The former rectory as seen from the northern edge of the churchyard.

The house was constructed in 1871 during the incumbency of Revd George Ward. It was sold by the diocese in 1957.

The architect is not known, though Pevsner calls it ‘Fowler-like’.

Jean Howard, September 2023

Immediately adjoining the southern edge of the churchyard is the former infant school, older children attending the school at Raithby by Spilsby.

The older part of the building features diaper work in dark brick.

This is one of a number of village additions, thanks to the efforts of the Revd George Ward.

Jean Howard, September 2023

This stone is in the gable end of the northern wing of the school building. 

Jean Howard, September 2023

Built from greenstone, the church of St Michael in Mavis Enderby has a late nineteenth-century tower whilst the nave and aisles are the result of Fowler of Louth's 1875 restoration.

The interior has Perpendicular survivals including a rood screen.

Locked.

Mark Acton, 2014

"Parish church. C14, C15, restored by James Fowler 1875 and tower rebuilt 1894 by C. Hodgson Fowler"

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1166344 

DB 9 November 2018

Kelly's Directory of Lincolnshire 1919 states

"The church of St Michael is an ancient edifice of green sandstone, in the Gothic style, with some traces of Norman work, and consists of chancel, nave, south aisle, south porch and a western tower containing a clock and 3 bells:

there is an oak screen and rood-loft with the rood and attendant figures on each side, a stained window in the chancel and three others, and in the porch a defaced stoup:

there are two inscribed stones of the 15th century to former rectors:

the upper part of the tower was taken down and rebuilt in 1684 and in 1894 was restored to its original form:

the chancel was rebuilt in 1870 and the nave and aisles restored in 1875 at a cost of £1,230:

there are 120 sittings. 

DB 9 November 2018

North side of church.

C19 vestry is seen projecting on the left hand side of this image.

DB 9 November 2018

The chancel was rebuilt in 1870.

DB 9 November 2018

On the north wall of the sanctuary is this composition of broad shelf and small bracketed shelf above.

Jean Howard, September 2023

The stained glass in the east window was given by Revd George Ward in memory of his elder brother Revd Samuel Walls Ward MA who died in June 1869 in Paris aged 27.

DB 9 November 2018

"Churchyard cross. C14, altered C19.

Ashlar. Octagonal base rises via stop chamfers to C19 shaft with octagonal brattished top, and gabled crucifixus"

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1063581 

Beyond the cross three C19 gabled dormer windows can be seen illuminating the nave.

DB 9 November 2018 

A long metal (copper? bronze?) panel on the cross beam records the dedication.

Isabel was born at Bolton Percy, Yorks where she was baptised on 21 May 1848. She was the daughter of George Hamilton Thompson, Honorary Colonel of the East Yorkshire Militia, and his wife Ann.

She married Revd George Ward, incumbent of Mavis Enderby, at Long Marston, Yorks on 13 June 1882 when she was 34 and her groom 39.

The couple remained in Mavis Enderby Rectory until his retirement in 1924. There were no children of their marriage.

Jean Howard, September 2023

The lychgate shelters the main entrance into the churchyard from the south-west. It dates from 1927 and is in memory of Isabel Mary Ward.

The lychgate was paid for by her widower Revd George Ward and was scheduled to be dedicated by him on 24 August 1929, but he died five days before.

Jean Howard, September 2023

The almost domestic character of these dormer windows serving as a clerestory is very characterful.

They are part of the 1875 restoration under C H Fowler. [Or, according to Lincs Heritage Explorer, James Fowler??]

Jean Howard, September 2023

A most unusual hand painted calligraphy degrees of marriage board.

Set out in two columns it lists those 30 relatives whom a man may not marry to the left; and those a woman may not marry to the right.

This is a very unusual artefact deserving of restoration.

Jean Howard, September 2023

"C15 octagonal piers to 3 bay south nave arcade with double chamfered arches"

"C15 chancel double chamfered arch with hollow chamfered reveals and imposts"

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1166344 

DB 9 November 2018

View across the nave looking north.

Stained glass and pews are all C19. 

DB 9 November 2018

Ornate list of rectors displayed on north wall of nave.

DB 9 November 2018

"Rustic carved wooden angel over north door presumably from earlier roof"

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1166344 

DB 9 November 2018

C19 pulpit.

DB 9 November 2018

The magnificent roof structure of the nave is not mentioned in the Historic England description. It surely must be part of the nave restoration of 1875, though it’s not dark stained as are many from this period.

The roof trusses are constructed with dentil decoration along the tie beams, arched braces and wheel shapes in the triangles to the rafters and ridge piece. The longitudinal roof lining is scalloped around the openings of the dormer windows.

Jean Howard 10 September 2023

"Gabled C19 south porch with side lights, pointed C19 outer doorway with above a figure of St. Michael and the dragon in a pointed oval surround with small side shafts"

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1166344 

DB 9 November 2018

" C14 continuously moulded inner door with fleuron frieze"

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1166344 

Fleurons are stylized forms of flowers or leaves.

DB 9 November 2018

Inside Porch 

"Holy water stoup on clustered shaft with shield and fleuron decoration to the bowl"

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1166344 

Fleurons are stylized forms of flowers or leaves. 

DB 9 November 2018

C19 rood loft however the angels on either side may have come from an earlier roof. 

DB 9 November 2018

C19 oak screen and rood-loft.

DB 9 November 2018

Behind the pulpit is the door leading into the spiral staircase to the Victorian rood loft.

Jean Howard, September 2023

The church has three medieval angel figures that appear to have been part of an earlier roof. Investigations have been carried out recently as to their origins as they are very similar to two figures in St James’ church, Louth.

This figure stands atop the unusual inner door canopy above the north door. It is an angel and carries a spear and a hammer, instruments of the passion, that is, used in crucifying Christ.

Jean Howard 10 September 2023

The church has three medieval angel figures that appear to have been part of an earlier roof. Investigations have been carried out recently as to their origins as they are very similar to two figures in St James’ church, Louth.

This angel is erected above the southern end of the rood loft. It has feathered body and legs, wears a short cape around the shoulders and carries a tool in its left hand.

Jean Howard 10 September 2023

The church has three medieval angel figures that appear to have been part of an earlier roof. Investigations have been carried out recently as to their origins as they are very similar to two figures in St James’ church, Louth.

This angel is erected above the northern end of the rood loft. It has a feathered body and legs, a short cape around the shoulders, carries a tool in the left hand and has a snake coiled at the feet.

[Checking various sources, it would appear that the screen and loft date from c 1880, certainly in period between 1878 and White 1882.]

Jean Howard 10 September 2023

Looking towards the east window. 

"The south aisle has a C19 east window and 2 early C15 3 light windows, one with cusped head to the lights and panel tracery, the other with ogee heads to the lights"

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1166344 

Font is at the west end of this aisle. 

DB 9 November 2018

"C14 octagonal font with ogee panels to the bowl"

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1166344 

DB 9 November 2018

The tower of St Michael's was built in 1894 of greenstone with limestone dressing.

July 2015

West side of tower. 

"3 stage C15 tower largely rebuilt C19 with stepped corner buttresses, plain,parapet, crocketed corner pinnacles.

Bell moulded base, 3 chamfered string courses.

To the belfry stage C19 3 light louvred openings with trefoil heads to the lights and panel tracery"

"On the west side a 4 centred arched doorway with moulded surround and hood mould.

Above a 3 light window with cusped heads to the lights and panel tracery.

To the second stage a datestone of 1894"

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1166344

Datestone is just above the clock. 

DB 9 November 2018

Mavis Enderby St Michael tower detail

Some characterful figures include two monkeys around the parapet of the tower. They are purely decorative and only the plain spout on the western side conducts water. The corner pinnacles are crocketed from where they taper, at which point there is scalloped moulding.

Jean Howard 10 September 2023

Date stone set into south face of tower.

"the upper part of the tower was taken down and rebuilt in 1684 and in 1894 was restored to its original form"

DB 9 November 2018

This datestone on the west face of the tower records the tower restoration by Charles Hodgson Fowler.

Jean Howard 10 September 2023

Running down the inside of the south face of the tower is this drain of glazed ceramic pipes, presumably conducting water from the tower roof.

Jean Howard, September 2023

Two fifteenth century ledger slabs form the vestry floor. They were recorded ‘in the organ chamber’ in 1928 by F A Greenhill.

The one at the top (east) of the photograph has a marginal inscription recording the death in 1404 of Rector Thomas Everard.

The lower example has a marginal inscription for the death of Rector Sir Thomas Hudson who died in 1487. This also has a central engraving of a chalice and wafer.

Jean Howard, September 2023

Corporal Ryan is buried in Banneville-la-Campagne War Cemetery.

https://www.cwgc.org/find-a-cemetery/cemetery/2101000/banneville-la-campagne-war-cemetery/ 

DB 9 November 2018