Church Micro 2561…South Witham Traditional Geocache
Church Micro 2561…South Witham
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The first known mention of the Church at South Witham is in the Domesday Book survey of 1086; here it records that Ernwin was the Parish Priest. The church has changed much since this period. As you enter through the gates you will see on the right behind the noticeboard a Romano-British coffin taken from a local quarry in 1919. Looking up at the 13th Century Bell Cote, it has two bells cast in 1785. One bears the Legend "Although my voice is shrill and small, I shall be heard aloud to call", the other in Latin "Strike me and I sing sweetly - let me alone and I am silent ". As you enter through the 15th Century door with its flower and leaf border, you will see on the left an octagonal font believed to be 17th Century. Next to this is the organ and if you go behind it you will see a coffin lid c.13th - 14th Century possibly related to the Templars?
The postcard below shows the interior of the church looking along the Nave towards the Chancel. To the left the pillars are 12th Century Norman or Romanesque style with acanthus leaf axe work on the Capitals. The Arcade to the right is late 13th early 14th Century pillars. As you move towards the Chancel you have two transepts to your left (north) and right (south). The North Transept is 15th Century with a piscina and an aumbry cupboard, for washing and storing the sacred vessels. The South Transept is 14th Century again with a piscini in it.
The Chancel is modern being built in 1930. The original 12th Century Chancel collapsed in 1503 and the now damaged rood screen was destroyed in 1565 by the pastor Robert Winter as part of the anti-pope sentiment during the reformation.
As you are about to enter the church through the 15th Century doorway pause to look at the carved heads and fleurons (flowers or leaves) around the door. Just to the left inside the door is the octagonal-shaped font with its sunk fleur-de-lis; it may be of the 17th Century (1600-1700) or even earlier and seems not to have been finished
In front of you are the pillars and pointed arches of the South Arcade, which were built in the early part of the 13th Century (1200-50), while beyond is the North Arcade is the oldest part of the church and was erected in the later part of the 12th Century (1150-1200); it is of the Norman period.
In the extreme northwest corner of the nave is a coffin lid standing on end. This is of 14th Century date (1300-1400) and was removed from the church about 1550 and placed faced downwards across the River Witham on the Post Road to North Witham. Here it served as a footbridge but was restored to the church in 1905. At the East End of the church, where the altar stands, is the chancel which was built in 1930 as part of the general restoration; the east window dates from 1937.
The South Transept on the same side of the church as the door was built in the 14th Century Decorated Period and contains a piscina - a basin for washing the chalice and a wooden beam revealing the old elevation of the roof. The North Transept - the Lady Chapel - is of a later date - 15th Century, with a fine perpendicular Period Window containing a few pieces of old glass. The Lady Chapel also has a piscina and an aumbry cupboard for holding the sacred vessels for Mass and Communion. Note too in the Chapel on the east wall a brass monument of 1577 to Margery Harington and another of 1597 to Elizabeth Harington. There are other monuments in the church with some of the 17th and 18th Centuries.
“If anybody would like to expand to this series please do, I would just ask that you could let Sadexploration know first so he can keep track of the Church numbers and names to avoid duplication.
There is also a Church Micro Stats page found via the Bookmark list”
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Vs lbh frr nal gebyyf, pna lbh trg n cubgb, orpnhfr V unir lrg gb frr bar.