Muckton: Holy Trinity
Overview
Grid reference: TF 375 813
The survival of the Norman chancel arch led Fowler to design this church in the Neo-Norman style, a remarkable decision at this date. But although parts of it are quite convincing stylistically (the east wall of the chancel, for instance), the style is not altogether consistent and the west wall of the nave is a purely Early English concept (especially the central buttress and bell-cote) with round-arched windows instead of lancets.
Visiting and facilities
Building is closed for worship
Building
Ground Plan Description and Dimensions
Ground plan:
Three-bay aisleless nave with west bell-cote and south porch; chancel with north vestry.
Description of Archaeology and History
The church stands on an old site but in its present form consists (with the exception of a re-used Norman chancel arch) of a rebuilding carried out in 1878-9 by Fowler of Louth to replace a church "cracking in all directions" (Churchwardens Accounts). The previous church was described in 1828 as being a small building. James Fowler was born in 1828 and trained under Robert Potter of Lichfield, beginning practice on his own in 1851. He lived at Louth (where there is a profile portrait of him in white marble on his monument in the parish church) and since he was diocesan architect for Lincoln for a number of years his works in the county are numerous. Most of them are restorations and his new churches were on the whole neither large nor ambitious, although elsewhere (such as at the now destroyed St. Mary Newington in south London and St. Mary, Lichfield), his designs were more ambitious. He died in 1892.
Exterior Description
The survival of the Norman chancel arch led Fowler to design this church in the Neo-Norman style, a remarkable decision at this date. But although parts of it are quite convincing stylistically (the east wall of the chancel, for instance), the style is not altogether consistent and the west wall of the nave is a purely Early English concept (especially the central buttress and bell-cote) with round-arched windows instead of lancets.
The nave has two windows in the west wall with a buttress between which supports the small gabled bell-cote at the apex of the gable. At the angles are clasping buttresses. The bell-cote has a round arch carried by short colonettes with scalloped capitals against the responds. The sills of the windows and the arches above them are linked by stringcourses which run all round the building. In the north and south walls are round headed windows - three in the north and two in the south with the entrance in the western bay of the south wall. The doorway has a round arch and the outer doorway of the porch has a roll-moulding. The chancel is shorter and lower, with two windows in the south wall and a vestry projecting under a gable at right-angles from the north wall. This has a single window in the north wall and a doorway in the west wall. The chimney at the north-east corner of the nave is eroded into a fantastic shape. The east wall of the chancel, which is seen from the road and is the show piece of the church, has three equal lights surrounded by chevron and then a five-pointed wheel window above. All the gables have a cross at the apex.
Building Fabric and Features
Stained Glass
c.1878
The three east windows have glass of c.1878 (commemorating a death in 1876) showing the Resurrection and The Ascension on each side of The Crucifixion. There are angels in the wheel window above.
Interior
Interior Description
The interior is faced with ashlar limestone masonry and also has a stringcourse on all sides forming a sill for the windows. The floor is of brown and buff tiles and has appropriate texts at the door, the communion rails and footpace. The pews stand on timber boards. Both nave and chancel have open timber roofs. The windows are filled with opaque glass except for the openings in the east wall which have contemporary stained glass. In the north wall of the chancel is an arched recess for the credence shelf and the south window sill comes low to form a sedile, but there are really very few architectural features worth special note except for the Norman chancel arch. This was evidently taken down and reconstructed, and it has therefore lost some of its interest. It is of two orders, the outer with a bold chevron moulding and the inner with smaller and rather more loosely carved chevron. The whole arch is outlined by a dogtooth moulding of which several lengths appear to be Victorian renewal, as is the moulded base to each respond. The outer order is carried on nook-shafts and the inner appears to have been carried on similar shafts originally but is now supported by scallop capitals above big-trumpet shaped corbels. The arch has suffered severely from subsidence and is filled with a timber framing. The capitals are decorated with flat chip-carving similar to the work at Burwell nearby.
Fixtures and fittings
Font (object)
The font is octagonal on an octagonal stem. It has Perpendicular tracery designs round the bowl, all simple but all different. The flat oak cover has good ironwork.
Rail
c.1878
The communion rails are of oak, in a tough Neo-Norman style.
Churchyard
Grid reference: TF 375 813
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.
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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