St Mary Magdalene's Church, Old Somerby

St Mary Magdalene's Church, Old Somerby
St Mary Magdalene's Church, Old Somerby Location in Lincolnshire
52°53′40″N0°34′02″W / 52.8945°N 0.5673°W / 52.8945; -0.5673
Location	Old Somerby, Lincolnshire
Country	England
Denomination	Anglican
Website
History
Status	Parish church
Architecture
Functional status	Active
Heritage designation	Grade II*
Designated	20 September 1966
Architectural type	Church
Administration
Diocese	Diocese of Lincoln
Parish	Old Somerby and Great Humby
Clergy
Vicar(s)	Revd Stephen Buckman

The Church of St Mary Magdalene is a Church of England parish church at Old Somerby in the English county of Lincolnshire. Of 12th century origins with later medieval additions, it was restored in the 18th and 19th centuries. It is a Grade II* listed building.

History

The church stands at the eastern edge of the village, in an area called High Somerby. ^[1] Its origins are of the 12th century and the chancel arch dates from this period. There are later medieval additions in the Early English Gothic style. ^[2] The tower was completely rebuilt in the 18th century. A further Victorian restoration took place in 1876. ^[3]

St Mary Magdalene's remains an active parish church in the Diocese of Lincoln and weekly services are held. ^[4]

Architecture

The church is constructed of local limestone rubble and comprises the 18th-century tower, a nave, a south aisle, a chancel, and a porch and vestry. ^[3] The church fittings include some stained glass and two war memorial plaques commemorating the eight men of the village who died in World War I, ^[5] and the six killed in World War II. ^[6] A notable monument is an effigy of the 14th century depicting a knight. At his feet is a carving of his horse. Nicholas Antram, in his revised Lincolnshire volume in the Pevsner Buildings of England series, describes this as "a charming and unusual conceit". ^{[a] [2]}

St Mary Magdalene's is a Grade II* listed building. ^[3]

Gallery

• 
  St Mary Magdalene in its churchyard
• 
  The South window
• 
  The Old Rectory, a Grade II listed building ^[8]

Notes

1. To the right of the knight and his horse is another carving of a kneeling figure, now missing its head. Sources suggest this may be a depiction of the knight's squire or groom. ^[7]

References

1. "Old Somerby, St Mary Magdalene: Church Heritage Record 621058". Church of England . Retrieved 21 February 2025.
2. Pevsner, Harris & Antram 2002, pp. 594–595.
3. Historic England. "Church of St Mary Magdalene (Grade II*) (1261872)". National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 21 February 2025.
4. "Services and events". Church of England . Retrieved 21 February 2025.
5. "Old Somerby World War I Memorial". Imperial War Museum . Retrieved 21 February 2025.
6. "Old Somerby World War II Memorial". Imperial War Museum . Retrieved 21 February 2025.
7. "Building record MLI33853 - Church of St Mary Magdalene, Old Somerby". Lincolnshire Heritage Explorer: Lincolnshire County Council . Retrieved 21 February 2025.
8. Historic England. "Old Rectory, Old Somerby (Grade II) (1253283)". National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 21 February 2025.

Sources

• Pevsner, Nikolaus; Harris, John; Antram, Nicholas (2002). Lincolnshire. The Buildings of England. New Haven, US and London: Yale University Press. ISBN   0-300-09620-8.