Church Guide in the Name of Jesus Christ We Welcome You to This Ancient Place of Worship and Invite You to Share with Us in Fellowship, Prayer and Witness
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CHURCH GUIDE IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST WE WELCOME YOU TO THIS ANCIENT PLACE OF WORSHIP AND INVITE YOU TO SHARE WITH US IN FELLOWSHIP, PRAYER AND WITNESS. A SHORT GUIDE TO ST. MARGARET’S CHURCH, ROUGHTON, LINCOLNSHIRE Welcome to our church, which together with St. Michael’s Coningsby, Holy Trinity Church, Tattershall with Thorpe and St. Mary’s Church, Kirkby-on- Bain forms the Bain Valley Group of Churches. The Church is dedicated to Margaret, a Christian virgin martyred in the 3rd Century in Antioch. Because she refused to marry the Governor of Antioch (possibly a pagan) she was thrown into a dungeon. Legend has it that the Devil came to her in the form of a dragon to tempt her or coerce her into marrying the Governor. She held out her cross to the dragon, which then fled. The manner of her death is not recorded, but she is usually depicted wearing the Mar- tyr’s crown and palm, with the dragon at her feet in subjugation, or with one foot resting on the dragon and her cross in her hand. See also the badge on the notice board near the gate. The present Church - a Grade II* Listed Building, is mainly 13/14th century, with later modifications, although it is understood that the foundations date from an even earlier Church, but no details are to hand. There is a medieval record of a Rector of Roughton in 1265, by the name of Ishmael, but there are no further records until 1295. Local belief is that the Church was built in stages, coinciding with good local harvests (i.e. when cash was available). At any rate, it has no pretensions to architectural beau- ty, being built partly of greenstone (local sandstone) and partly of Tudor brick (as used in the building of Tattershall Castle) in a variety of architectural styles. The Nave is of greenstone and reputedly early Norman or late Saxon, borne out by the double-shafting of that period in the North-West corner. The North and South walls each had a doorway (now blocked), which further confirms the period. On the west wall of the Nave on either side of the tower are large boards proclaiming the Ten Com- mandments. On the third pew from the front on the left hand side is a brass plate ded- icated to the memory of Nellie Garner, Churchwarden. The retired Churchwarden, John Garner is her nephew, giving a total of 40 years service to our Church. The Chancel is reputedly 13th century, with a Priest’s door on the south side, the origi- nal porch for which was removed during one of the major refurbishments. The Altar is reputedly “Arts & Crafts”, a movement centred on William Morris. The Reredos was designed by Arthur Mackford and the altar table carved by B. M. Spurrier, F. C. Hay- ward, Theobe Spender and C. W. Leggate, the whole assembly by John Sharp, carpen- ter, in 1910, and given as “A thank offering” by B.M.S. in 1907 “To the Glory of God, and in loving memory of J.H.S.” (?J. H. Spurrier, a former Rector). At the west end is a castellated squat Norman-style belltower, through which one pass- es upon entering the Church by the large oaken west door. The tower was reportedly restored in 1435, when a low sloping ridged roof was added. There are two bells bearing the date 1691, still rung regularly, and the remains of a sun- dial on the tower, south of the West Door. The East window dates from the 19th Century and depicts Christ with children in the centre, flanked on His right by the Virgin Mary and on His left by St. Cecilia the Patron Saint of Music. The Font is plain, circular upon a circular pediment, both reputedly Norman. The Font cover is cupola-shaped and octagonal, made in the 16th Century of plain oak, with some slight carving around the rim. There are fragmentary remains of a medieval Rood Screen, a plain pulpit of re-cycled 18th Century oak panelling with a Georgian stair rail. In 1870 the Church was re-roofed, slate replacing the original thatch, and the difference in roof pitch can be viewed from the churchyard. At the same time open oak pews were installed, again recycled as they appear to date from the 16th Century, judged by the rather crude carvings on the bench-ends. At the same time, 1870, the tower was opened up to the Nave and the Chancel paved with encaustic tiles. In 1998, the top of the tower walls and its roof were repaired, at an overall cost of £4052.00. The whole electrical installation, from the meter onwards was replaced in 2001—new wiring, new lighting and new heating and new switchgear at a cost of £6351.00. During early 2003, the Chancel roof was renewed with new boards and slates and a handful of rafters. Most of the original rafters and wallplates were in excellent condi- tion. At the same time, all rainwater goods were replaced in cast iron, and new trenches leading to soakaways were constructed. The overall cost was almost £43,000.00, and most supplied by grant-making bodies, including English Heritage and Friends of St. Margaret’s. There was both architectural and archaeological supervision. During 2006 the plaster walls were re-decorated—but sadly we are still plagued by damp. In the same year the carpeting was renewed. In 2007 Lincoln Cathedral Sewing Group restored the banner to its former glory and the bells and their mechanisms were, for safety reasons, removed, overhauled, refurbished and re-tuned at a cost of £4,500. In 2008 an area was set aside for the internment of cremated remains and thanks to the generosity of Mr. John Garner, the area is marked by a stone cross at each end. The Chancel contains two good brass candelabrum, circa 18th Century, both on a pulley system suspended from the ceiling and there are memorial plaques to Norreys Finnes Esq;, to Rev. Arthur Rockliffe, to Charles Pilkington Esq. and his wife Abigail—all of which are 18th Century. The register dates from 1564, which is pretty good considering that parochial records were first ordered to be kept during the reign of Henry VIII (1530-1538). We are now at the beginning of the 21st Century and until recent times, both society and the Church have agonised over admitting women to public office, but the good people of Roughton were about 3 centuries ahead of their time, for in 1707 there is a register entry “Mary Would, overseer of ye poore, gave up hir accounts”. Two former Rectors, John Dymoke (father and son of the same name) of Scrivelsby, Horncastle, 1798-1828 and 1828-1867, were also the Grand Champions of England. The role of the Grand Champion was to ride, in full armour, into Westminster Abbey at the coronation of the monarch, and be prepared to fight any pretender or dissenter. Today the role is ceremonial, and he enters on foot, without armour and carrying a standard. In the churchyard are the remains of a Saxon cross, and some interesting old grave- stones, as well as more recent ones, including that of a former Rector. The Church is open for worship on the 2nd and 4th Sundays in the month, as well as Easter Day, Christmas Day and Harvest Festival, times of Services are displayed in the Church. At other times, and for quiet prayer, the Church is open daily from about 9.00a.m. until approximately 5.00p.m. We are a lively, enthusiastic and friendly Church, and play a full part in the life of the village and surrounding areas, arranging fundraising events throughout the year and details of events are posted on the Church notice board and village notice board out- side the village hall. We share with Tattershall, Coningsby and Kirkby-on-Bain, a Ministry Team of Parish Lay Ministers led by the Rector, Reverend Sue Allison, assisted by Associate Priest, Rever- end Margaret Done, Assistant Minister, Reverend Roy Done and Diocesan Reader, Sheila Mullinger. We hope that you have enjoyed your visit to St. Margaret’s at Roughton and that you may care to come again—we will be pleased to see you. You may also care to visit the other three churches in the Bain Valley Group, St. Mary’s at Kirkby-on-Bain, St. Michael’s at Coningsby and the Collegiate Church of the Holy Trinity at Tattershall. St. Benedict at Haltham, which although not part of the Bain Valley Group and is a redun- dant church cared for by The Churches Conservation Trust, is well worth a visit, and has connections with Roughton. An occasional candlelight carol service is held there. Updated by Richard Jones and Jan Gowler—October 2011 Revised by Ann Pickup and Jan Gowler—February 2016 Thank you for visiting our Church. May the Lord go with you. These notes compiled with the help of “Records of Woodhall Spa and Neighbourhood” by J. Conway Walter, published by W. K. Morton, Horncastle. C1905. .