Selston Nottinghamshire
Church of St Helen, Selston Nottinghamshire
This has been the site of Christian worship for over 1000 years - the first actual record of one is in the 1086 Domesday Survey with 3 acres of meadow allocated to it Probably built of wood, It is thought that Ulmer, Gladwin and Ulric, the 3 Danish holders here could have been involved in its construction, after their conversion to Christianity .
The present building began in the first half of the 12c, with north aisle added late 12c with waterleaf amd gargoyle capitals. , and south aisle early 13c with plain moulded capitals but still with round columns and round arches. The columns of the two arcades are not aligned with each other across the nave. Above the arcades are a series of grotesque corbels which would have supported the earlier roof beams.
The south porch and south door are of this date. The Chancel arch was also built at this time, with a solid wall above the arch.
During the 14c the stone in the windows were altered and the 2-light windows in the South side of the Sanctuary were added.
The tower 1st stage was built late 14c / early 15c, the second stage & battlements being added to the flat top later in the 15c . On these are carved the letters J & M (Jesus & Mary) on the south side, and T & S with the shield of the Samon family of Annesley Woodhouse who may have been responsible for their addition www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/6292pcW715
The 3-light window in the East wall of the Chancel was constructed in the 15c.
The North wall of the church includes the carving of a dog and nearby is a stone monolith from the Neolithic or Early Bronze Age. which now lies north of its original position now occupied by a recent meeting room extension of c2010 www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/m8918S9264
Now against the north wall of the chancel is the large monument to William Willoughby who died in 1630 aged 21, erected by his wife Elizabeth Pusey . www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/9f4F6E2L93 . It may have been at around the time that the chapels to the north and south of the chancel were removed and the chancel arches blocked.
On the floor of the chancel is an incised slab showing the figure of a priest in Eucharistic vestments with an amice over his head, holding a chalice. On his right is quadrilateral representing his service book. www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/33B07f9UST This is said to be the only one of its type in England and is believed to pre-date the present building.
At the West end of the south arcade is a bucket shaped Norman font with a single band of cable moulding. www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/qf4DK338Z3
Removed during the Commonwealth period, it was used at the Bull & Butcher pub www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/2D3E2YBU2S as a drinking trough and a butchers' whetstone (The top rim has been damaged by it having been used for sharpening knives etc). It was rescued by the vicar Rev. Charles Harrison, in the early 20c and returned to the church
The tower houses 8 bells . The oldest inscribed 'Gabriel IS' is believed to have been cast c1530. The next of 1622 is the Tolling Bell – "I sweetly toling men do call, to taste on meats that feed the soule" . The Warden’s Bell, which is the heaviest of the bells (the tenor) dates from 1704. At that time the Wardens were Francis Cheetham and William Wood.
Three more Bells were installed during the restoration under the Rev Charles Harrison in 1905, (which included the rebuilding of the north aisle) . the Children’s Bell purchased by the children of the parish . The Bible Union bell – "Let music be heard in praise of the Word". The Church Council bell, dedicated to Charles Harrison – "For the church restored give thanks to the Lord" This ring of six bells was rehung in a steel eight-bell frame in 1983 and subsequently 2 more were added in 1983 in memory of Vera Wood and 1985 dedicated to James Rawson, Church Warden 1862 – 1949.
In the Church yard near the West End of the North arcade is the grave of Dan Boswell, styled King of Gypsies, who died in 1827. having "lodged in many a town" & "travelled many a year" www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/9qm40u0b5n
Selston Nottinghamshire
Church of St Helen, Selston Nottinghamshire
This has been the site of Christian worship for over 1000 years - the first actual record of one is in the 1086 Domesday Survey with 3 acres of meadow allocated to it Probably built of wood, It is thought that Ulmer, Gladwin and Ulric, the 3 Danish holders here could have been involved in its construction, after their conversion to Christianity .
The present building began in the first half of the 12c, with north aisle added late 12c with waterleaf amd gargoyle capitals. , and south aisle early 13c with plain moulded capitals but still with round columns and round arches. The columns of the two arcades are not aligned with each other across the nave. Above the arcades are a series of grotesque corbels which would have supported the earlier roof beams.
The south porch and south door are of this date. The Chancel arch was also built at this time, with a solid wall above the arch.
During the 14c the stone in the windows were altered and the 2-light windows in the South side of the Sanctuary were added.
The tower 1st stage was built late 14c / early 15c, the second stage & battlements being added to the flat top later in the 15c . On these are carved the letters J & M (Jesus & Mary) on the south side, and T & S with the shield of the Samon family of Annesley Woodhouse who may have been responsible for their addition www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/6292pcW715
The 3-light window in the East wall of the Chancel was constructed in the 15c.
The North wall of the church includes the carving of a dog and nearby is a stone monolith from the Neolithic or Early Bronze Age. which now lies north of its original position now occupied by a recent meeting room extension of c2010 www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/m8918S9264
Now against the north wall of the chancel is the large monument to William Willoughby who died in 1630 aged 21, erected by his wife Elizabeth Pusey . www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/9f4F6E2L93 . It may have been at around the time that the chapels to the north and south of the chancel were removed and the chancel arches blocked.
On the floor of the chancel is an incised slab showing the figure of a priest in Eucharistic vestments with an amice over his head, holding a chalice. On his right is quadrilateral representing his service book. www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/33B07f9UST This is said to be the only one of its type in England and is believed to pre-date the present building.
At the West end of the south arcade is a bucket shaped Norman font with a single band of cable moulding. www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/qf4DK338Z3
Removed during the Commonwealth period, it was used at the Bull & Butcher pub www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/2D3E2YBU2S as a drinking trough and a butchers' whetstone (The top rim has been damaged by it having been used for sharpening knives etc). It was rescued by the vicar Rev. Charles Harrison, in the early 20c and returned to the church
The tower houses 8 bells . The oldest inscribed 'Gabriel IS' is believed to have been cast c1530. The next of 1622 is the Tolling Bell – "I sweetly toling men do call, to taste on meats that feed the soule" . The Warden’s Bell, which is the heaviest of the bells (the tenor) dates from 1704. At that time the Wardens were Francis Cheetham and William Wood.
Three more Bells were installed during the restoration under the Rev Charles Harrison in 1905, (which included the rebuilding of the north aisle) . the Children’s Bell purchased by the children of the parish . The Bible Union bell – "Let music be heard in praise of the Word". The Church Council bell, dedicated to Charles Harrison – "For the church restored give thanks to the Lord" This ring of six bells was rehung in a steel eight-bell frame in 1983 and subsequently 2 more were added in 1983 in memory of Vera Wood and 1985 dedicated to James Rawson, Church Warden 1862 – 1949.
In the Church yard near the West End of the North arcade is the grave of Dan Boswell, styled King of Gypsies, who died in 1827. having "lodged in many a town" & "travelled many a year" www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/9qm40u0b5n