St George's Church, Stamford

St George's Church is a Grade I listed building in Stamford, Lincolnshire, England.[1]

St George's Church from the west
St George's Church from the south-east

History edit

A major benefactor of the church was William Bruges (1375–1450), the first Garter King of Arms who is buried in the church. St George's claims to be the original church of the Order of the Garter.[2] Originally the chancel contained a series of seven windows containing portraits of the Knights of the Garter, but little remains apart from a collection of garter panes in the north chancel window and a few fragments in the south window including the centre panes of St Catherine and St Anne.[1] The roof of the chancel with decorative angels was also the gift of Bruges. The central angels on each side carry on their shields the "Signs of the Passion", the pierced heart, and wounded hands and feet of Christ.[3]

There are numerous memorial tablets adorning the inside of the church including one commemorating Tobie Norris (d. 1626) after whom a Stamford pub is named and Blanche, Lady Wake (d. 1379). In the south aisle, there is a Hugh Arnold stained glass window (1909) to the memory of architect John Charles Traylen.

The church's tower was probably built in the early 13th century when the first rector was ordained and is mostly original except for the top section, which was rebuilt in the 17th century. The nave has some of the original 13th-century columns as well as 14th- and 15th-century expansions.[3] The interior of the church was subject to Victorian restoration when pews were removed, a new pulpit built, and the floor was re-laid.

In 1949 Bowman & Sons supplied a George & Dragon figure by Mahomet Thomas Phillips for the church's Second World War memorial.[4][5]

Rectory edit

 
St George's Rectory

The Rectory is located at 16, St George's Square.[6] Dating from 1881, it was designed by Edward Browning. As well as being a rectory, the house is also run as a bed and breakfast.[7]

Incumbents edit

Name Date
Robert Peck 1225
Thomas De Gerund 1226
Ralph De Stok 1229
Philip De Riston 1288
John De Ferriby 1301
Richard De Dunham 1340
Hugh De Oundle 1346
William Bolle 1349
Robert De Linton 1350
John De Thursby 1382
Simon De Langton 1383
William Parkyn 1396
Roger De Oversby 1402
William Dunston 1422
Robert Corby 1432
Rochard Bloston 1433
William Barton 1444
Robert Falys 1449
Thomas Carleton 1454
Richard Warmoth 1472
Thomas Jens 1499
John Forster 1504
Roger Saulle 1516
David Smyth 1526
Hugh Treton 1539
Hugh Bytton 1551
William Stafford 1554
Richard Snawdon 1602
George Moodle 1604
Simon Read 1606
Henry Cooke 1627
Matthew Greaves 1651
Richard Holland 1680
Richard Vaughan 1691
Thomas Harrison 1722
Ralph Bridmore 1737
Micheal Tyson 1743
Richard Arthur Knowles 1753
Samuel Hunt 1786
Henry Atlay 1814
Charles Atlay 1823
William Henry Charleton 1840
Edmund May 1848
Henry Bailey Browning 1862
James Frederick Camm 1890
Alfred Joseph Bull 1914
Sydney Herbert Wenham 1922
George Henry Seeley 1925
William Arthur Rees-Jones 1932
Ernest Saunders 1950
Joseph Ormston 1971
Kim Swithinbank 1990
Martyn Taylor 2003

Martyn Taylor, the current rector, served as curate at the church between 1996 and 2003 before becoming rector.[8]

Source: Commemorative plaque on the church wall

References edit

  1. ^ a b Historic England. "Church of St George (Grade I) (1168674)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 9 August 2015.
  2. ^ "St. George's". Retrieved 16 June 2013.
  3. ^ a b History of St. Georges Church (PDF). Retrieved 30 June 2019.
  4. ^ "Stamford Church's Celebrations". Stamford Mercury. 8 April 1949. p. 4.
  5. ^ "Stamford Church's Quincentenary". Stamford Mercury. 29 April 1949. p. 5.
  6. ^ Historic England. "ST GEORGE'S RECTORY, Stamford (1306853)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 5 October 2021.
  7. ^ "The Rectory Bed & Breakfast Accommodation - Home". www.stamfordbedbreakfast.co.uk. Retrieved 5 October 2021.
  8. ^ "Who's Who". St George's Church. Retrieved 5 October 2021.

External links edit

52°39′06″N 0°28′33″W / 52.6517°N 0.4759°W / 52.6517; -0.4759