October 2013:
TATTERSHALL, Holy Trinity.
The Group’s October 2013 visit was to the magnificent church of the Holy Trinity at Tattershall. Our immediate impression is of the light from the very large clear glass windows of the chancel. Our guide was churchwarden and organist, Douglas Eke, who gave us a most interesting and well researched talk about the church which was endowed, in 1439 by King Henry VI, with Collegiate status. This is unusual and a Collegiate Church is one that has attached to it, a Chapter who are paid through endowments and by the income from land or tithes. Such a staff of priests is normally associated only with Cathedrals.
Two views of the exterior of Holy Trinity church Tattershall.
The Charter that Henry VI granted to Tattershall was endorsed by several worthy and notable individuals of that time including
Baron Ralph Cromwell; Henry Beaufort, Bishop of Winchester, Cardinal of All England;
William Alnwick, Bishop of Lincoln; John Scroope, 4th Baron Scroope of Bolton;
Walter Hungerford, Baron and Admiral of the Fleet; Walter Talbois and William Paston,
members of the parish of Tateshale.
William Alnwick, Bishop of Lincoln; John Scroope, 4th Baron Scroope of Bolton;
Walter Hungerford, Baron and Admiral of the Fleet; Walter Talbois and William Paston,
members of the parish of Tateshale.
This Charter authorised the existing Church of St. Peter and St Paul to be demolished and this Collegiate Church to be built. Ten acres of land, with orchards and gardens, were given on which to build houses the Master, the six Chaplains, the clerks, choristers, and the servants.
The only items remaining from the original church are the base of the font and a brass to Hugh de Goudeby, 1411, which is in the chancel. Hugh de Goudeby was Steward to Ralph, the 3rd Baron Cromwell, who also commissioned the building of the unique brick castle and was Chancellor to Henry VI, and a very rich and powerful person. He endowed the church with two estates, the revenue from which was to pay for the upkeep of the buildings and for its staff.
In the event, building was not begun until around 1472, seventeen years after Baron Cromwell's death in 1455. The work was overseen by William of Wainfleet, Cardinal of All England and Bishop of Winchester, who was Chief Executor of Cromwell’s Will. He ensured that the original design, approved by Ralph Cromwell, was adhered to by the Master Mason and builders.
When the church was completed around 1500, it must have been a magnificent sight. It is an unparalleled gem of the 15th Century and a piece of English architectural splendour which is a glorious monument to the vision and skill of its benefactors, designers and builders.
Inside, it once had some of the finest stained and painted glass in England. Every pane of glass in the building was stained or painted and was made, predominantly by six English workshops. Unfortunately, all that is left is that which can be seen in the great East Window. The rest of the glass was removed in 1754 after the then vicar, Samuel Kirkshawe, in 1735 had asked for ‘this dark stuff to be removed and replaced with clear glass’.
As a result the Chancel was left open to the ravages of the weather and wildfowl and all the stalls and medieval furniture rotted. The glass in the windows of the North, West and East walls of the Nave was replaced, while the North and South Transept windows were bricked up until around 1900. The majority of the lost medieval glass that can be traced is to be found in St. Martins Church, Stamford; there is some also in Burghley House, Stamford and a few panes in Warwick Castle.
There is much more of interest here but space is limited. If you haven’t been then Tattershall parish church is recommended!
I acknowledge Eric Wilson’s assistance with the text and Max Kitchens help with photographs.
The only items remaining from the original church are the base of the font and a brass to Hugh de Goudeby, 1411, which is in the chancel. Hugh de Goudeby was Steward to Ralph, the 3rd Baron Cromwell, who also commissioned the building of the unique brick castle and was Chancellor to Henry VI, and a very rich and powerful person. He endowed the church with two estates, the revenue from which was to pay for the upkeep of the buildings and for its staff.
In the event, building was not begun until around 1472, seventeen years after Baron Cromwell's death in 1455. The work was overseen by William of Wainfleet, Cardinal of All England and Bishop of Winchester, who was Chief Executor of Cromwell’s Will. He ensured that the original design, approved by Ralph Cromwell, was adhered to by the Master Mason and builders.
When the church was completed around 1500, it must have been a magnificent sight. It is an unparalleled gem of the 15th Century and a piece of English architectural splendour which is a glorious monument to the vision and skill of its benefactors, designers and builders.
Inside, it once had some of the finest stained and painted glass in England. Every pane of glass in the building was stained or painted and was made, predominantly by six English workshops. Unfortunately, all that is left is that which can be seen in the great East Window. The rest of the glass was removed in 1754 after the then vicar, Samuel Kirkshawe, in 1735 had asked for ‘this dark stuff to be removed and replaced with clear glass’.
As a result the Chancel was left open to the ravages of the weather and wildfowl and all the stalls and medieval furniture rotted. The glass in the windows of the North, West and East walls of the Nave was replaced, while the North and South Transept windows were bricked up until around 1900. The majority of the lost medieval glass that can be traced is to be found in St. Martins Church, Stamford; there is some also in Burghley House, Stamford and a few panes in Warwick Castle.
There is much more of interest here but space is limited. If you haven’t been then Tattershall parish church is recommended!
I acknowledge Eric Wilson’s assistance with the text and Max Kitchens help with photographs.
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