St Medardus and St Gildardus Church, Little Bytham
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The church of St Medardus and St Gildardus in Little Bytham
is a Grade I listed building. It is dedicated to two 6th-century French saints, St Medard and St Gildard
(or Medardus and Gildardus); the dedication is unique in the UK. Virtually unknown in Britain, St Medard is still well-known in France, with at least 25 towns or villages named after him (as St Médard or St Méard). Gildard, thought to be his brother, is less well known. The village fête
is held annually on or near St Medard's feast day
, 8 June.
The earliest parts of the building are some Anglo-Saxon
"long-and-short" stonework, visible externally at the southeast and southwest corners (quoins) of the nave. The church also has several Romanesque
details dating from the Norman
era, including a Priest's Door ("uncommonly ornate", according to Nikolaus Pevsner
) with a finely carved tympanum
; the empty circular niche in the tympanum is said to have held a relic
; the birds in roundels to either side are probably eagles, as one is legendarily supposed to have sheltered Medard from the rain http://saints.sqpn.com/saintm23.htm. Also Norman are the plain, undecorated arch into the tower, and the north door (late 12th century).
The south aisle and the upper parts of the tower and spire are 13th century work; the intersecting tracery of the east window of the south aisle shows that it is slightly later, dating from around 1300, as does the nearby piscina
. The chancel arch is probably also from the late 13th century, and the double piscina in the chancel
may be of a similar age. The Easter Sepulchre
in the chancel is in the slightly later (Decorated) style, but is a fairly crude example. A finely sculpted capital
depicting a Green Man
surrounded by oak leaves, similar to examples at nearby Kirkby Underwood
and Greatford
, also dates from c.1300. It is no longer in position, having been built into a wall, face inwards, and rediscovered during later restoration work.
The stone base of the pulpit
is dated 1590, and has a Latin inscription Orate et parate ("Pray and prepare"). Pevsner mistakenly gives this as Orate et Arate.
Little Bytham
Little Bytham is a small village in South Kesteven in south Lincolnshire, situated between Corby Glen and Stamford on the B1176, which is straddled by brick railway viaducts of the East Coast Main Line as the road passes through the village.On the edge of the village to the east is the West Glen...
is a Grade I listed building. It is dedicated to two 6th-century French saints, St Medard and St Gildard
Saint Gildard
Saint Gildard, also known as Saint Gildardus and Saint Godard, was the Bishop of Rouen from 488 to 525. He is venerated as a saint of the Roman Catholic Church, and the missal of the Sarum Rite refers to him as a confessor.-Life:...
(or Medardus and Gildardus); the dedication is unique in the UK. Virtually unknown in Britain, St Medard is still well-known in France, with at least 25 towns or villages named after him (as St Médard or St Méard). Gildard, thought to be his brother, is less well known. The village fête
Fête
Fête is a French word meaning festival, celebration or party, which has passed into English as a label that may be given to certain events.-Description:It is widely used in England and Australia in the context of a village fête,...
is held annually on or near St Medard's feast day
Calendar of saints
The calendar of saints is a traditional Christian method of organizing a liturgical year by associating each day with one or more saints and referring to the feast day of said saint...
, 8 June.
The earliest parts of the building are some Anglo-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...
"long-and-short" stonework, visible externally at the southeast and southwest corners (quoins) of the nave. The church also has several Romanesque
Norman architecture
About|Romanesque architecture, primarily English|other buildings in Normandy|Architecture of Normandy.File:Durham Cathedral. Nave by James Valentine c.1890.jpg|thumb|200px|The nave of Durham Cathedral demonstrates the characteristic round arched style, though use of shallow pointed arches above the...
details dating from the Norman
Normans
The Normans were the people who gave their name to Normandy, a region in northern France. They were descended from Norse Viking conquerors of the territory and the native population of Frankish and Gallo-Roman stock...
era, including a Priest's Door ("uncommonly ornate", according to Nikolaus Pevsner
Nikolaus Pevsner
Sir Nikolaus Bernhard Leon Pevsner, CBE, FBA was a German-born British scholar of history of art and, especially, of history of architecture...
) with a finely carved tympanum
Tympanum (architecture)
In architecture, a tympanum is the semi-circular or triangular decorative wall surface over an entrance, bounded by a lintel and arch. It often contains sculpture or other imagery or ornaments. Most architectural styles include this element....
; the empty circular niche in the tympanum is said to have held a relic
Relic
In religion, a relic is a part of the body of a saint or a venerated person, or else another type of ancient religious object, carefully preserved for purposes of veneration or as a tangible memorial...
; the birds in roundels to either side are probably eagles, as one is legendarily supposed to have sheltered Medard from the rain http://saints.sqpn.com/saintm23.htm. Also Norman are the plain, undecorated arch into the tower, and the north door (late 12th century).
Piscina
A piscina is a shallow basin placed near the altar of a church, used for washing the communion vessels. The sacrarium is the drain itself. Anglicans usually refer to the basin, calling it a piscina. Roman Catholics usually refer to the drain, and by extension, the basin, as the sacrarium...
. The chancel arch is probably also from the late 13th century, and the double piscina in the 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...
may be of a similar age. The Easter Sepulchre
Easter Sepulchre
An Easter Sepulchre is a feature of English church architecture .-Description:The Easter Sepulchre is an arched recess generally in the north wall of the chancel, in which from Good Friday to Easter day were deposited the crucifix and sacred elements in commemoration of Christ's entombment and...
in the chancel is in the slightly later (Decorated) style, but is a fairly crude example. A finely sculpted capital
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...
depicting a Green Man
Green Man
A Green Man is a sculpture, drawing, or other representation of a face surrounded by or made from leaves. Branches or vines may sprout from the nose, mouth, nostrils or other parts of the face and these shoots may bear flowers or fruit...
surrounded by oak leaves, similar to examples at nearby Kirkby Underwood
Kirkby Underwood
Kirkby Underwood is a village of 80 households located around four miles north of Bourne in southern Lincolnshire, in the district of South Kesteven....
and Greatford
Greatford
Greatford is a village and civil parish in the South Kesteven district of Lincolnshire, England. It lies west of the A15, north-east of Stamford, and south of Bourne...
, also dates from c.1300. It is no longer in position, having been built into a wall, face inwards, and rediscovered during later restoration work.
The stone base of 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...
is dated 1590, and has a Latin inscription Orate et parate ("Pray and prepare"). Pevsner mistakenly gives this as Orate et Arate.