April 2016:
BASSINGHAM St Michael and All Angels.
Our April visit was to St Michael and All Angels church at Bassingham. We were greeted by Rhona who spoke to us about the history of the church and the stages of the building.
The church is part of the Withamside United Parish. The other churches are Stapleford All Saints, Thurlby St Germain, Norton Disney St Peter, Aubourn St Peter, and Carlton le Moorland St Mary.
There are two Saxon stones in the church which are used as a side altar, and there is mention of a church here in Domesday. The present church dates from the twelfth century, and the Norman arch nearest the west tower is what remains of this church. There were further alterations and phases of rebuilding from the 13th century.
The Glebe Terrier for 1707 records 4 bells, and by 1822 there were 5 bells. The late 18th century local public house was named ‘The Five Bells,’ but when another church bell was added in 1926 the pub decided not to change the name, and so it remains ‘The Five Bells.’ There is also a ship’s bell in the north aisle from HMS Bassingham presented in 1998. It is rung before every Sunday service.
The Glebe Terrier for 1707 records 4 bells, and by 1822 there were 5 bells. The late 18th century local public house was named ‘The Five Bells,’ but when another church bell was added in 1926 the pub decided not to change the name, and so it remains ‘The Five Bells.’ There is also a ship’s bell in the north aisle from HMS Bassingham presented in 1998. It is rung before every Sunday service.
The stained glass in the east window was presented to the church in 1939 and was designed by W F Zettler in Munich. It depicts St Michael, Gabriel and Raphael. The colours are most beautiful. Two further windows were installed in the Lady Chapel in 1948 and 1949. One depicts Mary Magdalene and Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane, and shows Jesus unusually holding a spade.
Outside the church there are gargoyles in the battlemented clerestory. They show the heads of animals and people. It is said that when Walt Disney visited his ancestral home at Norton Disney, he visited this church and was so taken with the gargoyles he based his representation of Pluto the dog on one of them. Which one?
It is obvious to the visitor that this church is well used, well-loved and well cared for. There are services every Sunday and many community events are held throughout the week. There are many other items of interest in this church, including the parish chest, the small statue of Our Lady of Walsingham in the south aisle, the 13th C font and the sundial outside of the south aisle wall dated 1763.
St Michael’s church has a warm welcoming atmosphere and holds many interesting facts and items of interest from its long history.
St Michael’s church has a warm welcoming atmosphere and holds many interesting facts and items of interest from its long history.
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