Benwick: St Mary The Virgin
Overview
Grid reference: TL 340 906
There is little to suggest the hand of Teulon in this straightforward church. Only the tracery of some of the windows, particularly the west window and the slightly odd lancets of the north aisle, are anything out of the ordinary.
Visiting and facilities
Building is closed for worship
Building
Ground Plan Description and Dimensions
Ground plan:
Nave of five bays with north aisle under its own gable and the base of a tower in the west bay; south porch; chancel.
Description of Archaeology and History
The church was designed by Samuel Sanders Teulon and built in 1850-51, being consecrated in August of the latter year. Teulon (1812-1873) who is particularly well known for his two London churches at Victoria Docks and Haverstock Hill, both now redundant, built several churches in rural parts of Lincolnshire in the 1850's. There was an unconsecrated chapel at Benwick in 1637, and the present church was built on its site. It cost about £2,500.
Exterior Description
The nave has two-light windows in the south wall with trefoiled heads to the paired lights and alternating designs of leaf-like lights in the tracery. In the second bay from the west is the porch with a moulded two-centred outer arch. The west wall has a four-light window with flowing tracery, and below a stringcourse is the west doorway with a moulded two-centred arch and hood and good scrolling ironwork of vigorous character covering the whole of the oak doors. There are small angles buttresses at the corners, and on the north side is the lowest stage of the tower with a two-light window in the west wall with a six-pointed star for a tracery light. This has a north window similar to those in the south nave wall and then the north aisle has four lancets with ogee arches within the heads. The east wall has a two-light window in the gable with main lights of rather the same pattern as the lancets and cusped Y tracery above. Again there are only angle buttresses at the corner of the aisle. The upper stages of the tower and the shingled broach spire were taken down in 1967 because they leant considerably westwards. All the walls of the church are at present out of the perpendicular.
The chancel has two small windows in the north wall of similar design to those in the north aisle, and a two-light window, again with similar motifs, in the south wall, where there is also a priest's doorway. The east window is of three ogee-headed main lights with flowing tracery above. Below it there is an illegible foundation stone, and at this end of the building the brick footings are well above the present ground level. All the roofs are covered with alternating bands of about four rows of plain tiles and four rows of fish-scale tiles.
Building Fabric and Features
Stained Glass
1912
The east window depicts Faith, Hope and Charity, 1912, by Jones and Willis.
Stained Glass
1929
Nave south I : The Virtuous Woman of Proverbs XXXI, by Jones and Willis
Stained Glass
1920
Nave west window: The Four Evangelists, 1920, by Jones and Willis.
Stained Glass
1919
North aisle east window: Christ and Sir Galahad
Interior
Interior Description
The interior has plastered walls painted white, with plain reveals for the windows. The tower space, which forms the vestry, is entered by arches both from the nave and from the west end of the north aisle, and the four bays of the north arcade consist of double-chamfered arches carried by octagonal pillars with moulded bases and capitals. The open timber roof has arch-braced collars and king-posts carried on moulded stone corbels with three rows of purlins. The floor is of concrete. The chancel arch was removed, probably when the church was restored in 1902, and replaced by a timber framing which incorporates a screen and a rood beam. The semi-octagonal responds of the chancel arch survive. The chancel roof is of similar construction to that of the nave, but without king-posts above the collars. The floor is paved with red and black tiles concealed by a pink carpet.
Fixtures and fittings
Altar
The altar is supported on turned wooden columns with moulded bases and capitals.
Pulpit
c.1850
The pulpit is hexagonal, of wood, doubtless by Teulon and of c.1850, with a blind ogee arch in each face, and at present grained yellow and painted pink and gold.
Font (object)
c.1850
Of stone with an octagonal stem and bowl with quatrefoils in panels round the sides.
Organ (object)
c.1890
The organ is a one-manual instrument.
Rail
c.1902
The communion rails are of oak, with pierced tracery on the rail under the flat top.
Screen
c.1902
The screen of oak is mostly part of the structure of the church, but it has a crested beam supporting a rood with small figures.
Churchyard
Grid reference: TL 340 906
Burial and War Grave Information
It is unknown whether the building is consecrated.
It is unknown whether the churchyard has been used for burial.
It is unknown whether the churchyard is used for burial.
The churchyard is closed for burial by order in council.
The date of the burial closure order is 21/07/1987
It is unknown whether the churchyard has war graves.
National Heritage record for England designations
There are no records of National Heritage assets within the curtilage of this site.
Environment
Ancient, Veteran & Notable Trees
Caring for God's Acre is a conservation charity working to support groups and individuals to investigate, care for, and enjoy the wildlife and heritage treasures found within churchyards and other burial grounds. Look on their website for information and advice and please contact their staff directly. They can help you manage this churchyard for people and wildlife.
To learn more about all the species recorded against this church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas. You can check the spread of records through the years, discovering what has been recorded and when, plus what discoveries might remain to be uncovered.
There are no records of Ancient, Veteran or Notable Trees within the curtilage of this site.
Renewables
| Renewable | Installed |
|---|---|
| Solar PV Panels | No |
| Solar Thermal Panels | No |
| Biomass | No |
| Wind Turbine | No |
| Air Source Heat Pump | No |
| Ground Source Heat Pump | No |
| Ev Charging | No |
Species summary
There are no records of species within the curtilage of this site.
Caring for God's Acre is a conservation charity working to support groups and individuals to investigate, care for, and enjoy the wildlife and heritage treasures found within churchyards and other burial grounds. Look on their website for information and advice and please contact their staff directly. They can help you manage this churchyard for people and wildlife.
To learn more about all the species recorded against this church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas. You can check the spread of records through the years, discovering what has been recorded and when, plus what discoveries might remain to be uncovered.
'Seek advice' Species
More information on species and action to be taken upon discovery.
Caring for God's Acre is a conservation charity working to support groups and individuals to investigate, care for, and enjoy the wildlife and heritage treasures found within churchyards and other burial grounds. Look on their website for information and advice and please contact their staff directly. They can help you manage this churchyard for people and wildlife.
To learn more about all the species recorded against this church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas. You can check the spread of records through the years, discovering what has been recorded and when, plus what discoveries might remain to be uncovered.
Further information
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