St Mary's Church, Horncastle

History

• The first, which took place around 1660, once he had been restored as Vicar of Horncastle, and is commemorated on the south wall near to the altar rails by a large metal painted plaque, is credited to The Rev'd Thomas Gibson. Gibson was ill-treated during the Civil War and deprived of his living for some years.
• The 1859–61 restoration is commemorated by a stained glass window in memory of The Rev'd Canon W H Milner, who is credited with being the primary driving force behind the restoration.

Architecture

• Early English as seen in the five-bay nave arcade, internal tower arch with pointed head and western-facing lancet windows, with their moulded string courses.
• Perpendicular as evident in the north and south chancel chapels and nave clerestory, with its five 15th century windows.
• Victorian restoration seen especially in the east window, chancel arch, nave aisles, porches and vestry office. The floor level at the east end of the church was raised in height by two feet during the 1859-61 restoration, in order to accommodate the central heating system.

Governance

• The Asterby Group;
• The Hemingby Group; and
• The Horncastle Group.

  Past clergy of note

• John Langton, later Bishop of Chichester
• Simon Islip, Rector, later Archbishop of Canterbury
• John Rouceby
• William Strickland, later Bishop of Carlisle
• Joseph Robertson, Vicar 1779-
• Sidney Clarke, Asst Curate, later Chaplain-in-Chief of the RAF

  Monuments and burials

• Sir Ingram Hopton
• Sir Lionel Dymoke
• Jane Dymoke
• Sarah Sellwood, niece of Sir John Franklin and mother of Emily who married Alfred Lord Tennyson