The school was built in 1859. Senior pupils were transferred to schools in Sleaford by 1953.

The school was closed on 18 February 1971, with the pupils transferred to Osbournby County School.

April 2018

The broad west tower with its pinnacles  and embattled parapet is 15th century.

Much of the rest of the church dates from the extensive restoration of 1886.

The interior, however, has arcades dating from the 13th and 14th centuries.

September 2013

View of the church from the south-west.

April 2018

Church viewed from the northeast. White's Directory 1872 has a brief entry :-

"The Church (St. Mary and All Saints), consisting of nave, north and south aisles, chancel, south porch and a broad west tower, is an ancient structure. It was newly seated in 1854".

DB 24 June 2024 

Kelly's Directory 1930 reports :-

"The church of St. Mary and All Saints is a small but ancient building of stone, in the Early English, Late Decorated and Perpendicular styles, consisting of chancel, nave of three bays, aisles, and an interesting embattled western tower of excellent masonry, with a low pyramidal roof and four pinnacles and containing one bell: 

the north aisle is Decorated and the south aisle Perpendicular; this now forms a side chapel dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary:

in the chancel, which has been partly rebuilt, is a Decorated niche, richly canopied, and a low side window of Early English date:

at the east end of the north aisle is a bracket supporting a headless figure seated on a bench:

the font is Early English :

the stairs to the rood loft remain on the north side:

the church was thoroughly restored in 1886-7, at a cost of £1,129, and was re-opened in April, 1887:

the stained east window of the south aisle, erected in 1923, is a memorial:

a new organ was installed in 1928:

there is a mural tablet, erected in 1920, to the men of the parish who fell in the Great War, 1914-18:

there are 300 sittings.

In the churchyard at the east end of the south aisle is a mutilated recumbent effigy.

The register dates from the year 1813.

The living is a vicarage, annexed to the rectory of Aswarby, joint net yearly value £420, with residence, in the gift of Sir George Whichcote bart. and held since 1928 by the Rev. Edward Arthur Paget, who resides at Aswarby". 

DB 24 June 2024 

Looking east towards the altar.

DB 24 June 2024

"In the east wall is a C14 statue bracket with crocketed and pinnacled canopy"

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1147542?section=official-list-entry 

DB 24 June 2024

"On the south side is a blocked priest's door with chamfered surround"

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1147542?section=official-list-entry 

DB 24 June 2024 

"On the north wall of the chancel is a rectangular ashlar wall plaque to Anthony Williams, d. 1681. It has a moulded surround with a ramped top supporting a shield of arms and an obelisk. Beneath is a reset C15 corbel, now supporting a C19 book stand"

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1147542?section=official-list-entry 

DB 24 June 2024

Piscina in the chancel.

April 2016

"In the chancel is a C14 piscina in the south wall with beast head supporter and C19 arched top."

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1147542?section=official-list-entry 

DB 24 June 2024

Decorative floor tiles in the northeast corner of the sanctuary.

DB 24 June 2024 

Flat grave covers; a style found elsewhere in south-west Lincolnshire.

April 2018

Noticeboard near the western entrance to the churchyard.

DB 24 June 2024 

The north arcade (on the left) is low with octagonal piers; the south arcade (on the right) is higher - and later in date - and has piers composed of four shafts.

April 2018

Looking east towards the C19 chancel arch.

C13 north nave arcade and C14 south arcade.

DB 24 June 2024

Looking west towards the C13 tower arch.

White's Directory 1872 remarks that "It was newly seated in 1854".

DB 24 June 2024

Looking across the nave and into the north aisle.

DB 24 June 2024 

"Rood loft doorway with chamfered rectangular surround and a 4 centred arched doorway at higher level. Also a C13 carving of Christ in Majesty, the head of which is missing"

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1147542?section=official-list-entry 

DB 24 June 2024 

The south arcade dates from the Perpendicular period.

Each complex pier has four shafts of circular cross-section, and each shaft ends in a capital with knobbly leaves.

April 2016

"Early C18 raised and fielded panelled pulpit with moulded cornice and intarsia stars"

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1147542?section=official-list-entry 

DB 24 June 2024 

C19 roof.

DB 24 June 2024 

Looking west. 

"3 bay C13 north nave arcade with octagonal piers"

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1147542?section=official-list-entry 

DB 24 June 2024 

Looking east.

Organist playing an electronic organ. The church must once have had a pipe organ as Kelly's Directory 1930 notes "a new organ was installed in 1928".

DB 24 June 2024 

"A blocked doorway with a plain ashlar surround"

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1147542?section=official-list-entry 

DB 24 June 2024 

This thirteenth century statue of Christ at the east end of the north aisle is very fine.

Unfortunately the head has been knocked off.

September 2013

The First World War memorial at St Mary & All Saints.

The names listed are :  Christopher William Cunnington, Ernest Gray, William Johnson and Albert Newton.

Mark Acton, 2016

"TO THE GLORY OF GOD AND IN GRATEFUL MEMORY OF THE MEN OF SWARBY, WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES FOR KING & COUNTRY, IN THE GREAT WAR 1914 - 1919.

CHRISTOPHER WM CUNNINGTON, DIED AT SEA OCT, 24TH 1915,

ERNEST GRAY, DIED OF WOUNDS JULY 5TH 1916,

WILLIAM JOHNSON, KILLED IN ACTION APRIL 27TH 1917,

ALBERT NEWTON, KILLED IN ACTION JULY 27TH 1917.

"GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN THAN THIS, THAT A MAN LAY DOWN HIS LIFE FOR HIS FRIENDS""

DB 24 June 2024

Another view of the war memorial set against the north wall.

DB 24 June 2024

Looking east towards a side chapel.

"C14 south arcade of 3 bays with hollow chamfered quatrefoil piers and floriate capitals to the labels"

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1147542?section=official-list-entry 

DB 24 June 2024 

Looking west towards the font.

South aisle of 1886. 

DB 24 June 2024 

Altar at the east end of the south aisle. Kelly's Directory 1930 describes this as a side chapel dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary.

DB 24 June 2024 

Mothers' Union banner laid up in the side chapel.

DB 24 June 2024 

The south aisle was built in 1886-87 as part of the restoration of the church.

April 2016

Detail from the south aisle, which was built in 1886-87 as part of the restoration of the church.

April 2016

Further deatils from he south aisle, which was built in 1886-87 as part of the restoration of the church.

April 2016

"The south aisle has stepped buttresses with crockets and human head stops"

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1147542?section=official-list-entry 

DB 24 June 2024 

"The south door has C14 reveals with paired shafts and fleurons but the head and hood are C19 work"

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1147542?section=official-list-entry 

DB 24 June 2024 

"C19 single light east window with cusped tracery"

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1147542?section=official-list-entry 

Glass "In memory of John Rear. Churchwarden. Died Aug 21st 1923"

DB 24 June 2024

Circular Victorian font.

April 2018

A second view of the C19 font. Located at the west end of the south aisle.

DB 24 June 2024 

A mark adjacent to the first buttress east of the south doorway. Is this an apotropaic mark?

"Witches’ marks - ritual protection symbols or apotropaic marks - have been found in many historic places, from medieval churches and houses, to barns, and caves ...

They date back to times when belief in witchcraft and the supernatural was widespread. Magical symbols and ritual objects were a common part of life from around the 16th to the early 19th century"

https://historicengland.org.uk/whats-new/features/discovering-witches-marks/what-are-witches-marks/ 

DB 24 June 2024 

The impressive tower of Swarby's church faces the main village street.

It is ashlar faced with what Pevsner calls "fancy battlements".

September 2013

South side of the tower.

"3 stage C15 west tower with chamfered plinth and string courses, stepped set back buttresses and embattled parapet with angle pinnacles. In the belfry stage are paired louvered openings with pointed heads to the lights, trefoils and hollow chamfered surrounds"

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1147542?section=official-list-entry 

DB 24 June 2024 

"C13 tower arch with double chamfered reveals, facetted capitals and pointed double chamfered arch"

http://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1147542?section=official-list-entry 

DB 24 June 2024

Inscription on the west face of the tower.

DB 24 June 2024 

"Former well head. Late C19"

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1061787?section=official-list-entry 

DB 24 June 2024