This is a seventeenth century house re-faced in brick in the nineteenth century.

It was owned in succession by the Mussenden family, the Cliffords, the Souths and the Hildreds.

More details about this house and its owners can be found in T R Leach's book, 'Lincolnshire Country Houses and their Families: Part 2', published by SLHA.  Buy a copy.

The first chapel for Kelstern and Calcethorpe was this building of 1954 on the roadside between the two tiny villages.

For more than 150 years the Society had met in private houses. The church closed in c.1988.

Attractively sited on a low hill overlooking Kelstern Hall, St Faith's has a Perpendicular tower, chancel arch and nave south windows.

The chancel was rebuilt in 1886-7. There is a good alabaster monument to Elizabeth Smith who died in 1604.

Locked with no sign of how to gain entry.

Mark Acton, 2014

The chancel was of St Faith's church was rebuilt in 1886-7.

Three stained glass windows were designed by Sir Ninian Comper in memory of members of the Sleight family.

June 2014

St Faith's is constructed from ironstone, greenstone and limestone and has a cement rendered tower.

June 2014

View of the church from the east.

Jean Howard, January 2024

The vestry is built on the north side in the angle of the chancel and nave, and roofed under a catslide roof.

It is mentioned in Kelly’s Directory of 1919: ‘A new organ chamber and clergy vestry have been built and the organ much improved.’

Jean Howard, January 2024

This view from the south shows the varied masonry of which the church is built, the local sandstone shading from green-blue Spilsby sandstone, to rust coloured Claxby ironstone.

Notable is the evident blocking of a south doorway, presumed to have been done to provide the place for Elizabeth South’s monument within.

Early Directories inform that the church was newly roofed and partly rebuilt in 1831; later copies say that it was restored and partly rebuilt in 1886/7 at a cost of £1300.

Doubtless both campaigns of restoration were required.

Jean Howard, January 2024

Viewed from the southwest.

The view from the southwest, only possible when leaves have fallen, shows the rising ground from the western up to the eastern end.

The tower has been rendered below the parapet level and a rather incongruous square window inserted in the south face at ground level.

Jean Howard, January 2024

The view looking east towards the altar.

Jean Howard, January 2024

The east window has three lights: they depict from left, a scene from the Book of Ruth Ch 2 v 13 ‘Let me find favour in thy sight’; Christ with the sheep ‘I lay down my life for the sheep’; and a scene from the Book of Esther Ch 4 v 2 ‘The king held out to Esther the golden sceptre’.

In the octofoil above is the lamb and flag.

A brass plaque beneath reads: 'This window is erected in loving memory of Lilian Sharpley 1889'.

Jean Howard, January 2024

The plain octagonal font dates from the fourteenth century. It is supported on a base of clustered shafts.

Jean Howard, January 2024

This grotesque carving is a label stop on the north side of the west doorway.

2014

Looking east towards the chancel.

The church was restored in 1886-7, from when the bulk of the furnishings date.

A Perpendicular arch leads into the chancel.

Jean Howard, January 2024

Looking west.

The Perpendicular tower arch matches the chancel arch. It is curtained off from the nave.

The nave’s wooden ceiling is quite an unusual feature and thought to date from c.1910.

Jean Howard, January 2024

Although the chancel was built as recently as the 1880s, the label stops over the windows are badly eroded. This is one of the least damaged.

April 2014 

Sacred to the Memory of/ RICHARD PARNELL BOOTH/ late of Calcethorpe/ who departed this Life January 31st 1837,/ Aged 53(?) Years./ "Therefore be ye also ready, for in such an hour/ as ye think not the Son of man cometh.”/ Matthew 24 C. 44 V.

The monument is signed Geo Earle, Hull [Note – not John Earle as stated by Pevsner].

Jean Howard, January 2024

This small slate ledger is in the tower.

It is in memory of Richard Parnell Booth who died 31st January1837 ? Aged 6 years.

Jean Howard, January 2024

A wall tablet in alabaster to a father William Evelyn Denison and his only son, William Frank Evelyn Denison who died in France in 1918.

The father was an MP for Nottinghamshire and inherited the estate at Ossington Hall from his childless uncle, Viscount Ossington; see:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Evelyn_Denison

An excellent biography of the son can be found at: 

https://secure.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/RollOfHonour/People/Details/2353  

Letters written by the son to his mother while in the military are in the Imperial War Museum.

For information about the Evelyn family see the following link to University of Nottingham archives:

https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/manuscriptsandspecialcollections/collectionsindepth/family/denison/biographies/biographyofwilliamevelyndenison(1843-1916).aspx 

Jean Howard, January 2024

A 20th century monument unusually in alabaster to a soldier of the Lincolnshire Regiment, the sphinx depicted in the pediment.

In gold inscribed lettering it reads: SACRED TO THE MEMORY/ OF/ MY DARLING HUSBAND/ THOMAS WALTER HARRISON/ (LIEUT. ¼ LINCOLNSHIRE REGIMENT) WHO AFTER ACTIVE SERVICE IN FRANCE/ DURING THE GREAT WAR, LOST HIS LIFE/ THROUGH THE TORPEDOING OF R.M.S.”LEINSTER”,/ OCT 10TH 1918./ UNTIL THE DAY BREAK/ AND THE SHADOWS FLEE.

Thomas attended the Magnus School in Newark and an interesting piece about his life and death can be found at:

http://www.ournottinghamshire.org.uk/page/the_magnus_grammar_school?path=0p31p50p455p549p623p

under the date of the tragedy.

He is also detailed on Nottinghamshire’s Roll of Honour under:

https://secure.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/RollOfHonour/People/Details/1843

Jean Howard, January 2024

Elizabeth South, wife of Sir Francis South, died in 1604.

Her alabaster monument depicts her seated beneath an arch, facing front, her left foot resting on a skull and an hourglass in her left hand which rests on a table beside her.

Above her to the right a clock face is included in the spandrel of the arch The two putti which once stood either side of her are missing.

They may be seen on:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/vitrearum/albums/72157625091615985/

Jean Howard, January 2024

Pevsner writes of an organ ‘built c 1830 by Flight with a Gothick case’.

This instrument is in poor repair and is sited in the clergy vestry cum organ chamber on the north side of the chancel.

Jean Howard 1 January 2024

Six late mediaeval pews have been retained to the west of the entrance.

The pew ends are largely decorated with tracery designs but two include crude animal figures.

Jean Howard, January 2024

The pulpit is in the north-east corner of the nave.

Next to it is a display cabinet containing the Roll of Honour for RAF Kelstern.

Jean Howard, January 2024

A fine alabaster (or pink marble?) tablet on a black marble back plate.

It reads: THIS TABLET IS ERECTED BY PUBLIC SUBSCRIPTION/ IN EVER GRATEFUL MEMORY OF THOSE FROM THE/ PARISHES OF KELSTERN AND CALCETHORPE/ WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES IN THE GREAT WAR 1914-1918/ WILLIAM ATKINSON/ ROBERT ALFRED BUSHELL/ DAVID CROW/ THOMAS WALTER HARRISON/ WILLIAM NICHOLSON/ JOSEPH TURNER/ "THEIR NAME LIVETH FOR EVERMORE”

below a wreath around a Maltese cross.

Jean Howard, January 2024

This window on the north side of the nave has reticulated tracery of the Decorated period, in contrast to the Perpendicular style of the windows on the south side.

June 2014

Si Ninian Comper used the strawberry as his signature.

The date 1953 is also given in Roman numerals. More on Comper's career can be found at: 

https://victorianweb.org/art/stainedglass/comper/index.html 

Jean Howard, January 2024

This window shows the Annunciation, the Archangel Gabriel in the left light; the Virgin Mary in the right; and the madonna lily in the centre.

Beneath the text reads: Dedicated in loving memory of Dame Rebecca Sleight. At rest 29th May, A.D. 1921. In the 68th year of her age.

This is one of three windows by Sir Ninian Comper put in 1954-8 in memory of members of the Sleight family.

Jean Howard, January 2024

Comper’s strawberry signature and the year 1954 in Roman numerals on the window dedicated to George Sleight.

Jean Howard, January 2024

This is one of three windows by Sir Ninian Comper put in 1954-8 in memory of members of the Sleight family.

It depicts Saint Andrew, Saint Faith and Saint George and is in memory of Sir George Sleight, a self-made man, rising from being a cockle gatherer on Cleethorpes beach to owning the biggest fishing fleet in the world based in Grimsby.

He is buried in Kelstern churchyard. See:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Sleight

The text in the window reads: 'Dedicated in loving memory of Sir George Frederick Sleight Knight and Baronet J.P. Lord of the Manor of Kelstern. At rest 19 March 1921 in the 69th year of his age.'

Jean Howard, January 2024

This is one of three windows by Sir Ninian Comper put in 1954-8 in memory of members of the Sleight family.

The text reads: 'Dedicated in loving memory of George Frederick Sleight of Binbrook Hall Lord of the Manor of Kelstern. At rest 17th September 1954 Aged 64.'

Jean Howard, January 2024