Minster Church of St. Mary, Stow-in-Lindsey, Lincolnshire
Encyclopedia
The Minster Church of St Mary, Stow in Lindsey is one of the oldest parish churches in England. It originally served as the Cathedral Church of the ancient diocese of Lindsey, founded in the 7th century, and stands on the site of a much older one.
at Sidnacester (Syddensis) has been placed, by various commentators, at Caistor
, Louth
, Horncastle and, most often, at Stow
, all in present-day Lincolnshire
, England. More recent research has concluded, however, that the seat was, in fact, the original foundation in Lincoln
itself.
There had been a church situated in Stow
even before the arrival of the Danes in 870, the year they are documented to have burnt the church down. The building remained in ruins until an Abbey was built in 1040, reputedly by bishop Eadnoth II.
Dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary, Stow parish church, sometimes referred to as the "Mother Church of Lincolnshire," is one of the largest and oldest parish churches in England. It is partly Saxon and partly Norman in date and is designated by English Heritage
as a “Scheduled Ancient Monument
” and was also included in the World Monuments Fund
's 2006 list of the world's 100 most endangered sites. It has the tallest Saxon arches of its time in Britain, the earliest known example of Viking graffiti in England (a rough scratching of an oared Viking sailing ship, probably dating from the 10th century), a font that is Early English, standing on nine supports with pagan symbols around its base and an early wall painting dedicated to St Thomas Becket
.
Ralph de Diceto
attributes the church’s foundation to Elnothus Lincolniensis, almost certainly Aelfnoth, Bishop of Dorchester
, c. 975, who built the church, possibly on the site of an earlier wooden Saxon church, to serve as Minster (or mother church) for the Lincolnshire part of his large diocese, it was a second cathedral because part of the bishop's household of priests (which later became the cathedral chapter) lived in Stow and administered this part of the diocese. The memory of this period gave rise to the tradition that Stow is the Mother Church of Lincoln Cathedral
.
It is said to have been re-founded and re-endowed in 1054 by Leofric
and Godiva encouraged by Bishop Wulfwig as a Minster of Secular Canons with the Bishop at its head. In 1091 Bishop Remigius of Fécamp re-founded it as an abbey and brought monks to it from Eynsham Abbey
, describing the church as having been a long time deserted and ruined. Within five years his successor had transferred the monks back whence they had come and St Mary’s had become a parish church.
In 1865 J. L. Pearson built the stair turret outside the church. This was originally inside the church in the nave up against the north side of the tower arch. At the same time some windows were altered and the church was re-roofed. A new vestry was added in the early 1990s (some skeletons and a broken 13th century limestone cross were found during the work).
One mile (2 km) to the west of the village and lying just to the south of the Roman road known as Tillbridge Lane are to be found the remains of the medieval palace of the Bishops of Lincoln built in 1336. All that can be seen today are the earthworks of the moat and to the north and east of the site the earthwork remains of its associated medieval fish-ponds.
in 2006, this special building is in need of water and weatherproofing before the internal decoration can be addressed.
This important Anglo-Saxon Minster has parts dating from 950 AD. It attracts visitors from round the world and is an important historic and spiritual site which was restored in Victorian times
but now needs major restoration and repair works.
The Church is a Grade I listed building so great care needs to be taken. It is estimated that the work will take at least 10 years to complete and cost between £2–3 million at current prices.
History
The Bishop of Lindsey's seatCathedra
A cathedra or bishop's throne is the chair or throne of a bishop. It is a symbol of the bishop's teaching authority in the Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church, and has in some sense remained such in the Anglican Communion and in Lutheran churches...
at Sidnacester (Syddensis) has been placed, by various commentators, at Caistor
Caistor
See Caistor St Edmund for the Roman settlement in Norfolk or Caister-on-Sea for the town in NorfolkCaistor is a town and civil parish situated in the West Lindsey district of Lincolnshire, England. As its name implies, it was originally a Roman castrum or fortress...
, Louth
Louth, Lincolnshire
Louth is a market town and civil parish within the East Lindsey district of Lincolnshire, England.-Geography:Known as the "capital of the Lincolnshire Wolds", it is situated where the ancient trackway Barton Street crosses the River Lud, and has a total resident population of 15,930.The Greenwich...
, Horncastle and, most often, at Stow
Stow, Lincolnshire
Stow is a small village and civil parish within the West Lindsey district of Lincolnshire, England. It is eleven miles northwest of the city of Lincoln and six miles southeast of Gainsborough, and has a total resident population of 355.Stow dates back to Roman times and in the...
, all in present-day 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. More recent research has concluded, however, that the seat was, in fact, the original foundation in Lincoln
Lincoln, Lincolnshire
Lincoln is a cathedral city and county town of Lincolnshire, England.The non-metropolitan district of Lincoln has a population of 85,595; the 2001 census gave the entire area of Lincoln a population of 120,779....
itself.
There had been a church situated in Stow
Stow, Lincolnshire
Stow is a small village and civil parish within the West Lindsey district of Lincolnshire, England. It is eleven miles northwest of the city of Lincoln and six miles southeast of Gainsborough, and has a total resident population of 355.Stow dates back to Roman times and in the...
even before the arrival of the Danes in 870, the year they are documented to have burnt the church down. The building remained in ruins until an Abbey was built in 1040, reputedly by bishop Eadnoth II.
Dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary, Stow parish church, sometimes referred to as the "Mother Church of Lincolnshire," is one of the largest and oldest parish churches in England. It is partly Saxon and partly Norman in date and is 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 “Scheduled Ancient Monument
Scheduled Ancient Monument
In the United Kingdom, a scheduled monument is a 'nationally important' archaeological site or historic building, given protection against unauthorized change. The various pieces of legislation used for legally protecting heritage assets from damage and destruction are grouped under the term...
” and was also included in the World Monuments Fund
World Monuments Fund
World Monuments Fund is a private, international, non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation of historic architecture and cultural heritage sites around the world through fieldwork, advocacy, grantmaking, education, and training....
's 2006 list of the world's 100 most endangered sites. It has the tallest Saxon arches of its time in Britain, the earliest known example of Viking graffiti in England (a rough scratching of an oared Viking sailing ship, probably dating from the 10th century), a font that is Early English, standing on nine supports with pagan symbols around its base and an early wall painting dedicated to St Thomas Becket
Thomas Becket
Thomas Becket was Archbishop of Canterbury from 1162 until his murder in 1170. He is venerated as a saint and martyr by both the Roman Catholic Church and the Anglican Communion...
.
Ralph de Diceto
Ralph de Diceto
Ralph de Diceto was archdeacon of Middlesex, dean of St Paul's Cathedral , and author of two chronicles, the Abbreviationes Chronicorum and the Ymagines Historiarum.-Early career:...
attributes the church’s foundation to Elnothus Lincolniensis, almost certainly Aelfnoth, Bishop of Dorchester
Bishop of Dorchester
Title held by various ecclesiastics including:*Bishop of Dorchester , suffragan bishop under the Church of England, 20th century onwards*Bishop of Dorchester , Saxon bishopric, merged into bishop of Lincoln c.1072...
, c. 975, who built the church, possibly on the site of an earlier wooden Saxon church, to serve as Minster (or mother church) for the Lincolnshire part of his large diocese, it was a second cathedral because part of the bishop's household of priests (which later became the cathedral chapter) lived in Stow and administered this part of the diocese. The memory of this period gave rise to the tradition that Stow is the Mother Church of Lincoln Cathedral
Lincoln Cathedral
Lincoln Cathedral is a historic Anglican cathedral in Lincoln in England and seat of the Bishop of Lincoln in the Church of England. It was reputedly the tallest building in the world for 249 years . The central spire collapsed in 1549 and was not rebuilt...
.
It is said to have been re-founded and re-endowed in 1054 by Leofric
Leofric
Leofric may refer to:* Leofric , English religious leader* Leofric, Earl of Mercia , English noble and benefactor of churches...
and Godiva encouraged by Bishop Wulfwig as a Minster of Secular Canons with the Bishop at its head. In 1091 Bishop Remigius of Fécamp re-founded it as an abbey and brought monks to it from Eynsham Abbey
Eynsham Abbey
Eynsham Abbey was a Benedictine monastery in Eynsham, Oxfordshire, in England between 1005 and 1538. King Æthelred allowed Æthelmær the Stout to found the abbey in 1005. There is some evidence that the abbey was built on the site of an earlier minster, probably founded in the 7th or 8th...
, describing the church as having been a long time deserted and ruined. Within five years his successor had transferred the monks back whence they had come and St Mary’s had become a parish church.
In 1865 J. L. Pearson built the stair turret outside the church. This was originally inside the church in the nave up against the north side of the tower arch. At the same time some windows were altered and the church was re-roofed. A new vestry was added in the early 1990s (some skeletons and a broken 13th century limestone cross were found during the work).
One mile (2 km) to the west of the village and lying just to the south of the Roman road known as Tillbridge Lane are to be found the remains of the medieval palace of the Bishops of Lincoln built in 1336. All that can be seen today are the earthworks of the moat and to the north and east of the site the earthwork remains of its associated medieval fish-ponds.
Conservation issues
Included in the 100 most endangered sites in the world by the World Monuments FundWorld Monuments Fund
World Monuments Fund is a private, international, non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation of historic architecture and cultural heritage sites around the world through fieldwork, advocacy, grantmaking, education, and training....
in 2006, this special building is in need of water and weatherproofing before the internal decoration can be addressed.
This important Anglo-Saxon Minster has parts dating from 950 AD. It attracts visitors from round the world and is an important historic and spiritual site which was restored in Victorian times
Victorian restoration
Victorian restoration is the term commonly used to refer to the widespread and extensive refurbishment and rebuilding of Church of England churches and cathedrals that took place in England and Wales during the 19th-century reign of Queen Victoria...
but now needs major restoration and repair works.
The Church is a Grade I listed building so great care needs to be taken. It is estimated that the work will take at least 10 years to complete and cost between £2–3 million at current prices.