The church dates from the 13th century. It was restored in 1866 by Ewan Christian.[1]
Bells
There are three bells at St Martin's Church.
The three bells are in a wooden frame for three bells with traditional fittings in a dilapidated state, making them unringable. The treble weighs 4 cwt, dated 1611 and cast by Henry II Oldfield, the second weighs 4.5 cwt, dated 1500+ and cast by John Seliok. The tenor weighs 5.5 cwt, dated 1611 and cast by Henry II Oldfield. The bells are rung from ground floor.[3]
Clock
There is evidence of there once being a clock at St Martin's church. The room under the bells is where the clock would have been situated. There is a picture of the church that was given to a vicar in the Second World War, that showed a clock face on the south side of the tower.[citation needed]
The Church of England church and the Methodist chapel in North Wheatley entered into a single sharing agreement and became "The Church in Wheatley". Sadly, due to cost prohibitive repairs, the Methodist Chapel was sold in 2023 as a housing development. At South Wheatley there are ruins of the church of St Helen.[citation needed]. St Martin, North Leverton, and All Saints, South Leverton, along with the Methodist Chapel form "The Church in the Levertons".
Clergy
The Clays Group has the one Vicar, the Team Vicar, Rev M Cantrill who has the responsibility of all the above parishes. He is an ordained Church of England and Methodist Minister. He has the responsibility of Grove Street Methodist church, Retford. The Clays Group has a Lay Reader.[citation needed]
Although a church at Bole was mentioned in Domesday Book, the names of most of its clergy before the late 14th century have been lost. Prior to 1864 the vicars had been non-resident in the parish for about two hundred years.[5] Hence most of the routine work during this period would probably have been carried out by assistant curates.
1714 Thomas Smith, BA (Cantab.); buried 17 May 1731 at North Leverton
1731 Charles Henchman BA, MA, instituted 15 December 1731/16 December 1731; died 23 November 1780; monumental inscription in Chester Cathedral)
1780 William Davis
1811 William Singleton
1836 James Henry Willan, MA, (non-resident; lived at Gainsborough where he also served as master of the Grammar School. Monumental inscription, 1858, in Bole churchyard)
1858 Henry Stockdale (formerly Perpetual Curate of Misterton; established Bole School and built The Vicarage)
↑ Mentioned in J S Purvis, A Mediaeval Act Book, York, 1943, p27; accused of adultery with two married women; probate of will, 1468; York Chapter Wills, I, p318
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