Jean Howard, July 2021

Swinhope Hall, home of the Alingtons, can be seen across a lake from the churchyard. The church of St Helen dates largely to the thirteenth-century.

The graveyard could do with some attention.

Mark Acton, 2014

View of St Helen's church from the west.

The entrance has quatrefoiled piers of the thirteenth century.

June 2014

St Helen's church from the south-east.

June 2014

The church is Grade II listed. 

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1359772  

The tower forms a porch for the main entrance to the church. 

This facade looks towards Swinhope Hall across the park and has the only ashlar surface.

The doorway is framed by two quatrefoiled piers, thought to have been re-used from a demolished south aisle.

Jean Howard, 27 January 2021

Exterior from east.

The east window is a remarkably wide lancet.

Jean Howard, 27 January 2021

From the northwest.

Apart from the west face, the church is mainly constructed of Claxby ironstone rubble with some brick repairs.

The small northern extension is the vestry.

Jean Howard, 27 January 2021

The baptistery of 1860 has replaced the south aisle.

June 2014

Re-used mediaeval fragments built into the exterior west wall of the baptistery.

Jean Howard, 27 January 2021

The east window shows the Crucifixion of our Lord.

Two Roman soldiers are shown to the left; the one at the front lifts his spear to stab Him; the soldier behind sits astride a white horse. To the right Mary turns away. The outer area of the composition shows a chalice above his head; the pelican pecking her breast below His feet and the whole is decorated with passion flowers.

It is a memorial window and a plaque set below the glazed area reads:

"To the glory of God and in affectionate remembrance of George Hugh Alington/ 68th Light Infantry who died at Malta on the 9th June 1852 aged 25 beloved, respected and/ deeply lamented. This window is erected by his devoted mother Mary Alington".

Jean Howard, 27 January 2021

A plain C12th drum font.

Jean Howard, 27 January 2021

Immediately above the west door is a very dark hatchment.  It is for the Revd Marmaduke Alington who died in 1840.

Jean Howard, 27 January 2021

The nave and chancel are in one structure.  The restoration of 1860 is evident.

June 2014

Interior looking west.

The walls are very thick, as can be seen from the deep splay of the windows and the depth of the wall plate beneath the roof trusses. This has also allowed the electric lighting to be fitted discreetly.

Jean Howard, 27 January 2021

Arthur Hildebrand Alington

http://www.dreadnoughtproject.org/tfs/index.php/Arthur_Hildebrand_Alington

and his son Argentine Hugh Alington who is said to have witnessed the scuttling of the German fleet in Scapa Flow.

http://www.dreadnoughtproject.org/tfs/index.php/Argentine_Hugh_Alington

This Jean Howard was a wartime intelligence officer.   Seeing her name on a memorial was a surreal experience for the photographer!

Jean Howard, 27 January 2021

Hackfath memorial.

A charming and personal memorial to a soldier who died in WWI.  The copper plaque reads:

IN LOVING MEMORY OF/ WALTER HACKFATH/ WHO FELL IN THE/ GREAT WAR 1914-19/ REST ETERNAL GRANT/ HIM O LORD

Recessed into the wooden cross above this is the individual memorial plaque, a "Dead Man's Penny", which was issued to Hackfath's family.

Walter was born at Tealby and was living in North Thoresby when he enlisted at Grimsby into the 2nd/6th Battalion Sherwood Foresters.  He was killed in action on the 21st March 1918, and having no known grave is commemorated on the Arras Memorial, Pas de Calais, France.

https://www.forces.net/services/tri-service/story-dead-mans-penny

Jean Howard, 27 January 2021

This monument is erected to the north of the altar and tells a tragic story.  It says:

SACRED TO FRANCES SECOND DAUGHTER OF/ REV'D MARMADUKE AND ANN ALINGTON OF THIS PLACE,/ AND TO THE REV'D HENRY ALINGTON B.A./ OF TWYWELL IN NORTHAMPTONSHIRE,/ HER BELOVED AND BETROTHED COUSIN,/ WHO SHE SURVIVED 19 MONTHS. HER HEALTH SUNK UNDER THE EFFORTS/ MADE BY HER PIOUS AND AFFECTIONATE MIND,/ TO BEAR AND CONCEAL THE ANGUISH OF A BROKEN HEART,/ AND TO SUBMIT WITH CHEERFULNESS TO THE WILL OF HER CREATOR./ SHE DIED APRIL 28TH 1828 AGED 28./ THIS MEMORIAL OF THEIR VIRTUES AND SORROWS,/ IS ERECTED BY HER DEEPLY AFFLICTED BROTHERS AND SISTERS.

The inscribed tablet is surmounted by a weeping cherub extinguishing a torch.  It is signed E Gaffin, Edward Gaffin of Regent St.

http://www.speel.me.uk/sculpt/gaffin.htm

Jean Howard, 27 January 2021

Revd Marmaduke Alington 1760-1840, whose hatchment hangs above the door, and his wife Ann nee Emeris

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Alington-99

Jean Howard, 27 January 2021

The upper of these two monuments is a handsome composition of black marble plaque on white backplate with a segmental head and a black pillar on either side. The text is in gold and reads:

IN THIS CHURCHYARD REST THE BODIES OF/ GEORGE MARMADUKE ALINGTON ESQ./ OF SWINHOPE, JP AND DL WHO DIED/ 18TH OF FEBRUARY, 1890, AGED 92./ AND OF MARY, HIS WIFE, THIRD DAUGHTER/ OF MATTHEW BANCROFT LISTER, ESQ./ OF BURWELL PARK, IN THIS COUNTY./ SHE DIED 9TH OF MAY, 1877, AGED 72/ THIS MONUMENT IS ERECTED IN LOVING/ MEMORY BY THEIR GRATEFUL CHILDREN.

The lower plaque is for their youngest son, Frederick William Alington who lived from 27 July 1845 - 28 June 1915

Several members of the numerous Alington family are mentioned in the following article:

https://www.lincstothepast.com/Records/RecordDisplayTranscript.aspx?oid=945405&iid=20395

Jean Howard, 27 January 2021

One of numerous wall tablets for the Alington family, this one commemorates Cyril Geoffrey Marmaduke Alington, 19 August 1914 to 6 August 1987; and his wife Helen Amabel nee Westmacott, 28 February 1924 to 27 February 2006.

Jean Howard, 27 January 2021

Richard H S Knott was born in Grimsby on 20 January 1929 to Eric Allen Holdsworth Knott and his wife Maud, nee Rowntree.   He died at Mansfield on 7 February 1943 at the age of 14.  He is buried with his Rowntree grandparents in the Quaker Burial Ground, The Retreat, York.

Jean Howard, 27 January 2021

To the south of the altar, this monument depicts almsgiving, the two women to the right having a basket from which a gift is being handed to the group on the left.  The tablet is signed is T. Gaffin, SC. 63 Regent St London.   The person commemorated was the mother of "Claribel" the popular Victorian ballad writer.  It reads:

IN MEMORY OF/ CHARLOTTE MARY/ THE AFFECTIONATE WIFE OF HENRY PYE/ OF LOUTH IN THIS COUNTY ESQUIRE/ WHO DIED 29 DECEMBER 1847/ AETATE 42/ WHOSE REMAINS WITH THOSE OF HER TWO INFANT CHILDREN/ WHO DIED RESPECTIVELY ON THE 11TH AUGUST 1827/ AND 28TH NOVEMBER 1828/ ARE DEPOSITED AT THE EAST END OF THIS CHURCH/ "HE THAT HATH PITY UPON THE POOR LENDETH UNTO THE LORD/ AND THAT WHICH HE HATH GIVEN WILL HE PAY HIM AGAIN" / PROVERBS XIX.17

Jean Howard, 27 January 2021

M. S./ Jonathan Field. Armigeri./ Hic in lucem primum susceptus/ A. D. MDCCXXVII/ Cum apud externos vita functus efset/ A. D. MDCCCXI/ Hue inter Majorum ofsa/ Ofsa ejus retulerunt amici

It would seem this means that Jonathan first received the light, that is, was born in 1727 and ended his days in foreign lands in 1811. Here were buried his larger bones as he told his friends.  

Jean Howard, 27 January 2021

https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/24970

The bottom of these three tablets reads:

Here repose the ashes of/ Charlotte Mary/ Wife of/ Admiral Arthur Hildebrand Alington/ of Swinhope/ and younger daughter of/ The Revd Charles Moore/ of Garlenick, Cornwall/ She departed in peace on 10th Dec 1913/ Aged 71 years

Jean Howard, 27 January 2021

NW W end

The Magi

This scene depicts the visit by the Magi bringing gold, frankincense and myrrh to Christ's birthplace in Bethlehem. The star that they have followed sends a shaft of light into the stable where the ox and ass can be seen behind Mary. A horse waits in the background and a burning oil lamp hangs worryingly beneath the thatched roof.

Jean Howard, 27 January 2021

NW Nave

Christ carrying the cross

This window shows Christ carrying his cross on the way to Calvary.  Along the lower edge it says:

In memory of the Rev'nd William Charles/ Sharpe BD late Vicar of Holme York/ Died March 6th 1865 Aged 47/ Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord.

Jean Howard, 27 January 2021

NE window

The Flight into Egypt

A more modern window shows the flight into Egypt. The text reads A THANKSGIVING FOR 21 YEARS AT SWINHOPE. The shield appears to show a hare above three boars' heads and the legend JAM TEMPUS AGE RES

Jean Howard, 27 January 2021

SW W end

The Presentation in the Temple

This window depicts the Presentation of the Christ child in the temple. Joseph and Mary stand to the left and the child is held by Simeon while Anna looks on. Two doves in a cage in the foreground have been brought to be sacrificed in thanksgiving for the baby's safe arrival.

Jean Howard, 27 January 2021

The east elevation of this house of 1785, formerly know as Swinhope Hall.

It is built of stock brick with a slated hipped roof. It is listed Grade 2.

Pearl Wheatley, 2012

Swinhope Hall from the churchyard

Now known as Swinhope House the Hall was built for the Alington family in 1785.  It is Grade II* listed

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1063508 

Jean Howard, 27 January 2021

The lake lies between the parish church of St Helen and Swinhope House, the historic home of the Alingtons.

Undated postcard.