After a day at Belton House, lovely National Trust property, but the church was locked, we drove to Ancaster, where the church was locked. Then we headed up the A607 and in Normanton-on-Cliffe there was a CCT sign beside the road saying “church open” – SK 048463. Lovely to be able to enter a church (that isn’t my own), just somewhat ironic it is a closed parish church that is open! St Nicholas church – https://www.visitchurches.org.uk/visit/church-listing/st-nicholas-normanton.html. Apparently there are 24 CCT churches in Lincolnshire, that should keep me quiet.
It’s a medieval church with C11 origins. Changes were made in late-Middle Ages and again during the C19. A very high ceiling, and the Royal Arms is George IV, reigned 1820 to 1830.
I like the cross and candles on the altar and the aumbry – but no details of those in the leaflet.
A C17 hexagonal pulpit, and a rather unique War Memorial – I don’t think I’ve ever seen one like this before. I wonder if it was locally made.
The font is C12, with a later font cover. The medieval chest is, well, medieval.
The south aisle is C12, and I like the waterleaf capitals – very tactile.
I also like the lead plaque under the tower – that’s the way to remember a churchwarden – along with the Benefaction boards. In 1758 Captain Lewis Gwin bequeathed £100 to be invested and distributed amongst the poor, in the form of coal. The board also records an annual donation of £2 by an anonymous donor.
Nice walk round the outside, so nice to be back in a church with my camera.
