Undated postcard.

White's Directory of Lincolnshire 1872 states "The benefice is a discharged rectory, valued in K.B. at £11. 10s. 2d.

The Baroness Willoughby de Eresby is patroness, and the Rev. Joe Wood Bayldon, M.A., is rector, and has five acres of glebe and a yearly rent-charge of £210, awarded in 1832 in lieu of tithes"

Listed in Kelly's Directory 1885 "Johnson Albert, Red Lion P.H" and in 1919 "Wilson George, Red Lion P.H" and in 1930 "Red Lion Hotel (Geo. Leverton)".

Comment in White's Directory 1872 of an ancient monastery and that "Many human bones have been dug up in the parish, especially in 1826, when the foundations of the Red Lion Inn were excavated, and even so recently as 1871, many skulls were met with in sinking a well"

DB 4 September 2022

The tower is built in local greenstone (Spilsby sandstone).

The brick chancel was built in 1828 and the nave rebuilt by Giles in 1862.

Matthew Flinders, navigator and cartographer, married Ann Chappelle here on 17 April 1801.

Undated photograph

The nave and aisles were built in 1862 by C E Giles (architect) and the chancel, in red brick, to the extreme right, dates from 1828.

September 2015

The nave and aisles were built in 1862 by C E Giles (architect) with windows in Decorated style.

September 2015

The tower of St Nicholas's church is remarkably close to the former A16 trunk Road (the village was by-passed in 2005).

Most medieval churches in this area of the county were built in greenstone (Spilsby Sandstone) with limestone dressing.

The 3-light bell openings and the 5-light west window (just visible here) are Perpendicular in style.

September 2015

Another view of the church from the main road  immediately to the west (A16).

The weather vane in form of a sailing ship is clearly visible (because of the Flinders connection, presumably)

undated post card

Looking east towards the sanctuary. 

Chancel rebuilt in 1828.

DB 4 September 2022

A closer view of the altar.

DB 4 September 2022

"IN MEMORY OF JAMES FLANNER, M.A. Rector of Partney, who died March 6th 1814, AGED 58 YEARS"

DB 4 September 2022

"Near this place lies the Body of HANNAH, Wife of the Revd. WILLIAM TUTING formerly Rector of this Parish. She died in the 27th Year of her Age on the 20th of February in the Year of our Lord 1790"

DB 4 September 2022

"IN MEMORY OF THE REVD. FIELD FLOWERS (LATE OF BOSTON) RECTOR OF THIS PARISH, WHO DIED 4TH JULY 1818 IN THE FORTYSIXTH YEAR OF HIS AGE"

DB 4 September 2022

This medieval cross with truncated shaft stands to the south of the church.

The base is carved with symbols of the four Evangelists on shields.

September 2015

A stone commemoration in the churchyard of the marriage of Captain Matthew Flinders to Ann Chappelle, step daughter of Rev William Tyler, of Partney on 17 April 1801.

Mark Acton, 2015

This general view of the church interior, looking east, shows the arcades (north on the left) with the font in the foreground.

Early nineteenth century timber trusses are evident in the chancel.

September 2015

Matthew Flinders, who was born in Donington near Spalding (30 miles distant), married in this church in 1801.

He is one of the most notable men of Lincolnshire.

September 2015

Looking east towards the C14 moulded chancel arch.

DB 4 September 2022

Looking west towards the tower arch.

Pictured during the "Lincolnshire Wolds & Coast Churches Festival". 

DB 4 September 2022 

The north arcade is of the Perpendicular period, with slender octagonal piers and double chamfered arches.

At the head of the piers are bands with small fleurons and heads.

September 2015

The south arcade has similar piers and arches to the north arcade but dates from the earlier Decorated period.

The decoration at the head of each pier is "lush nobbly leaf" (Pevsner).

September 2015

The octagonal font carries patterns mainly of the Decorated period.

September 2015

This highly decorated pulpit dates from the restoration of 1862.

September 2015

A second view of the C19 ashlar pulpit.

DB 4 September 2022

Looking east towards the Chapel of St Mary the Virgin.

Kelly's Directory 1930 reports :-

"The church of St. Nicholas is a building of green sandstone, in the Decorated style, with later additions, and consists of chancel, clerestoried nave of four bays, aisles, north chapel, spacious south porch and a western tower with plain parapet and pinnacles, containing 3 bells and a clock :

the piers and arches of the arcade separating the nave from the south aisle are remarkable for the singular beauty and delicacy of the foliage of the capitals :

an ancient Perpendicular screen divides the chapel from the north aisle :

in 1862 the nave was rebuilt, a new porch erected at the cost of G. W. Maddison esq. and a new stone pulpit erected by the parish choir :

the stained east window of the south aisle was given by Frederick Flowers esq. as a memorial to his parents and sister, and underneath is a brass to Frederick Flowers esq. d. 1886; in the north aisle is a brass to Mrs. Jane Rugeley, of Partney, d. 1670:

there are 250 sittings"

DB 4 September 2022

Looking west towards the organ.

DB 4 September 2022

Benefactions board.

"The Gift of Mr. Tho. Hackley of London who Died Novemr ye 4th 1719

I Give & bequeath to ye Parish of Partney, in Lincolnshire, where my Father was Minister, One hundred Pounds for ever ..."

Noted in White's Directory 1872 that "The poor parishioners have the interest of £100, left in 1719, by Thomas Hackley, of London, whose father had been rector of Partney, and also about £8 a-year from the Poor's close, together with the rents of 3R. 18P. of land let out in gardens, but the donors of both these benefactions are unknown"

DB 4 September 2022

Chapel of St Mary the Virgin.

DB 4 September 2022 

"The north aisle with a screen reconstructed from fragments of a C15 screen with panel tracery"

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1063679?section=official-list-entry 

DB 4 September 2022

"Brass memorial to Jane Rugeley, 1670"

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1063679?section=official-list-entry 

DB 4 September 2022 

"TO THE GLORY OF GOD THIS CHAPEL OF S. MARY THE VIRGIN IS RESTORED TO ITS ANCIENT USE IN MEMORY OF THE MEN OF PARTNEY WHO IN THE GREAT WAR 1914-1918 DIED THAT WE MIGHT LIVE"

DB 4 September 2022 

"North aisle with 4 boards with biblical quotations"

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1063679?section=official-list-entry 

DB 4 September 2022

Organ located at the west end of the north aisle.

DB 4 September 2022

White's Directory 1872 reports :-

"The Church (St. Nicholas) is a large freestone edifice, which appears to have been originally built in the reign of Edward I. or II.

It consists of a fine lofty nave with clerestory, a modern chancel, quite out of keeping with the rest of the building, north and south aisles, separated on either side from the nave by an arcade of pointed arches, supported by tall slender octagonal pillars, with finely carved capitals, and a lofty massive tower, with a beautiful perpendicular west window, and containing three bells, and a clock presented in 1869 by Sidney Maddison, Esq.

The building was restored and the pews replaced by open seats in 1862, by the exertions of the Rev. Robert Giles, B.A., the late rector, aided by public subscription.

A handsome south porch was at the same time erected on the site of the old one, at the sole cost of George Wilson Maddison, Esq.

The Church contains an elegantly carved stone pulpit, an old carved oak screen, and an ancient font.

The parish register dates from 1699"

DB 4 September 2022

Looking west towards the entrance.

DB 4 September 2022

"IN LOVING MEMORY OF CHRISTOPHER RALPH MADDISON 1ST BATT. DERBYSHIRE REGIMENT, 2ND SON OF HENRY AND CLARA MADDISON OF PARTNEY BORN 10TH SEPT, 1872. HE SERVED IN THE TIRAH CAMPAIGN IN INDIA AND WAS KILLED IN ACTION AT VLAKFONTEIN IN STH. AFRICA 29TH MAY 1901. DISPLAYING SUCH BRAVERY AS CAUSED HIM TO BE MENTIONED IN LORD KITCHENER'S DESPATCH FOR "GREAT GALLANTRY AND GOOD EXAMPLE". "FAITHFUL UNTO DEATH""

DB 4 September 2022

Kelly's Directory 1930 notes "the stained east window of the south aisle was given by Frederick Flowers esq. as a memorial to his parents and sister, and underneath is a brass to Frederick Flowers esq. d. 1886".

DB 4 September 2022

Kelly's Directory 1930 notes "the stained east window of the south aisle was given by Frederick Flowers esq. as a memorial to his parents and sister, and underneath is a brass to Frederick Flowers esq. d. 1886" 

"IN EVER LOVING REMEMBRANCE OF FREDERICK FLOWERS THIRD SON OF THE ABOVE FIELD AND MARY FLOWERS. HE WAS RECORDER OF STAMFORD AND FOR 24 YEARS A MAGISTRATE OF THE BOW STREET POLICE COURT. DIED AT HORNSEY 26TH JANUARY 1886"

DB 4 September 2022

"IN MEMORY OF MAJOR HENRY GEORGE MADDISON BORN 23 AUG.1868, DIED 18 JULY 1952 A COLONIST IN NEW ZEALAND, HE FOUGHT IN THE BOER WAR AS A VOLUNTEER, AND IN THE FIRST WORLD WAR WITH THE LINCOLNSHIRE REGIMENT. IN THE SECOND WORLD WAR HE STOOD DOWN WITH THE HOME GUARD IN HIS 78TH YEAR. SQUIRE OF PARTNEY. CHURCH WARDEN FOR 33 YEARS. HE WAS BELOVED BY ALL WHO KNEW HIM"

DB 4 September 2022

"Angle buttressed C15 tower of 4 stages ... West side with ogee arched moulded doorway"

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1063679?section=official-list-entry 

"tower part rebuilt 1910"

DB 4 September 2022

"PARTNEY CHURCH CLOCK WAS THE GIFT AND WORKMANSHIP OF SYDNEY MADDISON ESQ SON OF GEORGE WILSON MADDISON JP OF PARTNEY HALL IN 1869.

RENOVATION WORK TO MARK THE MILLENNIUM WAS FUNDED THROUGH A GENEROUS BEQUEST MADE IN 1991 BY THE LATE DOROTHY LUCY OLDROYD (NEE GOODWIN)" 

DB 4 September 2022

Located at the west end of the nave adjacent to the tower arch. 

"IN MEMORY OF JOHN WEST WALKER LIEUT 5TH BATTN LINCOLNSHIRE REGT BORN AT PARTNEY RECTORY 20TH MAY 1897. KILLED IN ACTION 11TH APRIL 1917 NEAR HARGICOURT, FRANCE.

HE WAS THE ELDEST SON OF GILBERT GEORGE WALKER RECTOR OF THIS PARISH 1894-1905 AND MARGARET LITTLEJOHN HIS WIFE AND GRANDSON OF THE LATE JOHN WEST WALKER M.B. J.P OF SPILSBY"

DB 4 September 2022

This village street in the centre of Partney later became the busy A16 trunk road before the village by-pass was built in 2005.

This view is from the north.

Undated photograph