White's Directory of Lincolnshire 1856 lists two public houses in the village :-

Drewry George, vict. Horn Inn

Mason Thomast vict. Crown

DB 27 March 2019

"John Wesley was known to preach in Messingham, possibly at the site of the Green Tree public house"

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Messingham 

Not mentioned in Kelly's Directory of Lincolnshire 1919 but is mentioned in the 1937 Directory but as a beer retailer only.

DB 27 March 2019

"The Bass Brewery was founded in 1777 by William Bass in Burton-upon-Trent, England.

The main brand was Bass Pale Ale, once the highest-selling beer in the UK.

By 1877, Bass had become the largest brewery in the world, with an annual output of one million barrels.

Its pale ale was exported throughout the British Empire, and the company's distinctive red triangle became the UK's first registered trade mark"

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bass_Brewery 

DB 27 March 2019

Other than the tower, rebuilt in 1784, the exterior is the work of Edward Willson from 1817-18 and paid for by the then Rector, Henry Bayley, known as the 'Robber Archdeacon' who 'acquired' stained glass and furnishings for Messingham from other churches under his control.

Inside is an Early English north arcade.

Mark Acton, 2017

Kelly's Directory 1930 reports :-

"The church of the Holy Trinity is a building of stone, originally in the Early English style, the arcades of which remain, and consists of chancel, nave of four bays, aisles, south porch and an embattled western tower with pinnacles, containing 5 bells:

the church was restored in 1890 at a cost of £500, and in 1894 a new vestry was erected at a cost of £150:

the church was partly rebuilt about 1818, at a cost of nearly £2,000, by the Ven. Henry Vincent Bayley D.D. sub-dean of Lincoln and archdeacon of Stow, and vicar of Massingham-cum-Bottesford from 1811, who at this time and subsequently adorned this church with treasures rescued from various other churches in his archdeaconry, as well as from the cathedrals of Lincoln and Manchester:

the carved work of the prayer desks was brought from Althorpe church, some of the stained glass from Kettlethorpe, and other portions from Scotton, Malvern, Snarford and Manchester, a few remaining fragments belonging to the church:

on the north side of the chancel is a sacrament house, and on the south side a piscina:

memorial windows were placed in 1899 to the Rev. T. P. Sproule, a former vicar, and his wife, by their son, Rev. Arthur St. Quintin Sproule M.A. of Wooton, Ulceby:

on the wall in the south aisle is a brass to Martin Gravener and Effam, his wife, dated 1619:

the church plate includes a silver cup and paten dated 1569:

in 1903 the sanctuary was repanelled with oak, new altar rails provided and other improvements made as a memorial to the Rev. Canon Bowstead, a former vicar:

there are 300 sittings.

The living is a vicarage, with East Butterwick annexed, joint net yearly value £348, with 8 acres of glebe and residence, in the gift of the Bishop of Lincoln, and held since 1924 by the Rev. George Eliot Ure M.A. of Edinburgh University".

DB 3 September 2024

White's Directory 1872 has :-

"The Church (Holy Trinity) is a neat structure, which was rebuilt, except the tower, in 1821, at the cost of upwards of £2000, in the Early English style, chiefly at the expense of the then vicar, the Ven. Archdeacon Bayley, who enriched the east window with some fine fragments of stained glass, and had the pulpit made out of an old canopy from Lincoln Minster, where it formerly sheltered three figures which used to strike the hours and quarters. A memorandum affixed to a register in the parish church, bearing date A..D. 1646, records that the stonework in this window was brought from Scampton, where it had lain neglected in the churchyard for many years, and that some of the stained glass which it contains belonged originally to the neighbouring churches of Kettlethorpe, Scotton and Snarford, and a portion of it was also brought more recently from Great Malvern church, and from Manchester Cathedral.

The vicarage, valued in K.B. at £10, and now at £650, has that of Bottesford united with it, in the incumbency of the Rev. G. Thomas Patterson Sproule, and the Rev. John Arthur Osiris Oxlee is his curate.

The Bishop and Dean and Chapter of Lincoln are the patrons alternately, and the former was the appropriator; but the rectory was sold in 1838 to R. W. Musgrave, Esq., for the purpose of raising money for the erection of the Bishop's Palace at Riseholme.

The tithes were commuted at the enclosure, in 1800, for an allotment of 650 acres to the rectory, and 240 acres to the vicarage.

The vicarage house is a neat brick mansion, erected in 1847".

DB 3 September 2024

"A grade II* listed church which was greatly restored in the early 19th century. Restoration work included the installation of an extensive and highly regarded collection of medieval stained glass by Revd. H.V. Bayley, working in collaboration with the architect Edward Willson"

https://www.west-lindsey.gov.uk/sites/default/files/2023-05/West%20Lindsey%20Churches%20Guide%20web.pdf 

DB 3 September 2024

"Church. C13 nave arcades, Cl4-C15 reset windows. Tower rebuilt late C18, remainder largely rebuilt 1818-21, with restorations 1890 and vestry of 1894."

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1346835?section=official-list-entry 

DB 3 September 2024

Looking east towards the altar.

DB 3 September 2024

Looking west through the chancel arch and back into the nave.

DB 3 September 2024

C19 chancel arch with window above.

DB 3 September 2024

"TO THE GLORY OF GOD AND IN LOVING MEMORY OF MARY ELIZABETH FOSTER THIRZA ANN FOSTER AND SARAH JANE FOSTER THE WINDOW ABOVE THIS CHANCEL ARCH IS DEDICATED BY THEIR SISTER CAROLINE FOSTER A.D. 1910"

DB 3 September 2024

"Decorated aumbry in chancel"

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1346835?section=official-list-entry 

DB 3 September 2024

Inscription on the brass appears to read :-

"+A.M.D.G ET IN PIAM MEMORIAM JOHANNIS BOWSTEAD QUONDAM HUJUS ECCLESIZ VICARII,ET PRÆBENDARII DE MELTON ROSS CUM SCAMBLESBY IN ECCLESIA CATHEDRALI BEATÆ MARIÆ LINCOLNIENSI NECNON ELIZÆ UXORIS EJUS, ET FILIARUM SUARUM MARIÆ ELIZÆ,UXORIS FERDINANDI GRUT ET EMILIA SUSANNÆ MARIÆ, QUORUM ANIMABUS PROPITIETUR DEUS, AMEN.

HOC OPUS DEDICATUM EST IN CRASTINO FESTI S. PETRI APOSTOLI, A.D MDCCCCIII."

Google Translate renders this as :-

"A.M.D.G. AND IN PIEOUS MEMORY OF JOHN BOWSTEAD, SOME OF THE VICARS OF THIS CHURCH, AND PREBENDANT OF MELTON ROSS WITH THE BLESSED MARY OF LINCOLN IN THE CHURCH OF LINCOLN, AND OF HIS DAUGHTER, MARY ELIZA, FERDINAND'S WIFE, AND EMILIA SUSAN MARY, WHOSE SOULS MAY GOD BLESS AMEN. 

THIS WORK IS DEDICATED ON THE TOMORROW OF THE FESTIVAL OF ST. PETER THE APOSTLE, A.D. 1803".

DB 3 September 2024

The east window contains stained glass from the 14th to 16th centuries, 'acquired' by Archdeacon Bayley from churches in Lincolnshire, Malvern and Manchester.

Mark Acton, 2017

A second view of the east window.

DB 3 September 2024

Bottom three panels on the north side of the window.

DB 3 September 2024

Bottom three panels on the south side of the window.

DB 3 September 2024

Piscina in the south wall of the sanctuary.

DB 3 September 2024

Kelly's Directory notes "in 1903 the sanctuary was repanelled with oak, new altar rails provided and other improvements made as a memorial to the Rev. Canon Bowstead, a former vicar".

DB 3 September 2024

Victorian encaustic tiles?

DB 3 September 2024

Kelly's Directory 1930 notes "Memorial windows were placed in 1899 to the Rev. T. P. Sproule, a former vicar, and his wife, by their son, Rev. Arthur St. Quintin Sproule M.A. of Wooton"

DB 3 September 2024

Kelly's Directory 1930 notes "Memorial windows were placed in 1899 to the Rev. T. P. Sproule, a former vicar, and his wife, by their son, Rev. Arthur St. Quintin Sproule M.A. of Wooton"

DB 3 September 2024

Memorial window for Charlotte Cotton dated 1887.

DB 3 September 2024

Entrance to the churchyard from Temperance Avenue.

DB 3 September 2024

"Table tomb to Thomas Raven, d.1797 and Margaret his wife, d.1801"

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1310302?section=official-list-entry 

DB 3 September 2024

Mothers' Union banner from Saint Andrew's Church, East Butterwick now laid up in Messingham. 

DB 3 September 2024

Mothers' Union banner laid up in the church. Unfortunately there no longer seems to be an active branch in the village.

https://www.mothersunion.org/diocese/lincoln

DB 3 September 2024

Looking west.

"North arcade has pointed double-chamfered arches on octagonal central pier, outer cylindrical piers, keeled east respond and filleted west repond. Later C13 south arcade has double-chamfered arches on filleted quatrefoil piers with keeled responds. Plain moulded capitals and bases throughout."

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1346835?section=official-list-entry 

DB 3 September 2024

West end of the nave with C19 tower doorway.

DB 3 September 2024

Looking east towards the chancel.

DB 3 September 2024

Looking across the west end of the nave towards the font and south porch doorway.

DB 3 September 2024

"Presented in memory of Mary Eliza Grut in 1894, daughter of Rev John Bowstead – Vicar 1840-1862"

https://www.holytrinitymessingham.co.uk/uploads/files/HT%20DL%20Inner%20V3.pdf 

DB 3 September 2024

"SACRED TO THE MEMORY OF ELIZABETH MARY ANN THE DAUGHTER OF WILLIAM AND ELIZABETH STOCKS WHO DIED ON THE 11TH DAY OF OCTR 1837 AGED 20 YEARS"

DB 3 September 2024

"Sacred To the Memory of FRANCIS ROADLEY, Son of RICHARD and MARY ROADLEY, who departed this Life December 12th 1790, in the 25th Year of his Age."

DB 3 September 2024

"Sacred to the Memory of RICHARD ROADLEY, who died March 10th 1812, Aged 71 Years

OF MARY his WIFE who died January 28th 1781, Aged 38 Years

OF MARY ROADLEY his SISTER who died January 18th 1808, Aged 77 Years.

And of SARAH, CARR, IOHN and SARAH, CHILDREN of R. and M. ROADLEY, who died in their Infancy."

DB 3 September 2024

The present pulpit replaced Archdeacon Bayley's pulpit made out of an old canopy from Lincoln Minster.

DB 3 September 2024

Looking up to the nave roof from the east end.

DB 3 September 2024

Looking west.

DB 3 September 2024

Looking east towards the Lady Chapel.

DB 3 September 2024

Now a Lady Chapel but previously used as a vestry and organ space.

DB 3 September 2024

Looking back in to the north aisle from the Lady Chapel.

DB 3 September 2024

A closer view of the altar.

Text displayed on the altar reads :-

"As we approach the year 2000 we see Messingham as a thriving village showing expansion & purpose. The village population 3500 has the amenities of the Post Office, Newsagent, Butchers, Grocers, T.V & Video shop, Wool shop, Furniture store, Childrens Clothing, Gift Shop & Pottery Studio. There are also 2 hairdressing salons, Electrical Repair shop, Electrical Contractors and a Supermarket where a loaf of bread costs 30p - 50p, a pint of milk 36p. However a milkman does still deliver bottles of milk to your door if required. A recently opened Pharmacy is the first in the history of the village. Our busy Family Medical Centre has 7 regular practising Doctors. Our health cares are well met. The number of eating houses has increased and diversified to 2 Chinese Restaurants, Pizza Parlour, 2 Fish & Chip shops & meals are served at 3 public houses. The Horn Inn built in 1783 is currently being extended to include a restaurant. Sunday lunch there costs approximately £5 & a pint of beer £1.60. We have 2 Car Sales businesses and 1 garage selling petrol which costs £0.75 a litre. Cars are an increasing problem due to speed, numbers, noise and car parking. A peaceful paradise can be found though at the nature reserve where we can still see dragon flies, orchids, kingfishers & pillwort to name but a few. Where sand has been extracted for industry there are now large lakes with nesting swans & waterfowl. There are many group activities to join. The Methodist Hall sees Yoga, Woodturning, Scouts, Guides, Pre-School Playgroup sessions in addition to the regular Methodist group meeting. The Village Hall is used for Badminton, Dancing, Keep Fit, Coffee Mornings, Womens Institute, Pensioners & a second Playgroup for children under 5yrs. Its Chairman, David Mokes, is Chairman of the Playing Field. Many Youth football teams train there & adult cricket, football & bowls matches take place. It is also used for School Sports days. The village school, on 2 separate sites for infants & juniors, has 250 on roll. The Headmaster is David Denovan. The sprawling, new development of Manor Grange housing estate has now passed the end of Gooseacre. The Chairman of the Parish Council, John England, has indicated that further building will take place on land adjacent to Manor Farm & Trentholme. Other new development is on Kealholme Road & The Meadows. A little further down Holme Lane is the permanent site of the showfield, Holme Meadow. The 95th Messingham Show took place on Sunday June 6th 1999. Some old properties remain. 'Freds Cottage' on the corner of Brigg Road is nearly 300 years old & largely unchanged. The Low Hall Cottage of 1780 is now having a brick chimney stack restored. The Joiners Shop, Church Street, approaching 200 years old is still in regular use but Robson Pyke Cottage, Cross Tree Road, is under demolition. London Cottage, Brigg Road, has recently been restored. The Pinfold 23 High Street still marks the site of the original pound for stray cattle. At the Hall the Mulberry tree approaches 500 years old. In the old Churchyard sheep graze around the graves of those longest gone, kept in check by an electrical wire fence. The Vicar of Holy Trinity Church is Rev George Massey & Church Wardens, Audrey Bains and Mary Whiting. At the Methodist Church the Minister is Rev Gill Riley. Combined services are held alternately at the churches once a month. A total eclipse of the sun took place on August 11th at 11.10am. The sky was cloudy but we had short glimpses of partial cover. It became chilly, dull grey and quiet but some birds continued to chirp. The eclipse was rather unremarkable in Messingham. The Horticultural Show & annual Carnival Day with its procession of floats took place & the Messingham United Charity for Humanity, MUCH, has held a sponsored walk to help Kosovan refugees, a world concern at this time. A very severe earthquake caused devastation in Turkey on August 17th killing 48 thousand people. At the start of the first Millenium Messingham was a small Roman settlement. Now it is a dormitory of Scunthorpe. What of it in 3000AD? The man who carved this stone William Benson will be buried just inside the Church gates. Written by Valerie Stanworth."

DB 3 September 2024

Church Guide Notes state "Millennium carving of the 'Last Supper' by local stone mason, William Benson".

DB 3 September 2024

Plaque at entrance to the Lady Chapel where an organ was once located. 

"THIS ORGAN WAS MOVED FROM THE SOUTH AISLE AND RE-ERECTED IN ITS PRESENT POSITION. TO THE GLORY OF GOD AND IN AFFECTIONATE REMEMBRANCE OF ANNIE BETHELL URE, JULY, IOTH 1927."

"The first organ in Holy Trinity Church, by Forster and Andrews, was installed in 1866. It was replaced in 1908 by another Forster and Andrews instrument"

https://www.holytrinitymessingham.co.uk/our-heritage/organ 

The present organ in the south aisle, by Albert Keates of Sheffield, came to the church in 1977. 

DB 3 September 2024

West window with fragments of C14-C16 stained glass.

DB 3 September 2024

Bottom right hand panel.

DB 3 September 2024

Detail of a north facing window top with fragments of C14-C16 stained glass.

DB 3 September 2024

Detail of a north facing window top with fragments of C14-C16 stained glass.

DB 3 September 2024

Porch rebuilt 1818-1820.

DB 3 September 2024

"South porch has moulded pointed outer door and pointed double-chamfered inner door"

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1346835?section=official-list-entry 

DB 3 September 2024

Stone set in to the west wall of the porch.

"On the west side of the south porch is a large piece of reused masonry which some people believe could be from a Roman building"

https://www.nationalchurchestrust.org/church/holy-trinity-messingham 

DB 3 September 2024

Looking east towards the organ case.

DB 3 September 2024

Looking west towards the font.

DB 3 September 2024

Font positioned at the west end of the south aisle.

DB 3 September 2024

Font and cover.

DB 3 September 2024

"HERE LYETH INTERRED THE BODIES OF MARTIN GRAYNER GENT AND EFFAM HIS WIFE ... 

THUS DEATH TRYUMPHS AND TELLS US ALL MUST DIE

THUS WE TRYUMPH TO CHRIST BY DEATH TO FLYE

TO LIVE TO DIE; IS NOT TO DIE BUT LIVE

TO DIE TO BLISS IS BLESSED LIFE TO GIVE

ASKE HOW THEY LIV'D & THOU SHALT KNOW THEIR ENDS

THEY DIED SAINTS TO GOD; TO POORE TRUE FRIENDS"

DB 3 September 2024

"1770 marble monument to Mary Farrand with coat of arms and urn on pediment, by J Wallis of Newark"

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1346835?section=official-list-entry 

DB 3 September 2024

"1759 slate and ashlar wall tablet to Rev John Farrand with broken pediment, urn and carved cherub's head base"

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1346835?section=official-list-entry 

DB 3 September 2024

"The present organ, a fine example of the work of Albert Keates of Sheffield, is situated at the east end of the south aisle. It was bought from Sothall Methodist Church, Beighton (near Sheffield), rebuilt by T.L. Jubb of Knaith Park (near Gainsborough), and rededicated on 23rd April 1977"

https://www.holytrinitymessingham.co.uk/our-heritage/organ 

DB 3 September 2024

View from the south aisle, across the nave, and into the north aisle.

DB 3 September 2024

Font cover silhouetted against the west window.

DB 3 September 2024

Good Shepherd window.

"In Thanksgiving to God for Walter and Emma Cottingham

Walter 1871-1932

Emma 1879-1972"

DB 3 September 2024

Fragments of C14-C16 stained glass at top of window.

DB 3 September 2024

Memorial window hiding behind the organ. The inscription is difficult to see but reads in part

"To the Glory of God and in ??? of William and Eliza Lought??? of this Parish, this window was erected by the ??? their daughter Ann Lought??? who died 15th May 1927"

DB 3 September 2024

"Tower rebuilt late C18"

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1346835?section=official-list-entry 

DB 3 September 2024

"the church tower was rebuilt in 1784 by Thomas Bell, following the collapse of its spire"

https://www.holytrinitymessingham.co.uk/our-heritage/history 

DB 3 September 2024

"THE CLOCK WITH ITS NEW FACE WAS RESTORED TO WORKING ORDER IN NOV.1951 BEING THE GIFT OF THE MESSINGHAM OPEN GROUP FOR YOUNG WIVES"

DB 3 September 2024

Vestry adjoining north aisle.

Kelly's Directory 1930 has "in 1894 a new vestry was erected at a cost of £150".

Viewed from the west. 

DB 3 September 2024

A list of vicars starting with Hugh in 1219 and going through to Edward Jordan in 1785.

DB 3 September 2024

A list of vicars continuing with Henry Vincent Bayley in 1811 and up to George Douglas Massey in 1998.

DB 3 September 2024

Kelly's Directory of Lincolnshire 1919 lists two public houses in the village :-

Brown Charles William, Horn inn 

Wood Walter, Crown inn

Also

Chappell Elizabeth (Mrs.), beer retlr

DB 27 March 2019

"The unveiling took place on 26th September 1920.

The ceremony was conducted by Revd. Cannon Walter Hicks MA (chaplain to Fleet and Air Force).

Lady Mabel Smith performed the unveiling"

https://www.lincstothepast.com/Men-of-Messingham/1580618.record?pt=S 

DB 27 March 2019

In "A List And Brief Details Of Chapels In The Scunthorpe Circuit Past And Present" prepared By Colin Shepherdson & Mervyn G White March 1997 (Revised August 1998) it is stated that :-

"i) The Society was formed on the 14.11.171. a house licensed in 1777 and a chapel built in 1796.

The site is not known and the chapel demolished with the opening of its successor.

ii) The new chapel was erected in Church Street in 1821 and a Sunday school added in 1838.

An organ chamber was added to the chapel in 1856 and a new schoolroom in 1869.

The chapel was repewed in 1876 and redesigned and renovated in 1955.

A new hall and kitchens were opened on the 17.8.1961 and a further two classrooms in 1970.

The chapel is still in use with a membership of 59" 

DB 27 March 2019

Detail of the new schoolroom added in 1869.

DB 27 March 2019