April 2014:
GAUTBY, All Saints.
Our outing to All Saints Church, Gautby was proof that a successful visit does not require the sight of grand architecture, beautiful stained glass, etc. Our visit coincided with restoration work being carried out, underpinning sinking walls, replacing part of the roof, scaffolding everywhere – in general terms a real mess!
We were welcomed to the church by Ruth Addison who lives close by and who admits to not being a churchgoer but whose enthusiasm for the church and its history knows no bounds.
We were welcomed to the church by Ruth Addison who lives close by and who admits to not being a churchgoer but whose enthusiasm for the church and its history knows no bounds.
After a few minutes in the church, in which all the items of interest were covered up to protect them whilst the restoration work was in progress, we moved to the village hall. Here refreshments were available and our guide told us how the church was rebuilt in the eighteenth century on the site of an earlier medieval building. She explained how the splendid reclining statues had been removed from St Mary Woolnoth in London after the Great Fire. The two figures are of Sir Thomas Vyner and his second son Thomas, neither of whom ever visited Gautby! Sir Thomas had been a friend of Charles I and later of Cromwell and Charles II. He had also been Mayor of London.
£150,000 is currently being spent on repair work. The village has just twelve houses but what is lacking in numbers is, however by no means lacking in enthusiasm for this remarkable 1756 church. A further visit when the work has been completed will be a must for most of the group.
Acknowledgements : I am grateful to Dr Allan B. Barton for permission to use the photographs in this article which were taken by him before the recent restoration of this church. I am also grateful to Eric Wilson for the text. JRK
£150,000 is currently being spent on repair work. The village has just twelve houses but what is lacking in numbers is, however by no means lacking in enthusiasm for this remarkable 1756 church. A further visit when the work has been completed will be a must for most of the group.
Acknowledgements : I am grateful to Dr Allan B. Barton for permission to use the photographs in this article which were taken by him before the recent restoration of this church. I am also grateful to Eric Wilson for the text. JRK
Back to Past Visits Main Page.