So much spent, so much lost - Thurlby Lincolnshire
10c-15c Church of St. Firmin, Thurlby Lincolnshire - the village gets its name from its founder Turolf .- Once a roman settlement, a saxon church stood here with thatched nave and tower for refuge, the tower base c925 survives from this period. www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/21xXA1
The church seems originally to have been in the gift of the Abbot of Burgh, who held much of the land in the village. In 1156 Abbot William Waterville founded the Nunnery of St Michaels at Stamford “ in which “as the deed hath it “he assembled no less than 40 virgins living in true religion and pure virginity” to which he gave the living connected with 3 separate churches The churches of the Blessed Michael the Archangel and St Martin in Stamford and Thurlby church. The nuns always presented a vicar here until 1539. After its Dissolution it was taken over by Eton College.
By `1240 when Petronilla was Prioress it was decided to enlarge the church. The Norman Chancel with rounded east wall was pulled down and the Nave extended by 18 feet. The aisles were extended and from them were built the north and south transepts and a chapel to the south of the Chancel. Soon after the north and south porches were built. .
The church at this time was lower and darker than now, and in c1320 steps were taken to let in more light with many lancet windows being replaced by larger ones. The tower was raised to a height of 44 feet, and surmounted by a spire 36 feet high. c1359, under prioress Agnes of Braceborough, a chapel to the north of the chancel was added, perhaps intended to be used, either when the rest of the Church was closed, or by people who desired to worship apart from the congregation, money was tight and the Bishop Gynewell of Lincoln at that time licenced the nuns of St Michaels to beg for alms.
c1440, under prioress Elizabeth Weldon, still more light was let in when the chancel east window was installed, also large ones in the south choir aisle chapel and in the north and south transepts. The height of the nave was also increased by the addition of the clerestory.
These last additions were carried out by the convent at a time when it has been recorded that in 1426 and 1440 it was so poor that it could pay only half the fees due to the Archdeacon for his Visitation.
Puritan zeal destroying everything associated with the old religion beginning c1564. William Harebie and William Eldred, churchwardens, supervised the taking down and burning of the rood. - 3 albes and 3 banners were cut to pieces. In 1566 Richard Waterfall and John Thekar, churchwardens, undertook the final ransacking of the church. service books were cut to pieces. altar stones broken and used to make stiles in the churchyard, 2 vestments were defaced and sold. The Easter Sepulchre in the sanctuary north wall was defaced. 8 candlesticks, a cross and a pair of censers were broken up and sold. 2 handballs and the holy water stoup were melted down . Altar hangings were cut up and sold.
By 1602 despite the church being in good repair "the chancel was in decay, but order is taken for repair to be had speedily” . There were 323 communicants.
Restored in 19c.
So much spent, so much lost - Thurlby Lincolnshire
10c-15c Church of St. Firmin, Thurlby Lincolnshire - the village gets its name from its founder Turolf .- Once a roman settlement, a saxon church stood here with thatched nave and tower for refuge, the tower base c925 survives from this period. www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/21xXA1
The church seems originally to have been in the gift of the Abbot of Burgh, who held much of the land in the village. In 1156 Abbot William Waterville founded the Nunnery of St Michaels at Stamford “ in which “as the deed hath it “he assembled no less than 40 virgins living in true religion and pure virginity” to which he gave the living connected with 3 separate churches The churches of the Blessed Michael the Archangel and St Martin in Stamford and Thurlby church. The nuns always presented a vicar here until 1539. After its Dissolution it was taken over by Eton College.
By `1240 when Petronilla was Prioress it was decided to enlarge the church. The Norman Chancel with rounded east wall was pulled down and the Nave extended by 18 feet. The aisles were extended and from them were built the north and south transepts and a chapel to the south of the Chancel. Soon after the north and south porches were built. .
The church at this time was lower and darker than now, and in c1320 steps were taken to let in more light with many lancet windows being replaced by larger ones. The tower was raised to a height of 44 feet, and surmounted by a spire 36 feet high. c1359, under prioress Agnes of Braceborough, a chapel to the north of the chancel was added, perhaps intended to be used, either when the rest of the Church was closed, or by people who desired to worship apart from the congregation, money was tight and the Bishop Gynewell of Lincoln at that time licenced the nuns of St Michaels to beg for alms.
c1440, under prioress Elizabeth Weldon, still more light was let in when the chancel east window was installed, also large ones in the south choir aisle chapel and in the north and south transepts. The height of the nave was also increased by the addition of the clerestory.
These last additions were carried out by the convent at a time when it has been recorded that in 1426 and 1440 it was so poor that it could pay only half the fees due to the Archdeacon for his Visitation.
Puritan zeal destroying everything associated with the old religion beginning c1564. William Harebie and William Eldred, churchwardens, supervised the taking down and burning of the rood. - 3 albes and 3 banners were cut to pieces. In 1566 Richard Waterfall and John Thekar, churchwardens, undertook the final ransacking of the church. service books were cut to pieces. altar stones broken and used to make stiles in the churchyard, 2 vestments were defaced and sold. The Easter Sepulchre in the sanctuary north wall was defaced. 8 candlesticks, a cross and a pair of censers were broken up and sold. 2 handballs and the holy water stoup were melted down . Altar hangings were cut up and sold.
By 1602 despite the church being in good repair "the chancel was in decay, but order is taken for repair to be had speedily” . There were 323 communicants.
Restored in 19c.