Normanton on Soar Nottinghamshire
Church of St James, Normanton on Soar, Nottinghamshire is known as the boatman's church as it stands next to the east bank of the River Soar (the county boundary with Leicestershire) with steps to a small mooring platform from the churchyard.
The present building of a cruciform plan, the oldest part being the central tower which was built at the start of the 13c with a broach-spire added soon afterwards. It is located in the south of the village on Main Street
The earliest recorder rector is Henry de Melsamby of 1326
During the 15c the walls of the nave were raised, creating an open roof with a lower pitch. Uniquely , the walls were raised with a storey of timber work, to which the pendent posts of the new roof were attached. Probably this timber construction was thinner than the stone walls below, and had a set-off outside, covered with lead to keep the rain out of the tops of the walls. A trace of this can be seen on the south wall, towards its eastern end. In the late 17c or early 18c the outer sides of the timber storey were faced with brick work (apparently not all of one date) flush with the stone walls below...
The 13c chancel, where Sunday services are now held, is unusually large for its period, almost as long as the nave measuring 39'6" and 17' wide, which was possibly for accommodating visiting monks from Durham.
During the 1889 restoration the chancel roof was replaced and the timber beams were restored; a screen was also placed within the chancel before the altar, however in 1913 the screen was removed. Many monuments previously recorded seem to have vanished at this time, some rremain including a long winded inscription to Anne Ragdale www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/FQsna2 a duplicate of another at Long Whatton www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/048Ue1
Two remain in the chancel, one to Frances Willoughby Columbel 1600 www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/4Pd2Qd , the other to her son William Willoughby 1629 www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/24NM3i and wife Susannah later the wife of Edward Darling +++
A fire broke out in the roof in 1986 requiring it to be replaced. Restoration began in 1988 and was completed in 1989, the roof was restored using timber partly salvaged from the fire
The church was restored In 1889 using designs by Mr. Weatherley at a cost of £2020.
It is believed it was originally dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary and later rededicated to St James.
William Holmes , Rector here from 1777 - 1831 died at Bath, aged 84. having survived a court hearing In 1827 at Nottingham to determine if he was suffering from lunacy
There are 4 bells dating from 1635. Two bells being cracked by 1887, all four bells were recast in 1897 by John Taylor & Co of Loughborough They are inscribed: 'God save his church';
‘I sweetly toling men do call to taste on meals that feeds the soule’: ‘Edward Cotton citizen and merchant tailor of London gave 40 mark to buy this bell’: and ‘This bell was given to this church and parish by Edward Darling esq. & Susanna his wife’ +++
Due to lack of maintenance the bells could not be rung since the 1950s until in 1978 they were repaired and rehung by John Taylor & Co
Picture with thanks - Fitzwilliam2020 CCL commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Nave_of_St._James%27,_Nor...
Normanton on Soar Nottinghamshire
Church of St James, Normanton on Soar, Nottinghamshire is known as the boatman's church as it stands next to the east bank of the River Soar (the county boundary with Leicestershire) with steps to a small mooring platform from the churchyard.
The present building of a cruciform plan, the oldest part being the central tower which was built at the start of the 13c with a broach-spire added soon afterwards. It is located in the south of the village on Main Street
The earliest recorder rector is Henry de Melsamby of 1326
During the 15c the walls of the nave were raised, creating an open roof with a lower pitch. Uniquely , the walls were raised with a storey of timber work, to which the pendent posts of the new roof were attached. Probably this timber construction was thinner than the stone walls below, and had a set-off outside, covered with lead to keep the rain out of the tops of the walls. A trace of this can be seen on the south wall, towards its eastern end. In the late 17c or early 18c the outer sides of the timber storey were faced with brick work (apparently not all of one date) flush with the stone walls below...
The 13c chancel, where Sunday services are now held, is unusually large for its period, almost as long as the nave measuring 39'6" and 17' wide, which was possibly for accommodating visiting monks from Durham.
During the 1889 restoration the chancel roof was replaced and the timber beams were restored; a screen was also placed within the chancel before the altar, however in 1913 the screen was removed. Many monuments previously recorded seem to have vanished at this time, some rremain including a long winded inscription to Anne Ragdale www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/FQsna2 a duplicate of another at Long Whatton www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/048Ue1
Two remain in the chancel, one to Frances Willoughby Columbel 1600 www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/4Pd2Qd , the other to her son William Willoughby 1629 www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/24NM3i and wife Susannah later the wife of Edward Darling +++
A fire broke out in the roof in 1986 requiring it to be replaced. Restoration began in 1988 and was completed in 1989, the roof was restored using timber partly salvaged from the fire
The church was restored In 1889 using designs by Mr. Weatherley at a cost of £2020.
It is believed it was originally dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary and later rededicated to St James.
William Holmes , Rector here from 1777 - 1831 died at Bath, aged 84. having survived a court hearing In 1827 at Nottingham to determine if he was suffering from lunacy
There are 4 bells dating from 1635. Two bells being cracked by 1887, all four bells were recast in 1897 by John Taylor & Co of Loughborough They are inscribed: 'God save his church';
‘I sweetly toling men do call to taste on meals that feeds the soule’: ‘Edward Cotton citizen and merchant tailor of London gave 40 mark to buy this bell’: and ‘This bell was given to this church and parish by Edward Darling esq. & Susanna his wife’ +++
Due to lack of maintenance the bells could not be rung since the 1950s until in 1978 they were repaired and rehung by John Taylor & Co
Picture with thanks - Fitzwilliam2020 CCL commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Nave_of_St._James%27,_Nor...