All Saints and its history
We are proud of our wonderful medieval Grade 1 listed church, which is a great blessing as well as a huge responsibility. We hope you will visit and soak up its history and its atmosphere.
Nettleham is a large village situated just north-east of Lincoln, and the church is located in the centre of the village.
All Saints Church Nettleham was built in the late Saxon times. It was situated in the manor of Nettleham in the 11th century, a manor owned by Queen Edith, wife of Edward the Confessor.
Early in the 12th century the manor of Nettleham was given by the king to the Bishops of Lincoln and became the location of the Bishops’ Palace until about 1585. The remains of the Palace can be found to the west of the village, next to the Methodist Church, and it is a Scheduled Monument that merits a visit.
The majority of the church you can see dates from the 13th Century, including the tower and the lower parts of the nave. By the mid-19th century the Church was no longer controlled by Lincoln Cathedral and had its own vicar.
A substantial redevelopment scheme was undertaken by Bodley and Garner, creating the chancel, extending the clerestory, dramatically changing the roof interior, and extending the north aisle. The traditional Oxford Movement layout can be seen in an old photograph, showing the chancel design by the great Victorian architects, Bodley and Garner.
At the turn of the Millennium the north wall of the tower was filled in to create a kitchen and toilet area. This extra wall created a home for the village millennium tapestry.
At the entrance to the tower stands the font, which dates back to 1849. It is likely that the original one was by the south door, the traditional place for a font, representing the way we enter the church both physically and sacramentally. There are also two wooden crosses remebering men who gave their lives in the two world wars.
There is more information about the South Aisle and Lady Chapel here and the North Aisle here
The tower itself was built in the 13th century, incorporating the original west wall of the nave. It houses a peal of six bells, which are rung every Sunday and on special occasions. The church is planning to enlarge the ring to eight bells in the near future, once the structural renovation is complete.
An extensive programme of historical analysis and building archaeology is planned to go on during the major refurbishment of the tower and the rear of the church.
Click here to be taken to a little bit more of the history of All Saints, Nettleham.
For a fun exploration of the church by visitors in person please
click here