February 2013:
LINCOLN, St Katherine's.
Left: St Katherine's Heritage and Cultural Centre, South Park Lincoln. Centre: Remains of the medieval priory, including ceramic water pipes - now protected with a glass floor. Right: The remains of the first Eleanor Cross erected by Edward I at the foot of Cross Cliff Hill and now in Lincoln Castle.
St. Katherine's before and after restoration.
I am sure many of you will have passed the church with tower and spire close by South Park Lincoln but have never been inside so I was particularly pleased that so many members of the group took the opportunity to do so for our February meeting. This is in fact one of the most important historic sites in Lincoln. In the mid twelfth century the Gilbertine priory of St Katherine without Bargate was founded together with St Sepulchre’s Hospital on a site of about nine acres stretching from the Sincil Drain to Cross Cliff Hill. For three hundred years the monks and nuns cared for the poor, the sick and the dying – as well as a hospital there was an orphanage and school within the priory walls. It was also a place of hospitality - not only church dignitaries but also royalty and the nobility stayed here before entering the city. In 1181 St Hugh stayed with the prior before proceeding bare foot to his enthronement in the Cathedral. It became customary for successive bishops to do the same. When Bishop St Hugh died in 1199 in London his body was brought to St Katherine’s before being taken to the Cathedral in a procession led by King John.
When Queen Eleanor, wife of Edward I, died in 1290 at Harby her body was taken to St Katherine’s for preparation for the journey to London for burial at Westminster Abbey. Part of her body was buried in Lincoln Cathedral and the King arranged for twelve crosses to be erected at each place where her body lay overnight. The first of these Eleanor crosses was erected near St Katherine’s at the foot of Cross Cliff Hill and the last at Charing Cross. In 1535 the priory was dissolved and eventually passed into the hands of the Grantham family who made their home in what was known as St Katherine’s Hall. In 1617 King James I stayed there but the house was demolished in the eighteenth century.
In 1879 a group of Methodists formed a trust to purchase land in St Catherine’s, including the site of the priory, on which to build a school chapel. In 1887 it was decided to build a church in front of the school chapel. Due to the high cost of maintenance it was decided to close the church in 1976 and a period of neglect followed with the building gradually deteriorating. In 2002 the Priory Trust was formed to restore St Catherine’s Church. This has now been done and the church is now the St Katherine’s Heritage and Cultural Centre with the former school building being used for many activities. The original organ was sold when the church closed but a very fine unique and nationally important instrument is about to be installed and also it is hoped that bells will be installed in the tower in the near future.
There is little doubt that our visit was to one of Lincoln’s hidden gems and everyone has expressed their appreciation. The restoration of the church is quite remarkable and the exhibits are extremely well displayed -drawing attention to a part of Lincoln’s history which compared with uphill Lincoln is little known. I must admit that I found of particular interest the reproductions of the Lutterell Psalter and other books quite fascinating. But there is so much to see and I urge anyone who hasn’t been to the Priory Centre to make a visit soon.
It was good to have refreshments and a chat in the restaurant to finish a most enjoyable visit to the south of the city.
NOTES : The initial letter of Catherine is a K when referring to the medieval history but is a C for later references. The Catherine wheel firework is named after the instrument of torture upon which St Katherine was to have been martyred but which miraculously flew into pieces when she touched it.
When Queen Eleanor, wife of Edward I, died in 1290 at Harby her body was taken to St Katherine’s for preparation for the journey to London for burial at Westminster Abbey. Part of her body was buried in Lincoln Cathedral and the King arranged for twelve crosses to be erected at each place where her body lay overnight. The first of these Eleanor crosses was erected near St Katherine’s at the foot of Cross Cliff Hill and the last at Charing Cross. In 1535 the priory was dissolved and eventually passed into the hands of the Grantham family who made their home in what was known as St Katherine’s Hall. In 1617 King James I stayed there but the house was demolished in the eighteenth century.
In 1879 a group of Methodists formed a trust to purchase land in St Catherine’s, including the site of the priory, on which to build a school chapel. In 1887 it was decided to build a church in front of the school chapel. Due to the high cost of maintenance it was decided to close the church in 1976 and a period of neglect followed with the building gradually deteriorating. In 2002 the Priory Trust was formed to restore St Catherine’s Church. This has now been done and the church is now the St Katherine’s Heritage and Cultural Centre with the former school building being used for many activities. The original organ was sold when the church closed but a very fine unique and nationally important instrument is about to be installed and also it is hoped that bells will be installed in the tower in the near future.
There is little doubt that our visit was to one of Lincoln’s hidden gems and everyone has expressed their appreciation. The restoration of the church is quite remarkable and the exhibits are extremely well displayed -drawing attention to a part of Lincoln’s history which compared with uphill Lincoln is little known. I must admit that I found of particular interest the reproductions of the Lutterell Psalter and other books quite fascinating. But there is so much to see and I urge anyone who hasn’t been to the Priory Centre to make a visit soon.
It was good to have refreshments and a chat in the restaurant to finish a most enjoyable visit to the south of the city.
NOTES : The initial letter of Catherine is a K when referring to the medieval history but is a C for later references. The Catherine wheel firework is named after the instrument of torture upon which St Katherine was to have been martyred but which miraculously flew into pieces when she touched it.
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