A History of Horncastle, from the earliest period to the present timeWalter, J. Conway (James Conway)
History
A History of Horncastle, from the earliest period to the present time
Walter, J. Conway (James Conway)
Horncastle (England) -- History
The church, All Saints, is of considerable size, being one of the largest
village churches in the neighbourhood, mainly in the Perpendicular style,
and substantially built, consisting of tower, nave, and chancel, the two
latter of the same elevation throughout. The tower has three old bells,
and a peal of eight tubular bells. Gervase Holles gives the inscriptions
on the bells as being:
1. Sit nomen Domini benedictum.
2. Intonat e cælis vox campana Michaelis.
3. Sum rosa pulsata Mundi Maria vocata.
One of these was, some years ago, re-cast; and now bears the inscription
“voco ad templum, date 1759.”
The main features of the church are as follows: the porch arch is
semi-circular, Norman, the west window in the tower is unusually high,
12-ft. by 4-ft. in width, of three lights. The north aisle has four
bays. The nave, in the south wall, has two three-light windows, the
western one perpendicular and having pointed arch, the eastern square
headed. In the north wall there is a three-light debased decorated
window. In the west wall of the north aisle is a two-light window of
coloured glass, in memory of Augustus Elmhirst; and in its eastern wall
is a three-light memorial window to his sister, Mrs. Elizabeth Jane Ruck
Keene. In the south wall of the chancel are two late four-centre
two-light windows; and in the north wall a three-light flamboyant window.
Gervase Holles mentions a north chancel window having “sa. a crosse
between 4 cinquefoyles arg. . . .,” {179} but this has disappeared. The
east window is modern, with three lights. A new window was erected, in
1907, in the north aisle (corresponding to a window inserted in 1905, in
memory of General and Mrs. Elmhirst), by Mr. H. R. Elmhirst, to the
memory of his late wife, Lilian Frances, nee Hatfeild; the artists were
Powell and Sons; the subject Faith, Hope and Love represented by three
figures.
[Picture: All Saints’ Church, West Ashby]
The communion table has a very handsome cover, with red frontal,
elaborately embroidered with old Roman work. A carved wooden reredos has
recently been presented by Col. and Mrs. Stack. On a tablet on the north
wall is an elaborate inscription, in memory of Lieutenant Richard
Calthrop, who was killed at the siege of Algiers; erected by his mother
and 10 surviving brothers and sisters; who are said to have lived to the
remarkable average age of 85 years. There are various tablets
commemorative of the families of Rockliffe, Drewry, Pierce and Elmhirst.
There is a north door, as well as south, to the nave. The font is a
plain octagonal one, perpendicular in style.
The church was restored and reseated in 1873; the tower being renovated
in memory of Mrs. Barnard, otherwise known as “Claribel,” a well-known
musical composer, connected with the Elmhirst family. It is lofty and
massive, surmounted by four high pinnacles and large gurgoyles at the
angles.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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