Читать книгу Records, Historical and Antiquarian, of Parishes Round Horncastle онлайн

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The Church, dedicated to St. Michael, consists of tower, nave with south aisle, and chancel. The tower is of three stories. In the western wall, above the west door, is a three-light trefoiled perpendicular window, above this a clock, above that a smaller three-light window, similar windows being in all four faces. The sill of the west door is an ancient stone, with the “Runic involuted knot” pattern, which, however, is almost obliterated by the tread of worshippers entering by the door. It is similar to the Runic stone at Miningsby. The church has been restored or rebuilt at various periods. The tower, originally a lofty one, but a large part of which, through decay of the sandstone, had fallen down, was partly rebuilt in 1684, and a lower bell-chamber provided. In 1894 it was again restored, and carried up to its original height. The chancel also was rebuilt to its original length in 1871, and the nave, aisle, and porch were handsomely restored in 1878. There are three bells. On the south interior wall of the tower is an inscription on a tablet, recording that the tower was restored and clock set up in 1894, in memory of four generations of the Ward family, “who were married in 1704, 1728, 1783, 1836, G. Ward, F.S.A. (Rector), W. Sharpe (Churchwarden), their 23rd year of office together, C. Hodgson Fowler (Architect), Edwd. Bowman and Sons (Contractors).”