August 2015:
WAITHE, St Martin.
The August visit was to the church of St Martin, Waithe. After taking the A16 north from Louth, the church is situated a short way down Church Lane, a right turn one mile north of North Thoresby. The church is closed, and is cared for by the Churches Conservation Trust.
The path up to St Martin's church from Church Lane
The CCT look after 24 closed churches in Lincolnshire.
From the exterior, the church has a central tower and a semi-circular apse. Nothing prepares you what you see when you enter the church.
From the exterior, the church has a central tower and a semi-circular apse. Nothing prepares you what you see when you enter the church.
The exterior of the church
St Martin’s was completely restored in 1861 by James Fowler, Louth architect, and funded by the Haigh family, local landowners.
The interior is very light and colourful. The chancel floor, walls and reredos are covered in Minton tiles. There are many tiled memorials to the Haigh family who owned the nearby Grainsby Hall which was demolished in 1972.
The interior is very light and colourful. The chancel floor, walls and reredos are covered in Minton tiles. There are many tiled memorials to the Haigh family who owned the nearby Grainsby Hall which was demolished in 1972.
Below the central tower are two white painted Romanesque (Norman) arches. They are thought to be post-conquest although some experts disagree. Certainly the exterior base of the tower must be Saxon in origin, and the bell chamber openings look early Norman. There were three mid-15th century bells, St Anne, St Martin and St Gabriel. It is not clear whether they are still in situ.
The nave is mainly of red brick and the stained glass windows depict scenes from the New Testament.
Our group founder, Dr John Ketteringham visited the church with us. He recalled seeing it some years ago when it was in a perilous and neglected state. He was so pleased to see it restored to its former glory.
The nave is mainly of red brick and the stained glass windows depict scenes from the New Testament.
Our group founder, Dr John Ketteringham visited the church with us. He recalled seeing it some years ago when it was in a perilous and neglected state. He was so pleased to see it restored to its former glory.
The church is so unusual and dissimilar to anything else you might have seen. It is a ‘must see’. The CCT have information boards at the entrance to the church explaining the layout of the building. More information about the church can be found at the CCT website.
http://www.visitchurches.org.uk/
Words: JM, Photos: PS & JM
http://www.visitchurches.org.uk/
Words: JM, Photos: PS & JM
Back to Past Visits Main Page.