The church of ST. MARY consists of chancel, 33 ft. 6 in., with north chapel and vestry; clerestoried nave, 46 ft. 9 in. by 17 ft. 6 in.; north aisle, 12 ft. 6 in. wide; north and south porches, and west tower, 10 ft. 9 in. square, surmounted by a broach spire, all these measurements being internal. The chapel is a continuation of the aisle and extends nearly the full length of the chancel.
The gathering in the church above was the Memorial Cross being unveiled on 4th July 1924 and given to Ringstead by a Herbert Billson from Northampton and a Service from John Brown (DSO) seen in the picture next to the cross with cap on. .
The building dates in the main from the first half of the 13th century, but it probably developed from an aisleless church, the nave of which covered the same area as at present. To this a north aisle and tower were added and a new chancel with north chapel built, but the church was considerably altered in the 14th century, when the chancel appears to have been lengthened about 6 ft., the whole of the south wall rebuilt, the arch between the aisle and chapel removed, the chapel reconstructed, and a small vestry added to the east of it. These changes seem to have taken place at two not very distant periods in the century, in each of which one of the porches was built: the clerestory also dates from this time. Early in the 15th century the north wall of the aisle east of the porch was remodelled and two large windows inserted. There was a general restoration of the fabric in 1863.
The chancel is divided from the chapel by three pointed arches on cylindrical piers, while the nave is separated from the aisle by a loftier arcade of five bays, the piers of which are formed of clusters of four attached shafts with moulded capitals and bases, all of the 13th century: the arches are of two chamfered orders and in the nave spring at the east end from a half-octagonal respond and at the west from a corbel. The wide chancel arch is of two chamfered orders on half-octagonal responds with moulded capitals and bases.
The chancel was reconstructed in its present form about 1320–30 and has a large five-light east window and three three-light windows in the south wall, all of which have curvilinear tracery of beautiful design: the sills of the side windows are brought very low. The piscina and sedilia are both on one level and farther east is a double aumbry consisting of a trefoiled recess with another above it covering a shelf. At the east end of the north wall is the 14th-century doorway to the vestry, and below the arcade is the base of a stone screen which originally enclosed the chapel. There was formerly the base of a similar stone chancel screen also.
Two windows of three trefoiled lights in the south wall of the nave, of similar type to those in the chancel but with different tracery, are very little later in date, but the wall is contemporary with the porch, a high moulded plinth being common to both. The doorway, however, is of the 13th century, with a plain arch of two orders springing from imposts with attached nookshafts to the inner order; part of a scratch dial is built into the west jamb. The south porch measures internally 7 ft. 2 in. by 5 ft. 3 in. and has diagonal buttresses and an octopartite vault the ribs of which spring from roughly carved corbels. The outer arch has wave mouldings divided by casements, and the original highpitched roof is covered with stone slates.
The 13th-century north doorway is somewhat more elaborate and the nook-shafts have capitals with good foliage: the hood-mould is stopped on the east side by a knight's head. The 14th-century porch, which measures internally 7 ft. 9 in. by 8 ft., has an outer arch of four moulded orders on nook-shafts, with a row of ball-flowers in the outer hollow and ogee hood-mould with finial: the gable and side walls have plain parapets.
West of the porch is a 13th-century two-light window with a circle in the head, and high in the west wall a single-light window with flat ogee head. The two later windows east of the porch are of three cinquefoiled lights with four-centred heads. The square-headed two-light windows of the chapel have been restored. Internally, a corbel of the arch dividing the aisle from the chapel remains on the south side: the arch was probably removed in the last quarter of the 14th century, when the chapel windows were made, and the clerestory, a series of square-headed two-light openings, added on the north side of nave and chancel.
The tower is of three stages with moulded plinth and two pairs of buttresses in the lower stage. It opens into the nave through a handsome 13th-century arch of three chamfered orders on attached shafts with moulded capitals and bases, and has a long and narrow west window like a lancet but with square top and unpierced arched head with good cusping. All three stages on the north and south sides, and the upper stage on the west are blank, and the tower terminates in a corbel-table of notch-heads from which the spire rises. There is no vice. Tower and spire are both of one build and are of remarkable design, the bell-chamber windows being omitted and their place taken by an unusually large lower set of gabled spire-lights, which unite the tower and spire in a single composition. The broaches extend the full height of the lower openings. The spire has plain angles and two upper tiers of lights on the cardinal faces.
The font is of the early part of the 14th century and has a plain octagonal bowl with moulded under-edge and shafted stem: there is a rectangular recess cut at the north-west angle, probably for the fastening of the cover.
The pulpit and fittings date from 1863. A number of 18th- and 19th-century memorial tablets are grouped below the tower. In the nave is an early-18th-century communion table with curved legs. There were formerly traces of a wall painting in the vestry.
A ring of six bells was cast in 1682 by Henry and Matthew Bagley, of Chacomb, four of which remain in the tower. The treble and fourth were recast by Gillett and Johnston in 1914, the old bells rehung and a clock erected.
The plate consists of a silver cup and paten c. 1682, a plated paten and flagon, and two brass alms dishes.
Recently (Dec 2014) there has been a inside toilet installed in the church with just small loss of pews.
A sad story of a Ringstead vicar Reverend Benjamin Clay who in 1826 was walking his favourite spaniel along the banks of the River Nene with his sister when his dog went into the water and got entangled among weed. Fearing the animal would get into trouble and drown Benjamin went forward and got into the water to try to retrieve the the dog. Benjamin was no swimmer an soon got out of his depth and unfortunately went into a deep section and went under himself.
His sister ran for help and it was nearly a hour before his body was recovered,but sadly lifeless.The dog actually swam out of danger and lived. Years later in 1900 a Denford Reverend also died in the River Nene, but this was suicide due to depression.
Below a article from the Mercury newspaper in 1862
The gathering in the church above was the Memorial Cross being unveiled on 4th July 1924 and given to Ringstead by a Herbert Billson from Northampton and a Service from John Brown (DSO) seen in the picture next to the cross with cap on. .
The building dates in the main from the first half of the 13th century, but it probably developed from an aisleless church, the nave of which covered the same area as at present. To this a north aisle and tower were added and a new chancel with north chapel built, but the church was considerably altered in the 14th century, when the chancel appears to have been lengthened about 6 ft., the whole of the south wall rebuilt, the arch between the aisle and chapel removed, the chapel reconstructed, and a small vestry added to the east of it. These changes seem to have taken place at two not very distant periods in the century, in each of which one of the porches was built: the clerestory also dates from this time. Early in the 15th century the north wall of the aisle east of the porch was remodelled and two large windows inserted. There was a general restoration of the fabric in 1863.
The chancel is divided from the chapel by three pointed arches on cylindrical piers, while the nave is separated from the aisle by a loftier arcade of five bays, the piers of which are formed of clusters of four attached shafts with moulded capitals and bases, all of the 13th century: the arches are of two chamfered orders and in the nave spring at the east end from a half-octagonal respond and at the west from a corbel. The wide chancel arch is of two chamfered orders on half-octagonal responds with moulded capitals and bases.
The chancel was reconstructed in its present form about 1320–30 and has a large five-light east window and three three-light windows in the south wall, all of which have curvilinear tracery of beautiful design: the sills of the side windows are brought very low. The piscina and sedilia are both on one level and farther east is a double aumbry consisting of a trefoiled recess with another above it covering a shelf. At the east end of the north wall is the 14th-century doorway to the vestry, and below the arcade is the base of a stone screen which originally enclosed the chapel. There was formerly the base of a similar stone chancel screen also.
Two windows of three trefoiled lights in the south wall of the nave, of similar type to those in the chancel but with different tracery, are very little later in date, but the wall is contemporary with the porch, a high moulded plinth being common to both. The doorway, however, is of the 13th century, with a plain arch of two orders springing from imposts with attached nookshafts to the inner order; part of a scratch dial is built into the west jamb. The south porch measures internally 7 ft. 2 in. by 5 ft. 3 in. and has diagonal buttresses and an octopartite vault the ribs of which spring from roughly carved corbels. The outer arch has wave mouldings divided by casements, and the original highpitched roof is covered with stone slates.
The 13th-century north doorway is somewhat more elaborate and the nook-shafts have capitals with good foliage: the hood-mould is stopped on the east side by a knight's head. The 14th-century porch, which measures internally 7 ft. 9 in. by 8 ft., has an outer arch of four moulded orders on nook-shafts, with a row of ball-flowers in the outer hollow and ogee hood-mould with finial: the gable and side walls have plain parapets.
West of the porch is a 13th-century two-light window with a circle in the head, and high in the west wall a single-light window with flat ogee head. The two later windows east of the porch are of three cinquefoiled lights with four-centred heads. The square-headed two-light windows of the chapel have been restored. Internally, a corbel of the arch dividing the aisle from the chapel remains on the south side: the arch was probably removed in the last quarter of the 14th century, when the chapel windows were made, and the clerestory, a series of square-headed two-light openings, added on the north side of nave and chancel.
The tower is of three stages with moulded plinth and two pairs of buttresses in the lower stage. It opens into the nave through a handsome 13th-century arch of three chamfered orders on attached shafts with moulded capitals and bases, and has a long and narrow west window like a lancet but with square top and unpierced arched head with good cusping. All three stages on the north and south sides, and the upper stage on the west are blank, and the tower terminates in a corbel-table of notch-heads from which the spire rises. There is no vice. Tower and spire are both of one build and are of remarkable design, the bell-chamber windows being omitted and their place taken by an unusually large lower set of gabled spire-lights, which unite the tower and spire in a single composition. The broaches extend the full height of the lower openings. The spire has plain angles and two upper tiers of lights on the cardinal faces.
The font is of the early part of the 14th century and has a plain octagonal bowl with moulded under-edge and shafted stem: there is a rectangular recess cut at the north-west angle, probably for the fastening of the cover.
The pulpit and fittings date from 1863. A number of 18th- and 19th-century memorial tablets are grouped below the tower. In the nave is an early-18th-century communion table with curved legs. There were formerly traces of a wall painting in the vestry.
A ring of six bells was cast in 1682 by Henry and Matthew Bagley, of Chacomb, four of which remain in the tower. The treble and fourth were recast by Gillett and Johnston in 1914, the old bells rehung and a clock erected.
The plate consists of a silver cup and paten c. 1682, a plated paten and flagon, and two brass alms dishes.
Recently (Dec 2014) there has been a inside toilet installed in the church with just small loss of pews.
A sad story of a Ringstead vicar Reverend Benjamin Clay who in 1826 was walking his favourite spaniel along the banks of the River Nene with his sister when his dog went into the water and got entangled among weed. Fearing the animal would get into trouble and drown Benjamin went forward and got into the water to try to retrieve the the dog. Benjamin was no swimmer an soon got out of his depth and unfortunately went into a deep section and went under himself.
His sister ran for help and it was nearly a hour before his body was recovered,but sadly lifeless.The dog actually swam out of danger and lived. Years later in 1900 a Denford Reverend also died in the River Nene, but this was suicide due to depression.
Below a article from the Mercury newspaper in 1862
Church Organ.
1992 was the year that Ringstead St Mary's Church received a Church organ coming from all the way from Tonbridge methodist church, some 150 miles away. Several journey's later all the parts from this £8000 organ was ready to be installed.Trevour Warland and Alan Richardson (both local organists) had the daughting task of putting the organ together.
1992 was the year that Ringstead St Mary's Church received a Church organ coming from all the way from Tonbridge methodist church, some 150 miles away. Several journey's later all the parts from this £8000 organ was ready to be installed.Trevour Warland and Alan Richardson (both local organists) had the daughting task of putting the organ together.
We know now from documents that the Church was mostly built of limestone which was quarried about 3/4 of a mile away in a field we knew as "The valley or the Humpty dumpty field. This was in a area known as Slade meadows and the land owner lived in Slade farm cottage. (behind Dodson & Horrell) A brook still runs through this area.
The Baptish Chapel
Baptist Chapel Ringstead. Now the shared church.
The Baptist Chapel celebrated its 300th Anniversary in 2014. It was first built in 1714 as a Blacksmith's, then came a stone building as a Baptist Chapel little later in 1887 . Around the beginning 1897 a organ was installed and a some time later a pipe organ. This must have pleased the worshipers very much and choirs were soon in place. It is now a shared church between the Baptist and the Methodist.
Before the movement had their building there would had been a large group walking to Rothwell Baptists Church.
The Shared Church is a friendly and active fellowship incorporating Ringstead Baptist and Methodist Churches
The Baptist Chapel celebrated its 300th Anniversary in 2014. It was first built in 1714 as a Blacksmith's, then came a stone building as a Baptist Chapel little later in 1887 . Around the beginning 1897 a organ was installed and a some time later a pipe organ. This must have pleased the worshipers very much and choirs were soon in place. It is now a shared church between the Baptist and the Methodist.
Before the movement had their building there would had been a large group walking to Rothwell Baptists Church.
The Shared Church is a friendly and active fellowship incorporating Ringstead Baptist and Methodist Churches
Ringstead Wesleyan Chapel
The chapel now is a private house and used as a recording studio by Lee Russell & Lesley Tull who gave me the honour of looking around the present day chapel, and I thank them for this.
This building first started off a house-cum-blacksmith's shop built of timber at first.Then re built in 1814 and sold in 1817 for the price of £12.9 shillings. 1849 It was converted into a chapel.Was Registered for worship in 1857 and in 1878 the frontage and extra school room was built.1896 saw it registered for marriage. In 1905 the cemetery had run out of burial space and many were buried at Denford until Ringstead had a cemetery allotted to them 1894. In 1925 there was much flooding in the cemetery area it was recorded in the local newspaper that a special meeting took place concerning the graveyard in Station Road needing proper drainage as coffins were floating near the surface which outraged local residents.Thus the drainage was soon installed shortly afterwards !
It's one of the most beautiful buildings inside and out in the village and much of its chapel features are still in place today in 2016.
This building first started off a house-cum-blacksmith's shop built of timber at first.Then re built in 1814 and sold in 1817 for the price of £12.9 shillings. 1849 It was converted into a chapel.Was Registered for worship in 1857 and in 1878 the frontage and extra school room was built.1896 saw it registered for marriage. In 1905 the cemetery had run out of burial space and many were buried at Denford until Ringstead had a cemetery allotted to them 1894. In 1925 there was much flooding in the cemetery area it was recorded in the local newspaper that a special meeting took place concerning the graveyard in Station Road needing proper drainage as coffins were floating near the surface which outraged local residents.Thus the drainage was soon installed shortly afterwards !
It's one of the most beautiful buildings inside and out in the village and much of its chapel features are still in place today in 2016.
Ringstead Cemetery
In June 1893 Ringstead had made news in the local paper with “A VILLAGE WITHOUT A BURIAL PLACE” and goes on to say that’ Ringstead people are in a awkward predicament of no place to bury there dead and have to take their dead to the next village of Denford a mile away. The village is in uproar because of this and complain to the council and demand a proper burial ground and a cemetery.It was two long years before before ground was chosen and in February 1895 the plot was chosen at a cost of £750 but this had to get passed by the current council, there was one objection from a Dr Buckley, but the land chosen was carried by vote from other members of the parish council and work began .
The land had to be purchased and a chapel constructed at of a renewed cost of £900 which at 2014 prises would be equal to £2800 now but even this sum had to be borrowed and paid to a Mr Capron, a big owner of land in Ringstead. Also Mr Capron insisted it had to be fenced of from other farm land and it was agreed this plot would hold up to 833 interments. As mentioned briefly above in 1925 they had issues with flooding at the graveyard but this was rectified by new drainage system as graves were getting flooded.
The very first person to be buried in the cemetery in Station Road was of a child named William Harry Roberts of 1 year 8 months of age. Cause of death not known but in the 17th century many children did not survive simply because of the conditions and the lack of medicine and hygiene. Records show that the cost of a burial plot would cost £1. 1s, which equates to approximately£90 now.
Below is the grave Digger with the wooden frame to get the dig shape correct.
The land had to be purchased and a chapel constructed at of a renewed cost of £900 which at 2014 prises would be equal to £2800 now but even this sum had to be borrowed and paid to a Mr Capron, a big owner of land in Ringstead. Also Mr Capron insisted it had to be fenced of from other farm land and it was agreed this plot would hold up to 833 interments. As mentioned briefly above in 1925 they had issues with flooding at the graveyard but this was rectified by new drainage system as graves were getting flooded.
The very first person to be buried in the cemetery in Station Road was of a child named William Harry Roberts of 1 year 8 months of age. Cause of death not known but in the 17th century many children did not survive simply because of the conditions and the lack of medicine and hygiene. Records show that the cost of a burial plot would cost £1. 1s, which equates to approximately£90 now.
Below is the grave Digger with the wooden frame to get the dig shape correct.
