All Saints' is a large ironstone church dating largely from the 13th and 14th centuries.

The tall clerestoried interior has an Early English south arcade, and there is Norman arcade built into the north wall.

July 2013

West Rasen is now the smallest of the Rasens but must once have been of some significance.

Even without its lost north aisle (the Norman arcade is still visible), All Saints church is a spacious building.

The surviving south arcade is Early English.

Usually open and worth a visit though parking is tricky.

Mark Acton, 2014

"The north side has 2 stepped buttresses and a blocked 3 bay C12 arcade and aisle roof corbels are visible. Within the blocking of the central bay is a C15 4 centred headed window with reticulated tracery. The 4th blocked bay is C13, a taller pointed arch which clearly led to a transept. In this blocking is set a late C13 2 light trefoil headed window. The clerestorey has 4 flat headed late C14 windows with 2 lights and unusual reticulated tracery."

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1063400?section=official-list-entry 

DB 3 September 2024

Church viewed from the south. Kelly's Directory 1930 reports :-

"The church of All Saints is a building of stone in the Early English, Decorated and Perpendicular styles, partly rebuilt in 1829 under the direction of Mr. E. J. Willson, architect, of Lincoln, consisting of chancel, clerestoried nave, south aisle, south porch and an embattled western tower with turrets containing 3 bells:

the church was originally Norman, and the arcade of the north aisle, which no longer exists, is built into the north wall of the present nave:

on the south side of the chancel is a carved bracket of Late Perpendicular work, with three figures of a bishop, a monk and a layman:

on the south side of the clerestory is a series of eight shields, once surrounding the sides of an altar tomb which stood in the Powger chantry ; two of these bear the arms of Reresby and Fulnetby:

the erection of a new roof and other extensive repairs and restorations were effected in 1870:

in 1892 new altar rails were erected by the clergy of the deanery as a mark of their esteem for the Rev. W. W. Cooper M.A. rector 1856-1907, in the twenty-sixth year of his office:

the church affords 120 sittings.

In the churchyard stand the base and part of the shaft of an ancient cross which has been restored.

The register dates from the year 1683.

The living is a rectory, net yearly value £388, arising from 416 acres of glebe, in the gift of and held since 1927 by the Rev. Thomas Lawrie Gentles, of Lichfield Theological College"

DB 3 September 2024

View from the southeast. White's Directory 1872 has :-

"The Church (All Saints), which is a neat Gothic fabric, still  retaining some fine Saxon arches, was formerly of much greater extent.

It consists of nave, chancel, south aisle, and tower containing three bells, and was recently restored at an expense of £500.

The rectory, valued in K.B. at £19. 10s. 10d., and now at £543, is in the patronage and incumbency of the Rev. William Waldo Cooper, who is also rural dean, and has a good residence, and 400 acres of land allotted at the enclosure in 1814 in lieu of tithes."

DB 3 September 2024

View from the northeast. White's Directory 1856 has :-

"The Church (All Saints,) is a neat Gothic fabric, which has formerly been of much greater extent, and still retains some fine Saxon arches. The rectory, valued in K.B. at £19. 10s. 10d., and now at £543, has 400 acres of land, allotted at the enclosure, in 1814, in lieu of tithes. The Rev. Wm. Cooper, B.D., is patron and incumbent"

DB 3 September 2024

Looking west through the chancel arch and into the nave.

DB 3 September 2024

Looking east towards the sanctuary.

DB 3 September 2024

"The chancel arch has keeled responds, annular capitals and a steeply pointed double chamfered arch. A corbel support for the rood loft remains and to the south side beside the chancel arch is a blocked rood doorway."

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1063400?section=official-list-entry 

DB 3 September 2024

"The south side of the chancel has been restored in C19, and has a central priests door ... Above the door is an inscribed tablet recording restoration work carried out in 1829 and 1830"

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1063400?section=official-list-entry 

DB 3 September 2024

"The stained glass in the east window is early C19"

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1063400?section=official-list-entry 

DB 3 September 2024

Memorial to Rev. William Cooper who died in 1856. The Latin text seems to read :-

"M.S.

VIRI REVERENDI

GULIELMI COOPER S.T.B.

DE WISTOW IN AGRO HUNTINGDONIENSI ECCLESIARUM DE RASEN OCCIDENT: ET DE WADINGHAM RECTORIS, REGIA MAJESTATI A SACRIS DOMESTICIS, COLL: DIV: IOANN: APUD CANT: OLIM SOCII, NECNON ET LECTORIS ET TUTORIS ANNOS DUODECIM.

VIRUM ILLUSTREM, FIDELEM, REGUM JACOBI NOVA REGNA AUSPICANTIS HOSPITEM, AC PERICLITATI CAROLI REI FAMILIARIS AMPLISSIMÆ DISPENDYO EXITIALI HOSPITEM ATO: DEFENSOREM, OLIVARIUM CROMWELL DE HINCHINBROOK, ET DE RAMSEY BALNEI EQUITEM DOMINI PROTECTORIS PATRUUM, A JOANNA FILIA EJUS TERTIA, GULIELMI BAKER DE BURY ARMIG CONJJUGE, LECTISSIMA FOMINA, ATAVUM HABUIT.

SUSCEPTO INTER LINCOLNIENSES MAGISTRATU CONSTANTIA MORUM ET AUCTORITATE, PARITER AC LEGUM PERITIA LITES DIRIMEBAT ÆQUUS. THEOLOGIÆ CHRISTIANA SUMMA PHILOSOPHIA, ACRITER INTENDEBAT ANIMUM, LÆTISSIMAM ALIIS QUAM SIBI IPSE ALEBAT, VITA ÆETERNAE FIDEM CONFIRMATURUS.

UXOREM DILECTISSIMAM DUXIT ANNAM VIRI REVERENDI MARMADUKE ALINGTON, A.B. DE SWINHOPE ET STENIGOT FILIAM NATU MAXIMAM, EX QUA TRES FILIOS, PRÆREPTO POSTREMO, ET TRES FILIAS SUSCEPIT OPTIME DE MARITO LIBERISQUE MERITÂ.

NATUS EST DIE XXVIII NOV. A.D. MDCCLXIX OBIIT DIE XXIV AUG. A.D. MDCCCLVI"

DB 3 September 2024

All memorials in the chancel are for members of the Cooper family who were patrons of the church. 

"TO THE GLORY OF GOD AND IN LOVING MEMORY OF WILLIAM WALDO COOPER, M.A.,(CANTAB.) RECTOR OF WEST RASEN 1856-1907, RURAL DEAN OF WALSHCROFT 1866-1906, AND A JUSTICE OF THE PEACE FOR THE PARTS OF LINDSEY. DIED JANUARY 29, 1907.

MARION FRANCES COOPER THE BELOVED WIFE OF WILLIAM WALDO COOPER DIED APRIL 18,1883.

PERCIVAL LAWSON COOPER SECOND SON OF WILLIAM WALDO AND MARION FRANCES COOPER DIED DECEMBER 23,1895."

DB 3 September 2024

"IN LOVING MEMORY OF WILLIAM LAURENCE COOPER ELDEST SON OF WILLIAM WALDO AND MARION FRANCES COOPER: DIED 15 JUNE 1923 R.I.P.

DB 3 September 2024

"IN MEMORY OF LOUIS GEORGE HERBERT COOPER CURATE OF WEST RASEN 1891-1907 RECTOR 1907-1927 DIED 25TH JUNE 1937, AGED 69.

ALSO OF HIS WIFE ALICE GERTRUDE CLENNELL DAUGHTER OF CLENNELL WILKINSON, RECTOR OF TOFT.

R.I.P."

DB 3 September 2024

"IN LOVING MEMORY OF HENRY FRANCIS COOPER THIRD SON OF WILLIAM WALDO AND MARION FRANCES COOPER DIED 29 APRIL1926 R.I.P."

DB 3 September 2024

"IN LOVING MEMORY OF FRANCIS ALFRED COOPER, C.M.G. DIED MAY 1933, AGED 73 YEARS. SON OF WILLIAM WALDO COOPER, PRIEST."

DB 3 September 2024

"There is a C14 piscina which has had the base replaced by a large stone"

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1063400?section=official-list-entry  

DB 3 September 2024

A brass plaque states the reredos was the work of Louis George Hebert Cooper a former rector.

DB 3 September 2024

Brass plaque attached to the reredos. 

"THE WORK OF

Louis George Hebert Cooper

CURATE 1891-1907, RECTOR 1907-1937

ON RETIRING HE PRESENTED THE ADVOWSON TO THE DIOCESE. DIED AGED 69 THE LAST OF HIS FAMILY. JUNE 25.1937. TWO YEARS AFTER HIS WIFE ALICE GERTRUDE CLENNELL DAUGHTER OF CLENNELL WILKINSON RECTOR OF TOFT."

DB 3 September 2024

A closer view of the sanctuary.

DB 3 September 2024

Window to south side of the chancel.

DB 3 September 2024

Entrance to All Saints churchyard.

DB 3 September 2024

The churchyard cross, with medieval base, is to the south of the church.

July 2013

Looking east towards the chancel.

DB 3 September 2024

Looking north across the nave. There was previously a north aisle and the blocked arcade now forms the nave wall.

DB 3 September 2024

Looking west towards the font.

"The tower arch is C19 and in the west wall of the nave can be seen a change in build at high level probably indicating that the tower was added to an existing nave"

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1063400?section=official-list-entry 

Tower arch behind curtain. 

DB 3 September 2024

Pulpit's eye view across the nave and into the south aisle.

"The C13 3 bay south arcade has octagonal piers and east respond"

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1063400?section=official-list-entry  

DB 3 September 2024

"The benches are early C15 with traceried panels of decoration to the ends and roll moulded back rails"

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1063400?section=official-list-entry 

DB 3 September 2024

The clerestory windows on the south side of the nave are flanked by a frieze of shields said to have come from a tomb-chest.

July 2013

First of two Commandments boards at the west end of the nave.

DB 3 September 2024

Second of two Commandments boards at the west end of the nave.

DB 3 September 2024

"The font is a plain octagonal C15 type"

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1063400?section=official-list-entry 

DB 3 September 2024

C19? pulpit at the east end of the nave.

DB 3 September 2024

"The nave roof is late C19, a fine C14 reconstruction with brattished tie beams, arch braced queen posts, moulded principals and wall plates."

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1063400?section=official-list-entry 

DB 3 September 2024

"The south porch is C19 in Early English style with pointed opening with hood mould, single side lights and a south doorway in a plain chamfered pointed opening; a C14 head has been set in over the doorway. The porch has stone side benches"

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1063400?section=official-list-entry 

DB 3 September 2024

A list of Rectors, displayed in the south aisle, starting with William of Netelton 1227-8 and going forward to John William Cotton instituted in 1989.

DB 3 September 2024

Looking east towards the organ.

DB 3 September 2024

Looking west.

DB 3 September 2024

Inscription on the organ reads ""Dominion" Organ & Piano Co. Bowmanville Ont. Canada.". For further information see :-

https://antiquepianoshop.com/online-museum/dominion/ 

DB 3 September 2024

The unbuttressed tower - of ironstone, like the remainder of the church - has later bell openings and pinnacles of an unusual turret shape with projecting crenellations.

July 2013

"The south tower door is C14 with pointed arch and hood mould"

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1063400?section=official-list-entry 

DB 3 September 2024

This building has an unusual history. It was built as a school in 1872 and was closed in 1908.

It then served as a chapel of the Roman Catholic Church with the name Our Lady of the Rosary.

Early in the present century it was refurbished as the village hall and heritage centre.

August 2018

Marked as "R.C. Chapel & School" on the OS 25 inch map published 1906.

Now a registered charity for "Maintaining the village hall and organising community events. Involvement in the Heritage Day" - Charity number: 522007.

https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-search/-/charity-details/522007/charity-overview 

DB 14 November 2023

Viewed from public footpath to the south.

Kelly's Directory 1885 has " Public Elementary (Catholic) School, built in 1872, for 50 children; average attendance, 35; to the school is attached a small chapel, dedicated to Our Lady of the Rosary, & occasionally used for catholic services"

DB 14 November 2023

"THIS CROSS WAS TAKEN DOWN AFTER THE EARTHQUAKE OF FEB 27TH 2008"

"On 27 February 2008 at 00:56:47.8s GMT an earthquake occurred at Market Rasen, Lincolnshire. According to the British Geological Survey the earthquake registered a reading of 5.2 on the Richter scale, with its epicentre 2.5 miles (4 km) north of Market Rasen and 15 miles (24 km) south-west of Grimsby"

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2008_Market_Rasen_earthquake#:~:text=On%2027%20February%202008%20at,)%20south%2Dwest%20of%20Grimsby. 

DB 14 November 2023

A mid-eighteenth-century farmhouse which was standing derelict in 2011.

Pearl Wheatley, 2011

This packhorse bridge is about 20 metres long and crosses the River Rase in West Rasen, about 3 miles west of Market Rasen (TF 063893).

It is said to have been built in the early 1300s by the then Bishop of Lincoln, who also built a bridge over the Ancholme, two miles away at the place now known as Bishopbridge.

Pevsner, however, dates the bridge to the 15th century.

F Robinson, 2010

"Packhorse bridge; C15, with C20 alterations. Coursed Ironstone rubble, cobbles; a narrow bridge with three elliptical double chamfered ribbed arches. The two stone piers have faceted bases which sit on C20 large bases and have small cutwaters upstream. The parapet, has a deep half saddleback coping. The bridge is humped to the centre and has a cobbled surface"

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1063403?section=official-list-entry 

DB 14 November 2023

Council signage which reads in part :- 

"Packhorses were the main mode of transport for carrying goods overland throughout the Middle Ages. Packhorse trade routes developed between market towns and also to coastal ports such as Boston. Return journeys from the coast carried salt inland. Wheeled carts were so rare that rural bridges were not constructed wide enough to carry them. Few packhorse bridges remain today, and the West Rasen bridge is one of the finest.

The West Rasen Packhorse Bridge over the River Rase, is thought to have been built in 1310 by Bishop John Dalderby (Bishop of Lincoln 1300 to 1320), and is sometimes known as Bishops Bridge.

The early 1300s witnessed the height of the wool trade in this region. Wool production was the main source of income for the religious establishments of Lincolnshire, and this may be one reason why Bishop Dalderby sponsored the building of the bridge, particularly as he held lands at Bishop Norton, to the north of West Rasen.

Bishop Dalderby also constructed another Bridge over the River Rase, near to the outfall into the River Ancholme, two miles northwest of the Packhorse Bridge, and although that bridge was long ago replaced by a wider structure, the site is still known as Bishops Bridge. The Bishop recognised the strategic importance of well built bridges and he is known to have sponsored their construction as far way as Biggleswade in Bedfordshire (1302).

A watermill is recorded near the bridge site in 1275, which suggests that an earlier bridge existed on the site, this was probably a timber construction. There are also records of tolls from a bridge in West Rasen from 1262, and a record of-the recovery of the frozen body of one Ivo le Gaunter (the Glover) from beneath a bridge in 1280.

The adjacent road bridge is constructed on the site of a brick arched bridge which was built in 1856. Prior to that time, the Market Rasen to Gainsborough road forded the river to the east side of the Packhorse Bridge. In times of flood heavier carts had to wait for days for the water to subside, but the daily mail coaches were pulled across using ropes while their horses crossed over the Packhorse Bridge. Lighter two wheeled traps are said to have removed one wheel so that they could be manhandled over the Packhorse Bridge"

DB 14 November 2023

Cobbled surface leading over the bridge.

Kelly's Directory 1930 comments "The ancient 14th century horse-bridge of three arches here, crossing the river Rase, is almost unique, there being but few of a similar character now remaining in this country"

DB 14 November 2023

Former rectory viewed from the churchyard.

"Former rectory, now house; Late C18 with early C9 alterations and additions and further late C19 additions to rear"

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1308985?section=official-list-entry 

DB 3 September 2024