The tower of St Mary Magdalen dates from the 13th century.  The spire, porch and nave windows are later 14th century work.

Inside is a 12th century north arcade set into an 11th century wall which has some herringbone masonry.

May 2015

The chancel of St Mary Magdalen's church was rebuilt in 1873 in Decorated style, including the east window - typical of the style of that period.

May 2015

Church viewed from the north.

"Parish church. C11, C12, early and late C13, C14, C16, 1873 chancel rebuilt, C19, C20 boiler room"

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1062863?section=official-list-entry 

DB 3 June 2023

Kelly's Directory 1885 has :- 

"The church of St. Mary Magdalen is a Gothic stone structure, with chancel, nave and north aisle, and tower surmounted by a spire, with 3 bells, and was restored in 1873:

there are two handsome stained windows, also a very ancient font, on which are carved the instruments of the Passion on a shield :

there is an organ.

The register dates from the year 1674.

The living is a vicarage, gross yearly value £169, in the gift of the Bishop of Lincoln, and held, since 1883 by the Rev. Martin Francis Short B.A. of Corpus Christi college, Cambridge"

DB 3 June 2023

Looking west towards the C14 chancel arch, nave and tower arch beyond.

DB 3 June 2023

White's Directory 1872 reports :-

"The Church (St. Mary Magdalen), built in the 10th and enlarged in the 12th century, consists of nave and north aisle, with finely carved ancient oak roofs, chancel and a tower and spire with three bells.

The chancel was rebuilt in 1863, at the sole cost of the late Robert Nicholas Newcomb, Esq., of Stamford, by whom a memorial window of stained glass, by Wailes, representing the Good Samaritan, was placed at the same time in the east end"

DB 3 June 2023

Looking north across the chancel towards the vestry. Church guide notes state that the "south vestry screen was provided in 2000".

"In the chancel C19 double chamfered arch to vestry"

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1062863?section=official-list-entry 

DB 3 June 2023

Closer view of the sanctuary.

DB 3 June 2023

"C14 double chamfered chancel arch having octagonal responds and embattled imposts, with to north a C14 niche with cusped ogee head and pinnacles"

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1062863?section=official-list-entry 

DB 3 June 2023

Text at the bottom of the glass reads :- 

"IN SACRED REMEMBRANCE OF THE REVD NICHOLAS TODD 37 YEARS VICAR OF THIS PARISH & MASTER OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL AT CORBY THIS WINDOW WAS DESIGNED BY HIS GRANDSON ROBERT NICHOLAS NEWCOMB TO PERPETUATE HIS BELOVED MEMORY"

DB 3 June 2023

In the Chancel floor an old tomb stone to the wife of Master John Woodruffe who died in 1685. Church guide notes state that this stone was formerly in the nave floor.

DB 3 June 2023

Window in memory of Sir Richard Goddard Hare Clarges d.1857.

"Lieutenant-general; fought in the Peninsular War"

https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/term/BIOG248203 

Stained glass by Thomas Baillie & Co.

DB 3 June 2023

Brass plaque beneath the north window. 

"IN HONOUR OF GOD

This window is erected by Lady Clarges, in affectionate remembrance of her much loved husband Lt. Genl. Sir Richard Goddard Hare Clarges K.C.B who died April 13th 1857. His remains repose in a vault in the church yard"

DB 3 June 2023

C19 tiles decorate the chancel floor.

DB 3 June 2023

Looking east towards the chancel. 

Kelly's Directory 1930 states :-

"The church of St. Mary Magdalen is an edifice of stone, in the Gothic and Norman styles, consisting of chancel, nave, north aisle, south porch and an embattled western tower, which was restored in 1923, with spire, containing 3 bells :

there are two stained windows and an ancient font, on which is a shield bearing the instruments of the Passion:

the church was restored in 1873, at a cost of £635, and affords 100 sittings"

DB 3 June 2023

Looking west towards the tower arch. 

An earlier roofline visible above the tower arch. That earlier roof was replaced C15 when the clerestory was added.

DB 3 June 2023

"The fine nave and aisle roofs are C16, restored C19, retaining moulded principals, angel supporters and floriate bosses"

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1062863?section=official-list-entry

DB 3 June 2023

C16 angel supporter playing a musical instrument.

DB 3 June 2023

Another of the C16 angel supporters.

DB 3 June 2023

Another of the C16 angel supporters.

DB 3 June 2023

Bishop's head at the eastern apex of the roof directly above the chancel arch.

DB 3 June 2023

C16 floriate boss.

DB 3 June 2023

Several clerestory windows contain fragments of medieval glass.

DB 3 June 2023

Detail of medieval glass fragments.

DB 3 June 2023

Font viewed from the east. 

"C16 octagonal font having quatrelobe panels with the symbol of the passion and other devices, with a top frieze of flowers and other tendrils"

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1062863?section=official-list-entry 

A tiny chalice visible near the base. 

DB 3 June 2023

Another view of the font this time from the west side.

DB 3 June 2023

South wall of nave with C11 herringbone masonry.

DB 3 June 2023

To the north side of the chancel arch a "C14 niche with cusped ogee head and pinnacles"

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1062863?section=official-list-entry

DB 3 June 2023

"In the eastern reveal of the easternmost south nave window a further C14 niche with trefoil head and ballflower decoration to underside of base"

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1062863?section=official-list-entry 

DB 3 June 2023

In the south wall of the nave towards the eastern end "a hacked back piscina"

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1062863?section=official-list-entry 

Church guide notes describe it as the mutilated remains of an aumbry. 

DB 3 June 2023

C19 pulpit?

DB 3 June 2023

Top of the easternmost south nave window with fragments of medieval stained glass.

DB 3 June 2023

Looking west towards the organ.

Church guide notes state that "The North Aisle dates from the 12th century but was largely rebuilt in the 15th century retaining its carved roof and stone corbels, carved as heads, from that date" 

DB 3 June 2023

Looking east towards the vestry. Church guide notes state "the west Vestry screen was provided in 1873".

DB 3 June 2023

Church guide notes state "The altar in the North Aisle is the original old oak altar, brought back to its correct use in 1994, after having been used as a vestry table since 1962" 

DB 3 June 2023

"In the north aisle a respositioned brass plaque to Elizabeth Lack, d.l661, with engraved coat of arms"

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1062863?section=official-list-entry 

Church guide notes state "Originally on a stone in the Chancel, this brass was found beneath an old timber floor in the Vestry when it was removed following outbreaks of dry rot in 1958"

DB 3 June 2023

Looking across the nave towards the north arcade. 

"3 bay C12 north arcade ... Circular columns, responds and abaci, double chamfered round arches with C19 painted texts"

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1062863?section=official-list-entry 

DB 3 June 2023

Church Guide notes state "Here also is the single manual organ by W. H. Prosser of London installed in 1870 and rebuilt in its present position after a major overhaul in 1992"

DB 3 June 2023

ORGAN BUILDER W.H.PROSSER, NEW ST. VINCENT SQ. WESTMINSTER, LONDON

"William Henry Prosser also known as Henry Prosser was a London organ builder who built a small number of modest instruments of which just a few now remain. He learned his trade under Bryceson, best known for their production of barrel organs although they also produced larger church instruments"

https://www.silveroctopus.co.uk/prosser-1883#:~:text=William%20Henry%20Prosser%20also%20known,also%20produced%20larger%20church%20instruments. 

DB 3 June 2023

"C14 gabled porch, with pointed outer doorway, moulded octagonal capitals, side benches, single 2 light ogee headed side windows, and a ribbed roof"

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1062863?section=official-list-entry 

DB 3 June 2023

"Inner doorway is late C12, round headed, with dogtooth to the inner chamfer"

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1062863?section=official-list-entry 

DB 3 June 2023

Rainwater head on the south clerestory dated 1873.

DB 3 June 2023

"Late C13 triple chamfered tower arch, dying to the reveals"

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1062863?section=official-list-entry 

DB 3 June 2023

"Chest tomb. c.1690. Ashlar. Moulded base and top, with 2 inscription panels to the front, divided by narrow panels of decorations, to the corners also, with sinuous leafy stems. Blank to the rear against the church wall"

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1062864?section=official-list-entry 

DB 3 June 2023

An early headstone "In memory of Thomas Howett d.1780, his wife Elizabeth d.1780 and daughter Mary d.1777".

DB 3 June 2023

White's Directory 1872 notes "The living is a vicarage, valued at £170 per annum, in the gift of the Bishop of Lincoln and incumbency of the Rev. Thomas Arthur Parmenter, B.A.

A handsome vicarage house, built of stone, in 1870, by a grant from the Ecclesiastical Commissioners, stands near the church.

The vicarage was endowed by Bishop Wells, and has been augmented with a parliamentary grant of £200. It is intended to restore the church next year"

In 1930 Kelly's Directory reported "The living is a vicarage, united with Bassingthorpe-cum-Westby, joint net yearly value £385, including 4 acres of glebe, with residence, in the gift of the Bishop of Lincoln and Earl of Dysart alternately, and held since 1929 by the Rev. Ronald Metcalfe" 

DB 3 June 2023