December 2015:
SCOTHERN, St Germain.
**Click on photos to enlarge them**
Our last visit of 2015 was to Scothern St Germain. We were given a wonderfully warm welcome and entertained with music by Churchwarden Philip Manser and given an informative talk about the history of the church by Sue Leadbetter.
St Germain has more than 1000 years of history and was mentioned in Domesday (1086). Barlings Abbey owned the land from 1154 until 1536, and there are many stone remains in the church which are thought to have come from the abbey.
St Germain has more than 1000 years of history and was mentioned in Domesday (1086). Barlings Abbey owned the land from 1154 until 1536, and there are many stone remains in the church which are thought to have come from the abbey.
The ornately decorated stone grave slab was made for one of the Canons of the abbey, and the stone pillars which are either side of the rood screen were brought from the cloister at the abbey. They still bear the black marks of a fire at the abbey. There are more stone artefacts at the base of the pulpit.
For more information about Scothern church and village, read the chapters in Stocker and Everson’s
2011 book, Custodians of Continuity? The Premonstratensian Abbey at Barlings and the Landscape of Ritual.
For more information about Scothern church and village, read the chapters in Stocker and Everson’s
2011 book, Custodians of Continuity? The Premonstratensian Abbey at Barlings and the Landscape of Ritual.
Above the porch is the bell ringing chamber, added to the medieval tower in Victorian times. There are 6 bells which are rung before each service. Outside the west door is the small headstone of parish clerk John Blackburn, who died in 1739. It is now illegible, but used to read;
Alas poor John
Is dead and gone
Who often toll’d the Bell
And with a spade
Dug many a grave
And said Amen full well
Is dead and gone
Who often toll’d the Bell
And with a spade
Dug many a grave
And said Amen full well
There are services at the church every Sunday, regular Saturday coffee mornings, and local primary school children are encouraged to attend midweek communion services. St Germain is an active and thriving church, and we met many of their helpers who came to help out during our visit. There is only a limited space here to describe the church and its history, so do visit to learn more about its remarkable history. The beautiful organ music we heard played was by Byrd, Purcell, Elgar and Dr Philip Marshall, a former Lincoln Cathedral organist.
We have visited some remarkable churches over 2015, always learning something about the buildings, architecture, and the people who helped construct them. We all look forward to more visits in 2016. Thanks to all who have helped organise the visits, particularly our convenor, and to all those who send me beautiful photos. I’m only sorry I can’t use more of them.
Words JM
Photos MK & PS
Photos MK & PS
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