDITION TO THE DISNEYS, AND TO THOSE LOST IN THE TWO WORLD WARS.
THE TOWER CONTAINS FIVE BELLS, BELIEVED TO DATE RESPECTIVELY FROM THE 1400S ABOUT 1550, 1879 AND A BELL FROM 1605 RECAST IN 1879.
EXTERNALLY, THE CHURCH IS SURROUNDED BY AN EXTENSIVE CHURCHYARD, STILL IN USE FOR INHUMATIONS AND THE BURIAL OF ASHES. THE CHURCHYARD IS KEPT IN A HIGH STATE OF MAINTENANCE BY A COMMITTED TEAM OF VOLUNTEERS, WHO ALSO MANAGE BUILDING REPAIRS WHICH DO NOT REQUIRE PROFESSIONAL CONTRACTORS.
EXTANT PARISH RECORDS COMMENCE WITH THE MARRIAGE OF HUGH ALYNE AND MARGARET HARWOOD, ON 31ST OCTOBER 1562.
THE CHURCH BUILDING IS NOW GRADE II* LISTED
IT IS EVIDENT FROM THESE NOTES THAT THE BUILDING HAS BEEN ALTERED MANY TIMES THROUGHOUT ITS LONG SERVICE TO SWINDERBY. MORE CHANGES ARE IN PLANNING TO ADAPT THE TO THE NEEDS OF THE 21ST CENTURY..
BY THE 18TH CENTURY, ALL SAINTS WAS, TO QUOTE THE VICAR OF THE TIME ‘DECAYED AND RUINOUS’. SO, IT IS UNSURPRISING THAT THE CHURCH UNDERWENT THREE PHASES OF RESTORATION IN MODERN TIMES . THIS INCLUDED (1854) THE BUILDING OF A NORTH AISLE ON THE SITE OF A MUCH SMALLER 12TH CENTURY CONSTRUCTION; AND THE BUILDING OF CHAPEL (NOW KNOWN AS THE MORTON CHAPEL) TO THE NEW AISLE, ON THE SITE OF A FORMER MEDIEVAL CHANTRY. A VESTRY WAS ALSO CREATED. EXTENSIVE CHANGES IN 1879 SAW A ROUNDED APSE WAS CONSTRUCTED AND THE ORGAN INSTALLED. MINOR CHANGES WERE MADE IN 1910.
THE CHURCH CONTAINS MANY MEMORIALS TO LOCAL FAMILIES, IN ADDITION TO THE DISNEYS, AND TO THOSE LOST IN THE TWO WORLD WARS.
THE TOWER CONTAINS FIVE BELLS, BELIEVED TO DATE RESPECTIVELY FROM THE 1400S ABOUT 1550, 1879 AND A BELL FROM 1605 RECAST IN 1879.
EXTERNALLY, THE CHURCH IS SURROUNDED BY AN EXTENSIVE CHURCHYARD, STILL IN USE FOR INHUMATIONS AND THE BURIAL OF ASHES. THE CHURCHYARD IS KEPT IN A HIGH STATE OF MAINTENANCE BY A COMMITTED TEAM OF VOLUNTEERS, WHO ALSO MANAGE BUILDING REPAIRS WHICH DO NOT REQUIRE PROFESSIONAL CONTRACTORS.
EXTANT PARISH RECORDS COMMENCE WITH THE MARRIAGE OF HUGH ALYNE AND MARGARET HARWOOD, ON 31ST OCTOBER 1562.
THE CHURCH BUILDING IS NOW GRADE II* LISTED
IT IS EVIDENT FROM THESE NOTES THAT THE BUILDING HAS BEEN ALTERED MANY TIMES THROUGHOUT ITS LONG SERVICE TO SWINDERBY. MORE CHANGES ARE IN PLANNING TO ADAPT THE TO THE NEEDS OF THE 21ST CENTURY..
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