North Elkington: St Helen
Overview
Grid reference: TF 285 904
This is a simple rectangular building in the lancet style, with nave and chancel under one roof and a small cote of stone on the west-gable for the single bell.
Visiting and facilities
Building is closed for worship
Building
Ground Plan Description and Dimensions
Ground plan:
Simply a rectangle with a south porch, west bell-cote and north-east vestry.
Description of Archaeology and History
The church was designed by Samuel Sanders Teulon and was built in 1852 at a cost of £1,000. Teulon (1812-1873), who is especially well known for his two London churches at Victoria Docks and Haverstock Hill, Hampstead (both now redundant), built several small country churches in Lincolnshire in the 1850's.
North Elkington church occupies the site of the church of the mediaeval village. This, having become derelict and also being much too large for its declining congregation, had its chancel reduced by Faculty on 13 May 1716. Another Faculty of 3 May 1769 provided for the building of a new church 24 ft. long, 19 ft. wide and 12 ft. high. There were at that time only the families in two farms and three cottages. Teulon's church was built in 1852 and the contractors were Ryall and Ryley. It was based on Kirkstead, but the details were considerably modified. The west bell-cote was added in c.1880.
Exterior Description
This is a simple rectangular building in the lancet style, with nave and chancel under one roof and a small cote of stone on the west-gable for the single bell. In the west wall there are two lancets separated by a buttress and above them is a pointed quatrefoil. The corners have angle buttresses and similar buttresses mark the bays of the north and south walls. These have lancet lights throughout, taller in the nave than in the chancel, with a pair of lancets and a trefoil above in the middle bay of the south wall. The south porch has a pair of nook-shafts and a moulded arch, but no windows and the oak south door has fine scrolling iron hinges. The east gable of the chancel has three graded lancets. A moulded stringcourse runs all round the building (except the vestry and porch) stepping up or down where necessary to form the window sills. The vestry has a pair of lancets in the east wall but no other openings. Beside it there is a broadening of the nave wall housing the passage to the pulpit.
Building Fabric and Features
Stained Glass
1852
The east window with three panols depicting Christ flanked by two angels is by Wailes of Newcastle.
Stained Glass
The two south chancel windows have figures of St. Peter and St. Paul.
Interior
Interior Description
The interior walls are plastered, and over the windows of the side walls there are stencilled running ornaments which may be part of the redecoration carried out by W. Sowerby of Louth in 1912. An internal stringcourse follows much the same path as the external one, stepping up to form window sills at the west end and in the chancel. The nave windows are set within plain reveals but the cast windows have marble shafts and dogtooth round the arches and the two lancets in the south wall of the chancel are grouped within one arch. In the north wall two arches open into the passageway to the pulpit, a motif borrowed from the refectory pulpit at Tupholme. The chancel is raised on steps above the level of the red and black quarry tiles of the nave, and has diagonally laid buff quarries with encaustic tiles between. The footpace is paved with square-laid encaustic tiles. The chancel is further distinguished from the nave by a slight elaboration of the roof structure. The nave has simple braced collars but the chancel has additional cusped wind-braces. Moreover while the nave roof is supported by corbels carved like blocks of moulding, the chancel has semi-circular corbels terminating in a knotted stem.
Fixtures and fittings
Altar
c.1880
The altar is a plain oak table.
Reredos
The reredos is of oak, with four niches containing small statues and three painted panels with The Crucifixion in the centre, St. Mary Magdalene kneeling at the foot of the cross, and St. Mary and St. Helen in the flanking panels; these were painted by Miss E.M. Smyth.
Pulpit
The pulpit is more a part of the architecture than a furnishing, consisting of two stone arches in the north wall of the church with trefoiled heads, and projecting stone body.
Font (object)
The font is of stone, quite plain with an octagonal bowl on an octagonal moulded stem, and lead-lined bowl ; probably mediaeval in origin.
Rail
1852
The communion rails have moulded oak capping on painted iron twisted supports.
Churchyard
Grid reference: TF 285 904
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 | N/A |
| Solar Thermal Panels | N/A |
| Biomass | N/A |
| Wind Turbine | N/A |
| Air Source Heat Pump | N/A |
| Ground Source Heat Pump | N/A |
| Ev Charging | N/A |
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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