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Rigsby
 
Rigsby, St James
Rigsby, St James
Rigsby, St James

The tiny hamlet of Rigsby has the church of St. James built by the prolific Louth architect James Fowler in 1863.

It is in neo-Norman style though Fowler re-used a genuine Early Norman arch inside.

Mark Acton, 2007

Rigsby, St James church, James Fowler,
Rigsby, St James
Rigsby, St James
Rigsby, St James

The small neo-Norman church of St James has a pleasant rural location on the slope of the Wolds to the west of Alford.

September 2015

Rigsby, St James church
Rigsby, St James
Rigsby, St James
Rigsby, St James

View from the East of the semi-circular apse which contains the chancel.

September 2015

Rigsby, St James church
Rigsby, St James
Rigsby, St James
Rigsby, St James

Church viewed from public footpath to the north. 

Kelly's Directory 1930 states :-

"The church of St. James, rebuilt under the direction of the late Mr. Jas. Fowler, of Louth, and re-opened in 1865, is a small edifice of Ancaster stone, lined with white brick, in the Norman style, and consists of nave, with eastern apse, transeptal vestry on the north side and an open belfry on the western gable, containing one bell :

the inner portions of the doorway of the west front, and the arch between the nave and vestry are remnants of the ancient Norman church :

the stained wheel window in the west front was given by Lady Mary Nisbet-Hamilton, and one in the apse is a memorial to Mrs. Higgins :

there are 50 sittings" 

DB 19 November 2023 

Rigsby, Saint James Church, image
Rigsby, St James
Rigsby, St James
Rigsby, St James

"Rigsby Church, Easter, 1863" 

The old thatched church prior to its rebuilding by James Fowler.

White's Directory 1856 has "The Church (St. James) is a small thatched edifice, and is a perpetual curacy, annexed to Alford. The tithes were commuted in 1839, for a yearly rent charge of £219. 13s. 1d., and belong to Corpus Christi College, Cambridge. The church land produces only 8s. 1d. per annum."

DB 21 September 2024

Rigsby, Saint James Church
Rigsby, St James
Rigsby, St James
Rigsby, St James

White's Directory 1872 reports :- 

"The Church (St. James), which was a small thatched edifice, chiefly in the Saxon style of architecture, was taken down and rebuilt, on the same site, in the year 1866.

It is a neat stone building, of Norman character, consisting of nave, apse, north transept, and a belfry. Over the west entrance is a small well-proportioned Catherine wheel window, filled with stained glass, the gift of Lady Mary Hamilton ; and in the church are four other windows, similarly embellished, one of which is in memory of the youngest daughter of the late Dr. West, of Alford; the remaining three (in the apse chancel) representing respectively "the Good Shepherd," "the Ascension," and "the True Vine." In the transept, which is used as a vestry, are deposited a Roman sword and helmet, discovered in a tomb in the churchyard.

The benefice is a curacy, annexed to Alford. The tithes were commuted in 1839, for a yearly rent charge of £219. 13s. 1d., and belong to the Ecclesiastical Commissioners. The church land produces only 8s. 1d. per annum."

DB 21 September 2024

Rigsby, Saint James Church
Rigsby, St James
Rigsby, St James
Rigsby, St James

"Parish church. 1863 by James Fowler in the Neo-Norman style. Rock faced limestone with slate roof, decorative ridge tiles. Nave with western bellcote and porch, apsidal chancel."

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1168596?section=official-list-entry 

DB 21 September 2024

Rigsby, Saint James Church
Rigsby, St James
Rigsby, St James
Rigsby, St James

Kelly's Directory 1885 has :-

"The church of St. James, rebuilt under the direction of Mr. James Fowler, of Louth, and reopened in 1863, is a small edifice of Ancaster stone, lined within with white brick in the Norman style, and consists of nave, with eastern apse, transeptal vestry on the north and an open belfry on the western gable, containing 1 bell:

the inner portions of the doorway of the west front, and the arch between the nave and vestry, are remnants of the ancient Norman church; the stained wheel window in the west front was given by Lady Mary Nisbet-Hamilton; and one in the apse is a memorial to the late Mrs. Higgins ; the fittings are new, and a rich table cover and cushions have been presented by Miss Constance Nisbet-Hamilton, and a Bible and prayer book by the architect; to the general fund every labourer in the village contributed a week's wages.

The register dates from the year 1686. The living is a chapelry, annexed to the vicarage of Alford, joint gross yearly value £430, in the gift of the Bishop of Lincoln, and held since 1883 by the Rev. Thomas Luffman M.A. of Corpus Christi college, Cambridge, who resides at Alford". 

DB 21 September 2024

Rigsby, Saint James Church
Rigsby, St James
Rigsby, St James
Rigsby, St James

Church roof is in good repair. A note in the church reads :-

"In Memory of Ida Brown

Ida was very generous to St James Church over the years and because her family graves and stones had been well cared for she left two very large legacies in her will, one to help towards the new roof the church needed and the other for her family graves and stones to be kept clean, cut and tidy for the years to come, separate from the fabric fund.

Despite losing a sister aged 15 in 1923, three days before Christmas, her only child David at 18½ months old from the flu in 1940, her first husband Joseph Preece four years later aged only 39 and then all of her family within ten years, except one sister who died in 1996 aged 90, she never turned her back on the church.

Ida was born nearby at Ulceby Lodge and Christened at St Margarets in Well. Her family moved to Rigsby when she was 6 months old into a cottage, long gone now, in the field behind the Church where they had a small holding.

She married again some years later and became Mrs Brown. She lived in Sutton on Sea but never really left Rigsby, calling her bungalow there 'Rigsby'. Her ashes are with her family and little boy here in Rigsby.

Thank you Ida Brown."

DB 21 September 2024

Rigsby, Saint James Church
Rigsby, St James, Chancel
Rigsby, St James, Chancel
Rigsby, St James, Chancel

A small apsidal chancel. Altar rail in the Neo-Norman style.

DB 21 September 2024

Rigsby, Saint James Church
Rigsby, St James, Chancel Arch
Rigsby, St James, Chancel Arch
Rigsby, St James, Chancel Arch

"The chancel arch springs from tapering annular corbels, with square imposts of stiff leaf design. The roll moulded and filleted arch has alternating red and yellow voussoirs"

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1168596?section=official-list-entry 

DB 21 September 2024

Rigsby, Saint James Church
Rigsby, St James, Chancel, Aumbry
Rigsby, St James, Chancel, Aumbry
Rigsby, St James, Chancel, Aumbry

"In the chancel a reset aumbry with moulded and pointed head"

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1168596?section=official-list-entry 

DB 21 September 2024

Rigsby, Saint James Church, aumbry
Rigsby, St James, Chancel, Memorial
Rigsby, St James, Chancel, Memorial
Rigsby, St James, Chancel, Memorial

A loose memorial currently in the chancel but formerly mounted on the south wall of the nave. 

"IN THIS CHURCH YARD AND IN THE SAME GRAVE REST THE MORTAL REMAINS OF MR FREDERICK VALENTINE GILBY AND OF ANN GILBY HIS WIDOW HE DIED ON THE 11TH DAY OF MARCH 1812 AGED 29 YEARS SHE DIED ON THE 7TH DAY OF DECEMBER 1841 AGED 58 YEARS

THEY WERE LOVELY AND PLEASANT IN THEIR LIVES AND IN THEIR DEATH THEY WERE NOT DIVIDED"

DB 21 September 2024

Rigsby, Saint James Church, FREDERICK VALENTINE GILBY
Rigsby, St James, Chancel, Reredos
Rigsby, St James, Chancel, Reredos
Rigsby, St James, Chancel, Reredos

The richly decorated tiled reredos above the altar.

September 2015

Rigsby, St James church, reredos
Rigsby, St James, Chancel, Reredos
Rigsby, St James, Chancel, Reredos
Rigsby, St James, Chancel, Reredos

"Behind the altar a tiled mosaic reredos, with Alpha, Omega and Cross in circles"

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1168596?section=official-list-entry 

DB 21 September 2024

Rigsby, Saint James Church, reredos
Rigsby, St James, Chancel, Roof
Rigsby, St James, Chancel, Roof
Rigsby, St James, Chancel, Roof

Apsidal chancel roof.

DB 21 September 2024

Rigsby, Saint James Church, roof
Rigsby, St James, Chancel, Tiles
Rigsby, St James, Chancel, Tiles
Rigsby, St James, Chancel, Tiles

Minton tiled floor.

DB 21 September 2024

Rigsby, Saint James Church, minton tiles
Rigsby, St James, Chancel, Window
Rigsby, St James, Chancel, Window
Rigsby, St James, Chancel, Window

One of three lancet windows in the apsidal ending. 

Stained glass depicting "The True Vine".

DB 21 September 2024

Rigsby, Saint James Church, window stained glass
Rigsby, St James, Chancel, Window
Rigsby, St James, Chancel, Window
Rigsby, St James, Chancel, Window

One of three lancet windows in the apsidal ending.  

Stained glass depicting "The Ascension".

"TO THE GLORY OF GOD AND IN MEMORY OF MARY HIGGINS WHO DIED JANUARY 15 1862"

DB 21 September 2024

Rigsby, Saint James Church, window stained glass
Rigsby, St James, Chancel, Window
Rigsby, St James, Chancel, Window
Rigsby, St James, Chancel, Window

One of three lancet windows in the apsidal ending. 

Stained glass depicting "the Good Shepherd".

DB 21 September 2024

Rigsby, Saint James Church, window stained glass
Rigsby, St James, Churchyard
Rigsby, St James, Churchyard
Rigsby, St James, Churchyard

"In Loving Memory Of FRANK EDWIN JONES

Chevalier de l'Ordre de la Legion d'Honneur

Knight in the Order of the Legion of Honour

Lent to us 9th June 1921 / Recalled from us 23rd July 2011 / a devoted husband and father / Sadly missed"

DB 21 September 2024

Rigsby, Saint James Churchyard
Rigsby, St James, Doorway
Rigsby, St James, Doorway
Rigsby, St James, Doorway

The north doorway to the vestry is a re-used twelfth-century round headed arch with chamfered imposts. The door dates from the nineteenth-century restoration.

Bryan Kitson, April 1996

Rigsby, St James, doorway
Rigsby, St James, Helmet and Sword
Rigsby, St James, Helmet and Sword
Rigsby, St James, Helmet and Sword

The helmet and sword are mounted on the wall above the vestry door in the north wall.

Bryan Kitson, April 1996

Rigsby, St James, helmet, sword
Rigsby, St James, Nave
Rigsby, St James, Nave
Rigsby, St James, Nave

The interior is in yellow brick with bands of red brick.

The chancel is contained within a small semi-circular apse.

The arch over the vestry door (front left) dates from the early Norman period in contrast to the mid-Victorian construction elsewhere.

September 2015

Rigsby, St James church
Rigsby, St James, Nave
Rigsby, St James, Nave
Rigsby, St James, Nave

Looking east towards the chancel.

"The walls are of fairfaced yellow brick work with red brick and red stone bands, ashlar dressings and roll moulded sill band. The splayed rear arches of the windows are in alternate red and yellow stripes"

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1168596?section=official-list-entry 

DB 21 September 2024

Rigsby, Saint James Church
Rigsby, St James, Nave
Rigsby, St James, Nave
Rigsby, St James, Nave

A pulpit's eye view looking west and across the nave.

DB 21 September 2024

Rigsby, Saint James Church
Rigsby, St James, Nave
Rigsby, St James, Nave
Rigsby, St James, Nave

Looking west towards the entrance.

DB 21 September 2024

Rigsby, Saint James Church
Rigsby, St James, Nave, Bell-Turret
Rigsby, St James, Nave, Bell-Turret
Rigsby, St James, Nave, Bell-Turret

The elaborate bell-turret of St James's, corbelled out and with a spirelet, is described by Pevsner as "just High Victorian".

September 2015

Rigsby, St James church, bell turret
Rigsby, St James, Nave, Floor
Rigsby, St James, Nave, Floor
Rigsby, St James, Nave, Floor

Minton tiled floor.

DB 21 September 2024

Rigsby, Saint James Church, Minton Tiles
Rigsby, St James, Nave, Font
Rigsby, St James, Nave, Font
Rigsby, St James, Nave, Font

This octagonal font came from the medieval church in the parish and dates from the Perpendicular period.

Each side of the octagon has three cusped arches with panel tracery above.

September 2015

Rigsby, St James church, font
Rigsby, St James, Nave, Font
Rigsby, St James, Nave, Font
Rigsby, St James, Nave, Font

Southwest corner of the nave.

DB 21 September 2024

Rigsby, Saint James Church, font
Rigsby, St James, Nave, Lighting
Rigsby, St James, Nave, Lighting
Rigsby, St James, Nave, Lighting

Church still illuminated using candles.

DB 21 September 2024

Rigsby, Saint James Church
Rigsby, St James, Nave, Memorial
Rigsby, St James, Nave, Memorial
Rigsby, St James, Nave, Memorial

"TO THE GLORY OF GOD AND IN LOVING MEMORY OF RICHARD MAYNARD BUDIBENT WHO DIED AT POTCHEFSTROOM, SOUTH AFRICA NOV 3RD 1901, AGED 19 YEARS"

A casualty of the Second Boer War?

DB 21 September 2024

Rigsby, Saint James Church, image, MEMORIAL, RICHARD MAYNARD BUDIBENT
Rigsby, St James, Nave, Memorial
Rigsby, St James, Nave, Memorial
Rigsby, St James, Nave, Memorial

"SACRED TO THE Memory of William Kingston Gent who departed this Life the 1st Septr 1792 aged 60. At his request his remains were brought from Alford and interred near the body of the Revd. Wm Willoughby late Vicar of Alford who died the 15th July 1792 aged 45. With their acquaintance commenced a sincere friendship in which by walking together in the House of God they were confirmed; until translated through the merits of their Redeemer to Scenes of happier Intercourse." 

DB 21 September 2024

Rigsby, Saint James Church, image, memorial, William Kingston
Rigsby, St James, Nave, Memorial
Rigsby, St James, Nave, Memorial
Rigsby, St James, Nave, Memorial

Memorial to Robert Uvedale West M.D who died in 1870.

Google Translate imperfectly renders the inscription as :-

"In the sepulcher juxits of this church rests the lord ROBERTUS UVEDALE WEST M.D. who practiced the art of medicine in the town of Alford and in the neighboring villages for thirty-seven years without study, but from this he had the greatest praise, that the midwife, who served every one, had known with great insight and not every day, while he had seen nearly four thousand children. spread was born July 16 A.S. 1800 He forgets November 17 A.S. 1870"

DB 21 September 2024

Rigsby, Saint James Church, Robert Uvedale West
Rigsby, St James, Nave, Memorial
Rigsby, St James, Nave, Memorial
Rigsby, St James, Nave, Memorial

"A late Greek Revival wall monument of 1854 to James Mason, in form of a pedimented panel with acanthus brackets and the Dove of the Spirit"

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1168596?section=official-list-entry 

"THIS TABLET IS ERECTED TO THE MEMORY OF JAMES MASON, WHO, IN HOPE OF A GLORIOUS RESURRECTION TO ETERNAL LIFE, DEPARTED FROM THIS WORLD OF TRIAL JANUARY10TH1854, IN THE 54TH YEAR OF HIS AGE.

"BLESSED ARE THE DEAD WHICH DIE IN THE LORD FROM HENCEFORTH: YEA, SAITH THE SPIRIT, THAT THEY MAY REST FROM THEIR LABOURS''

ALSO OF ANNE WEST, WIFE OF JAMES MASON, WHO DIED ON THE 6TH OF NOVEMBER 1870, AGED 67 YEARS."

DB 21 September 2024

Rigsby, Saint James Church, James Mason
Rigsby, St James, Nave, Memorial
Rigsby, St James, Nave, Memorial
Rigsby, St James, Nave, Memorial

"In loving memory of WILLIAM NORTON MASON born at Rigsby May 21st 1840, who died at Eastbourne April 30th 1906. He wore the white flower of a blameless life. He was for many years Churchwarden of this church. This tablet is erected by his sorrowing widow."

DB 21 September 2024

Rigsby, Saint James Church, WILLIAM NORTON MASON
Rigsby, St James, Nave, Memorial
Rigsby, St James, Nave, Memorial
Rigsby, St James, Nave, Memorial

"IN MEMORY OF CATHERINE WILSON WIFE OF THE REVD. FRAN WILSON WHO DEPARTED THIS LIFE IN THE YEAR 1797 AGED 44 YEARS"

DB 21 September 2024

Rigsby, Saint James Church, CATHERINE WILSON
Rigsby, St James, Nave, Pulpit
Rigsby, St James, Nave, Pulpit
Rigsby, St James, Nave, Pulpit

"Panelled ashlar pulpit with foliate columns and scalloped corbels"

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1168596?section=official-list-entry 

DB 21 September 2024

Rigsby, Saint James Church, pulpit
Rigsby, St James, Nave, Roof
Rigsby, St James, Nave, Roof
Rigsby, St James, Nave, Roof

Looking east up to the nave roof.

DB 21 September 2024

Rigsby, Saint James Church, roof
Rigsby, St James, Nave, Rose Window
Rigsby, St James, Nave, Rose Window
Rigsby, St James, Nave, Rose Window

The rose window in the west wall of the church.

September 2015

Rigsby, St James church, rose window
Rigsby, St James, Nave, Rose Window
Rigsby, St James, Nave, Rose Window
Rigsby, St James, Nave, Rose Window

The rose window in the west wall of the church has coloured Victorian glass in a repeating pattern.

September 2015

Rigsby, St James church, stained glass
Rigsby, St James, Nave, Rose Window
Rigsby, St James, Nave, Rose Window
Rigsby, St James, Nave, Rose Window

White's Directory 1872 notes "Over the west entrance is a small well-proportioned Catherine wheel window, filled with stained glass, the gift of Lady Mary Hamilton"

The Right Hon. R. C. N. Hamilton was lord of the manor.

DB 21 September 2024

Rigsby, Saint James Church, window
Rigsby, St James, Nave, Window
Rigsby, St James, Nave, Window
Rigsby, St James, Nave, Window

Window in memory of the youngest daughter of the late Dr. West, of Alford. She died August 1st 1863.

DB 21 September 2024

Rigsby, Saint James Church, window stained glass
Rigsby, St James, Porch
Rigsby, St James, Porch
Rigsby, St James, Porch

"The gabled porch has a latticed design in the gable and a cross fleury. The roll moulded round headed outer arch has angle shafts with waterleaf capitals. The plainer inner doorway is similar."

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1168596?section=official-list-entry 

DB 21 September 2024

Rigsby, Saint James Church, porch
Rigsby, St James, Vestry
Rigsby, St James, Vestry
Rigsby, St James, Vestry

"The vestry on the north side is gabled with a single matching light"

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1168596?section=official-list-entry 

DB 21 September 2024

Rigsby, Saint James Church, vestry
Rigsby, St James, Vestry Doorway
Rigsby, St James, Vestry Doorway
Rigsby, St James, Vestry Doorway

Doorway to vestry on the north side of the nave. 

"The north door to the vestry is a re-used C12 round headed arch with chamfered imposts"

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1168596?section=official-list-entry 

DB 21 September 2024

Rigsby, Saint James Church, doorway