Market Deeping. CHURCH : ST GUTHLAC
Two weeks after photographing Glinton, Northborough and Peakirk in deep snow, it was off again up the A15, this time heading towards Bourne. Started off with re-visits to Baston and Thurlby and was then intending to move on to Morton to re-shoot the gargoyles on the tower. Whilst there, the plan was to trek down to Hacconby to see if the scaffolding was still up following the earthquake damage a couple of years ago.
However, I couldn't get to Morton without a long wait for the next bus, so decided to head back to see St Guthlac at Market Deeping. Fell very lucky here, as the church was open, and I had arrived about 15 minutes before a guided tour of the church, undertaken by the local Vicar.
A small but enthusiastic group gathered for the tour, and our guide turned out to be amiable and informative, making the hour long tour pass really quickly. This really was a pleasant time spent in good company, and it set the seal on what was already a good day.
As you would imagine from the dedication, Guthlac is very much in evidence within this church. In the chancel stand two effegies, one of which is Guthlac. The eagle eyed amongst you might notice that Guthlac's right hand is missing. Apparantly an incident occurred whilst the statue was being dusted, and the hand will hopefully be re-attached at some point. Guthlac is also represented in two stained glass windows on the south side of the church, one Victorian and one early Edwardian.
Possibly to allow in more light, given that the rest of the church is covered in stained glass windows, the large chancel window is made of clear glass. With a new and impressive lighting system installed in the church this all makes for a light and bright church in which, I feel, it would be a pleasure to worship!
It is thought that the present church stood on the same ground as an earlier structure, which would possibly have been a purely wooden building. This is backed up by a Saxon coffin lid which rests on the left hand side of the chancel. There is a similar lid in the porch at nearby Thurlby.
Some decent gargoyles and grotesques can be found here. Grotesques over both North and South interior walls, with one holding out a begging bowl and another with tongue out in typical Medieval gesture both catching the eye. On the outside, some very nice gargoyles can be seen. Most churches in this area have there fair share of decent gargoyles and grotesques, with the puzzling exception of neighbouring Deeping St James which has none.
The church grounds are well maintained. Plenty of trees and bushes making it difficult to get a clear exterior shot of the church. Some very nicely carved gravestones here but sadly, most of these are pretty weathered. A couple of examples included towards the bottom of the page. The grieving widow symbol in the photograph bottom right is unusual. I have seen plenty of grieving widows depicted on gravestone, but it is unusual to see this in conjunction with an anchor. According to my I Spy book of gravestone symbolism...!, an anchor was used in the 18th and 19th Centuries to represent hope and a strong Christian faith.. If this is the case we see human grieving but also an underlying sysmbol of hope in eternal life.
A lovely stay. Thoroughly enjoyable. Then off on foot to Deeping St James.
A plaque close to the chancel inside St Guthlac's made fascinating reading. Image included above left, but in case you can't pick up the wording, it reads as follows..."To the memory of William Goodale who died April ye 9th 1716, aged 110. At the age of 50 he married Hannah his wife, who was then 25 years of age and by issue with her 15 children. At his death, having been married 60 years his youngest son was 30 years of age. Also of Hannah his Widow who died April ye 21st 1723, aged 92"...Well folks, there you have it. Creative accounting with regards the age? I daresay...but still a fascinating read!
