St Peter's Church, Kingerby
Encyclopedia
St Peter's Church, Kingerby, is a redundant
Anglican
church in Kingerby
, Lincolnshire
, England. It has been designated by English Heritage
as a Grade I listed building, and is under the care of the Churches Conservation Trust
. The church stands in an isolated position opposite the grounds of Kingerby Hall.
. Additions and alterations were made to the church in the 12th, 13th, 14th and early 17th centuries, and minor repairs were undertaken in the 19th century. During the 14th and 15th centuries the lords of the manor
were the Disney family. Sir William Disney fought with Edward, the Black Prince
, and died in 1316. His son, also named Sir William, died in 1349 during the Black Death
. They were ancestors of the film maker, Walt Disney
. Between the 17th and 19th centuries, the estate of Kingerby Hall was owned by Roman Catholic families, and was used to hide recusant
priests. The last holders of the manor were the Young family.
rubble
with pantile roofs. Some of the walls have been patched with bricks or plaster. Its plan consists of a two-bay
nave
with a clerestory
, a south aisle
, a south porch, a chancel
, and a west tower. There are remnants of a north aisle which has been demolished. The tower tapers and has three stages separated by string courses. At the corners are buttress
es rising to the top of the lowest stage. On the west side of the lowest stage is a window with a pointed arch and a trefoil head. The middle stage contains a flat-headed window on the south side. The bell openings in the top stage are paired, and have almost triangular heads. On the east side, above the roof, can been seen the line of an earlier roof which is thought to have dated from the 11th century. On the north side of the church are three large buttresses, and the blocked arcade
from the previous north aisle. In the easternmost bay
is a re-used 14th-century three-light window. There are no windows in the north face of the clerestory. The chancel is at a much lower level than the nave, and this reveals the line of the earlier roof on the east wall of the nave. The east window has two lights. On the south side of the chancel are a rectangular altar window, a narrow lancet window
at a higher level, and a small single-light window at a low level. The south aisle has two-light windows on the east, south and west sides. The doorway to the porch dates from the early 13th century and has dog-tooth decoration. Inside the porch are stone benches. The doorway to the church dates from the 12th century and is round-arched. On the south side of the clerestory are two rectangular windows.
with plain capitals
. The nave has a king post
roof carved with a heart and rosettes. At the west end of the nave, at a high level, is a circular opening dating from the early 11th century; it is likely to have been the west light of the original Saxon
church. In the east window of the aisle is stained glass dating from the 14th century. This depicts the Crucifixion
, Saint Catherine
with her wheel, and Saint Cecilia
with an organ
. In the east window of the aisle is stained glass dating from 1850. The octagonal font
is from the 15th century, as is the prayer desk in the chancel. The pulpit
dates from the 19th century. An alms
box, carved from a single piece of wood, is carved with an inscription and the date 1639.
In the west corner of the aisle are two monuments, consisting of effigies
on tomb chests. One of the effigies is that of a knight from the middle of the 13th century, lying with his legs crossed, and with puppies lying beside his pillow. He carries a large shield and is dressed in a chain mail
surcoat
. The other effigy is from the late 14th century, and has been partly truncated. It consists of a knight, his hands held in prayer, and his feet on a dog. He is also dressed in chain mail and has a surcoat carved with heraldic
symbols. In the chancel is a coffin-shaped slab carved in low relief. It depicts a 14th-century knight with a beard, and shows his head and the upper part of his body, and his shoes, but the lower part of his body and his legs have been replaced by an elaborate cross. The monuments are thought to represent members of the Disney family. In the chancel are three 19th-century marble
memorials to members of the Young family of Kingerby Hall.
Redundant church
A redundant church is a church building that is no longer required for regular public worship. The phrase is particularly used to refer to former Anglican buildings in the United Kingdom, but may refer to any disused church building around the world...
Anglican
Anglicanism
Anglicanism is a tradition within Christianity comprising churches with historical connections to the Church of England or similar beliefs, worship and church structures. The word Anglican originates in ecclesia anglicana, a medieval Latin phrase dating to at least 1246 that means the English...
church in Kingerby
Kingerby
Kingerby is a village and former civil parish about north west of the town of Market Rasen, Lincolnshire, England. In 1936 the parish became part of Osgodby parish...
, Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire is a county in the east of England. It borders Norfolk to the south east, Cambridgeshire to the south, Rutland to the south west, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire to the west, South Yorkshire to the north west, and the East Riding of Yorkshire to the north. It also borders...
, England. It has been designated by English Heritage
English Heritage
English Heritage . is an executive non-departmental public body of the British Government sponsored by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport...
as a Grade I listed building, and is under the care of the Churches Conservation Trust
Churches Conservation Trust
The Churches Conservation Trust, which was initially known as the Redundant Churches Fund, is a charity whose purpose is to protect historic churches at risk, those that have been made redundant by the Church of England. The Trust was established by the Pastoral Measure of 1968...
. The church stands in an isolated position opposite the grounds of Kingerby Hall.
History
The earliest fabric in the church dates from the early 11th century. The church originally served a village which has subsequently been desertedAbandoned village
An abandoned village is a village that has, for some reason, been deserted. In many countries, and throughout history, thousands of villages were deserted for a variety of causes...
. Additions and alterations were made to the church in the 12th, 13th, 14th and early 17th centuries, and minor repairs were undertaken in the 19th century. During the 14th and 15th centuries the lords of the manor
Lord of the Manor
The Lordship of a Manor is recognised today in England and Wales as a form of property and one of three elements of a manor that may exist separately or be combined and may be held in moieties...
were the Disney family. Sir William Disney fought with Edward, the Black Prince
Edward, the Black Prince
Edward of Woodstock, Prince of Wales, Duke of Cornwall, Prince of Aquitaine, KG was the eldest son of King Edward III of England and his wife Philippa of Hainault as well as father to King Richard II of England....
, and died in 1316. His son, also named Sir William, died in 1349 during the Black Death
Black Death
The Black Death was one of the most devastating pandemics in human history, peaking in Europe between 1348 and 1350. Of several competing theories, the dominant explanation for the Black Death is the plague theory, which attributes the outbreak to the bacterium Yersinia pestis. Thought to have...
. They were ancestors of the film maker, Walt Disney
Walt Disney
Walter Elias "Walt" Disney was an American film producer, director, screenwriter, voice actor, animator, entrepreneur, entertainer, international icon, and philanthropist, well-known for his influence in the field of entertainment during the 20th century. Along with his brother Roy O...
. Between the 17th and 19th centuries, the estate of Kingerby Hall was owned by Roman Catholic families, and was used to hide recusant
Recusancy
In the history of England and Wales, the recusancy was the state of those who refused to attend Anglican services. The individuals were known as "recusants"...
priests. The last holders of the manor were the Young family.
Exterior
The church is constructed in ironstoneIronstone
Ironstone is a sedimentary rock, either deposited directly as a ferruginous sediment or created by chemical repacement, that contains a substantial proportion of an iron compound from which iron either can be or once was smelted commercially. This term is customarily restricted to hard coarsely...
rubble
Rubble
Rubble is broken stone, of irregular size, shape and texture. This word is closely connected in derivation with "rubbish", which was formerly also applied to what we now call "rubble". Rubble naturally found in the soil is known also as brash...
with pantile roofs. Some of the walls have been patched with bricks or plaster. Its plan consists of a two-bay
Bay (architecture)
A bay is a unit of form in architecture. This unit is defined as the zone between the outer edges of an engaged column, pilaster, or post; or within a window frame, doorframe, or vertical 'bas relief' wall form.-Defining elements:...
nave
Nave
In Romanesque and Gothic Christian abbey, cathedral basilica and church architecture, the nave is the central approach to the high altar, the main body of the church. "Nave" was probably suggested by the keel shape of its vaulting...
with a clerestory
Clerestory
Clerestory is an architectural term that historically denoted an upper level of a Roman basilica or of the nave of a Romanesque or Gothic church, the walls of which rise above the rooflines of the lower aisles and are pierced with windows. In modern usage, clerestory refers to any high windows...
, a south aisle
Aisle
An aisle is, in general, a space for walking with rows of seats on both sides or with rows of seats on one side and a wall on the other...
, a south porch, a chancel
Chancel
In church architecture, the chancel is the space around the altar in the sanctuary at the liturgical east end of a traditional Christian church building...
, and a west tower. There are remnants of a north aisle which has been demolished. The tower tapers and has three stages separated by string courses. At the corners are buttress
Buttress
A buttress is an architectural structure built against or projecting from a wall which serves to support or reinforce the wall...
es rising to the top of the lowest stage. On the west side of the lowest stage is a window with a pointed arch and a trefoil head. The middle stage contains a flat-headed window on the south side. The bell openings in the top stage are paired, and have almost triangular heads. On the east side, above the roof, can been seen the line of an earlier roof which is thought to have dated from the 11th century. On the north side of the church are three large buttresses, and the blocked arcade
Arcade (architecture)
An arcade is a succession of arches, each counterthrusting the next, supported by columns or piers or a covered walk enclosed by a line of such arches on one or both sides. In warmer or wet climates, exterior arcades provide shelter for pedestrians....
from the previous north aisle. In the easternmost bay
Bay (architecture)
A bay is a unit of form in architecture. This unit is defined as the zone between the outer edges of an engaged column, pilaster, or post; or within a window frame, doorframe, or vertical 'bas relief' wall form.-Defining elements:...
is a re-used 14th-century three-light window. There are no windows in the north face of the clerestory. The chancel is at a much lower level than the nave, and this reveals the line of the earlier roof on the east wall of the nave. The east window has two lights. On the south side of the chancel are a rectangular altar window, a narrow lancet window
Lancet window
A lancet window is a tall narrow window with a pointed arch at its top. It acquired the "lancet" name from its resemblance to a lance. Instances of this architectural motif are most often found in Gothic and ecclesiastical structures, where they are often placed singly or in pairs.The motif first...
at a higher level, and a small single-light window at a low level. The south aisle has two-light windows on the east, south and west sides. The doorway to the porch dates from the early 13th century and has dog-tooth decoration. Inside the porch are stone benches. The doorway to the church dates from the 12th century and is round-arched. On the south side of the clerestory are two rectangular windows.
Interior
The two-bay south arcade has an octagonal pierPier (architecture)
In architecture, a pier is an upright support for a superstructure, such as an arch or bridge. Sections of wall between openings function as piers. The simplest cross section of the pier is square, or rectangular, although other shapes are also common, such as the richly articulated piers of Donato...
with plain capitals
Capital (architecture)
In architecture the capital forms the topmost member of a column . It mediates between the column and the load thrusting down upon it, broadening the area of the column's supporting surface...
. The nave has a king post
King post
A king post is a central vertical supporting post used in architectural, bridge, or aircraft design applications.-Architecture:...
roof carved with a heart and rosettes. At the west end of the nave, at a high level, is a circular opening dating from the early 11th century; it is likely to have been the west light of the original Saxon
Anglo-Saxon architecture
Anglo-Saxon architecture was a period in the history of architecture in England, and parts of Wales, from the mid-5th century until the Norman Conquest of 1066. Anglo-Saxon secular buildings in Britain were generally simple, constructed mainly using timber with thatch for roofing...
church. In the east window of the aisle is stained glass dating from the 14th century. This depicts the Crucifixion
Crucifixion of Jesus
The crucifixion of Jesus and his ensuing death is an event that occurred during the 1st century AD. Jesus, who Christians believe is the Son of God as well as the Messiah, was arrested, tried, and sentenced by Pontius Pilate to be scourged, and finally executed on a cross...
, Saint Catherine
Catherine of Alexandria
Saint Catherine of Alexandria, also known as Saint Catherine of the Wheel and The Great Martyr Saint Catherine is, according to tradition, a Christian saint and virgin, who was martyred in the early 4th century at the hands of the pagan emperor Maxentius...
with her wheel, and Saint Cecilia
Saint Cecilia
Saint Cecilia is the patroness of musicians and Church music because as she was dying she sang to God. It is also written that as the musicians played at her wedding she "sang in her heart to the Lord". St. Cecilia was an only child. Her feast day is celebrated in the Roman Catholic, Anglican,...
with an organ
Organ (music)
The organ , is a keyboard instrument of one or more divisions, each played with its own keyboard operated either with the hands or with the feet. The organ is a relatively old musical instrument in the Western musical tradition, dating from the time of Ctesibius of Alexandria who is credited with...
. In the east window of the aisle is stained glass dating from 1850. The octagonal font
Baptismal font
A baptismal font is an article of church furniture or a fixture used for the baptism of children and adults.-Aspersion and affusion fonts:...
is from the 15th century, as is the prayer desk in the chancel. The pulpit
Pulpit
Pulpit is a speakers' stand in a church. In many Christian churches, there are two speakers' stands at the front of the church. Typically, the one on the left is called the pulpit...
dates from the 19th century. An alms
Alms
Alms or almsgiving is a religious rite which, in general, involves giving materially to another as an act of religious virtue.It exists in a number of religions. In Philippine Regions, alms are given as charity to benefit the poor. In Buddhism, alms are given by lay people to monks and nuns to...
box, carved from a single piece of wood, is carved with an inscription and the date 1639.
In the west corner of the aisle are two monuments, consisting of effigies
Effigy
An effigy is a representation of a person, especially in the form of sculpture or some other three-dimensional form.The term is usually associated with full-length figures of a deceased person depicted in stone or wood on church monuments. These most often lie supine with hands together in prayer,...
on tomb chests. One of the effigies is that of a knight from the middle of the 13th century, lying with his legs crossed, and with puppies lying beside his pillow. He carries a large shield and is dressed in a chain mail
Mail (armour)
Mail is a type of armour consisting of small metal rings linked together in a pattern to form a mesh.-History:Mail was a highly successful type of armour and was used by nearly every metalworking culture....
surcoat
Surcoat
A surcoat was an outer garment commonly worn in the Middle Ages by both men and women. It can either refer to a coat worn over other garments or the outer garment of a person...
. The other effigy is from the late 14th century, and has been partly truncated. It consists of a knight, his hands held in prayer, and his feet on a dog. He is also dressed in chain mail and has a surcoat carved with heraldic
Heraldry
Heraldry is the profession, study, or art of creating, granting, and blazoning arms and ruling on questions of rank or protocol, as exercised by an officer of arms. Heraldry comes from Anglo-Norman herald, from the Germanic compound harja-waldaz, "army commander"...
symbols. In the chancel is a coffin-shaped slab carved in low relief. It depicts a 14th-century knight with a beard, and shows his head and the upper part of his body, and his shoes, but the lower part of his body and his legs have been replaced by an elaborate cross. The monuments are thought to represent members of the Disney family. In the chancel are three 19th-century marble
Marble
Marble is a metamorphic rock composed of recrystallized carbonate minerals, most commonly calcite or dolomite.Geologists use the term "marble" to refer to metamorphosed limestone; however stonemasons use the term more broadly to encompass unmetamorphosed limestone.Marble is commonly used for...
memorials to members of the Young family of Kingerby Hall.