MARCH 2011:
St Giles, LINCOLN and St Nicholas, Newport, LINCOLN
Above: (left) St Giles Church Lincoln - c1936, (right) St Peter at Arches Church Lincoln - c1910.
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Our first church in March was St Giles (above left) which is often said to be the rebuilt St Peter at Arches (above right). In fact St Peter’s was built of stone and St Giles of brick and is one bay longer than St Peter’s. However, when St Peter’s which was near the Stonebow in Lincoln was demolished in the 1920s most of the artefacts were saved with the intention of using them when a new church was built in the suburbs of the city. Eventually it was decided that a new church in the style of St Peter’s should be built on the new estate between Nettleham and Wragby Roads, The dedication to St Giles commemorates St Giles Hospital which was situated opposite Curle Avenue on Wragby Road. The medieval stone arch over the passage leading from the sanctuary to the vestry is believed to be from St Giles Hospital.
Amongst the artefacts from St Peter’s now in St Giles church are the pulpit, metal railings, eight bells, organ, pews, and font.
Amongst the artefacts from St Peter’s now in St Giles church are the pulpit, metal railings, eight bells, organ, pews, and font.
Above: (left) Medieval arch, (center) the Font, (right) the view from the gallery of the altar.
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Some of the group ascended the stairs into the ringing chamber where the tower captain, Mick Stracey explained the intricacies of change ringing and the history and importance of the bells formerly at St Peter at Arches and now installed in the tower of St Giles. Also of particular interest was the eighteenth century board recording a bellringing performance which is the earliest such record in Lincolnshire and is about to be restored.
Above: (left) Mick Stracey talking to the group in the ringing chamber, (right) the earliest peal board in Lincolnshire - 1756.
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Our visit to St Giles concluded with a short recital on the fine organ by one of our group! We then moved on to St Nicholas’ church Newport Lincoln.
There were two twelfth century churches in the area of Lincoln known as Newport, St Nicholas and St John but both were destroyed during the Civil War. During the nineteenth century the population of Newport increased and the foundations of a new St Nicholas church were laid in 1839. The design of the new church was by Sir G G Scott who won a competition in 1838 and is his earliest church. The chancel and north aisle were added in 1908-9. There have been a number of additions and improvements to the church over the years.
There were two twelfth century churches in the area of Lincoln known as Newport, St Nicholas and St John but both were destroyed during the Civil War. During the nineteenth century the population of Newport increased and the foundations of a new St Nicholas church were laid in 1839. The design of the new church was by Sir G G Scott who won a competition in 1838 and is his earliest church. The chancel and north aisle were added in 1908-9. There have been a number of additions and improvements to the church over the years.
Above: (left) St Nicholas Church, (center) the Military Chapel, (right) the Sanctuary.
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The parish has a long association with the Royal Lincolnshire Regiment and particularly with Sobraon Barracks. Military life in the parish is commemorated by the Military Chapel with the sanctuary furniture in this chapel being given by the Lincolnshire Regiment.
Most of the stained glass windows in this church are from redundant churches and were installed in St Nicholas in the 1990s. .
Most of the stained glass windows in this church are from redundant churches and were installed in St Nicholas in the 1990s. .
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