March 2012:
KETTLETHORPE, St Peter and St Paul's, and SAXILBY St Botolph's.
I was surprised and delighted when 27 members of the group attended the March meeting. This is the largest number since the group started in February 2010! Our first visit was to St Peter and Paul’s church Kettlethorpe where our guide was Canon Rhys Prosser. He explained that the church had many visitors because of its association with Katharine Swynford. The present church has been rebuilt as has the hall where Katharine lived. The church contains much reused stonework but the only item which Katharine would have known was the fourteenth century gateway to Kettlethorpe hall. There is an interesting ‘wineglass’ pulpit in this church which dates from the late 17th century and was imported from Brittany.
Kettlethorpe Hall was Katherine’s home after her first marriage for many years. When Katherine and John of Gaunt where both free to remarry he is said to have proposed to her in Kettlethorpe Church! This was a most interesting visit and I can recommend Anna Setons book ‘Katherine’ to those of you who would like to know about Kettlethorpe’s place in English history.
St Peter and St Paul's, Kettlethorpe
We then mover on to Saxilby where churchwarden David Turner gave an interesting talk about the various periods of church architecture represented in St Botolph’s church. David’s talk was followed by refreshments in the church hall.
St Botolph's, Saxilby
This was a particularly interesting day and the brilliant sunny day was very welcome.
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