St Winifred's church at Kingston on Soar appears at first glance to be an attractive if somewhat over restored late medieval building, its most noticeable features being the pinnacled west tower and the more ornate south chapel dating from the Tudor period that seems to make more of a statement with its unusually projecting bay window on the east side. It turns out that this chapel is the main reason to visit this church, for most of the rest of the building was rebuilt in the early 20th century (having suffered serious neglect over the centuries).
Stepping inside it is more apparent how renewed the nave and chancel are, but the eye is initially drawn instead towards the end of the south aisle to the aforementioned chapel. This was built in the 1530s to serve as the chantry chapel of the Babington family and the space is dominated by the spectacularly ornate canopy of a tomb, erected to commemorate Anthony & Katherine Babington in c1540, though surprisingly there is no monument lying beneath, just an incredible structure like the canopy of a four-poster bed in stone. It is a riot of ornament, including half figures of angels and smaller child-like figures holding barrels or 'tuns' to form a rebus of the family name ('Babe & ton'). Some elements have suffered damage, others are in better shape and a rare relief of the Last Judgement remains on the east side as a form of reredos.
Kingston on Soar church wouldn't rank high on a list of historic churches to visit were it not for this one showpiece which really is worth travelling to see on its own. The church was often though not always open to visitors in pre-Covid times so it may be best to check in advance of a visit. My photos are from a churchcrawling group visit back in 2009 when to my regret I only took handheld photos, so will be limited to uploading only the more passable shots.
More on the church and the Babington tomb on the site below:-
southwellchurches.nottingham.ac.uk/kingston-on-soar/hintr...
Tags: Kingston on Soar church Nottinghamshire
© All Rights Reserved
St Winifred's church at Kingston on Soar appears at first glance to be an attractive if somewhat over restored late medieval building, its most noticeable features being the pinnacled west tower and the more ornate south chapel dating from the Tudor period that seems to make more of a statement with its unusually projecting bay window on the east side. It turns out that this chapel is the main reason to visit this church, for most of the rest of the building was rebuilt in the early 20th century (having suffered serious neglect over the centuries).
Stepping inside it is more apparent how renewed the nave and chancel are, but the eye is initially drawn instead towards the end of the south aisle to the aforementioned chapel. This was built in the 1530s to serve as the chantry chapel of the Babington family and the space is dominated by the spectacularly ornate canopy of a tomb, erected to commemorate Anthony & Katherine Babington in c1540, though surprisingly there is no monument lying beneath, just an incredible structure like the canopy of a four-poster bed in stone. It is a riot of ornament, including half figures of angels and smaller child-like figures holding barrels or 'tuns' to form a rebus of the family name ('Babe & ton'). Some elements have suffered damage, others are in better shape and a rare relief of the Last Judgement remains on the east side as a form of reredos.
Kingston on Soar church wouldn't rank high on a list of historic churches to visit were it not for this one showpiece which really is worth travelling to see on its own. The church was often though not always open to visitors in pre-Covid times so it may be best to check in advance of a visit. My photos are from a churchcrawling group visit back in 2009 when to my regret I only took handheld photos, so will be limited to uploading only the more passable shots.
More on the church and the Babington tomb on the site below:-
southwellchurches.nottingham.ac.uk/kingston-on-soar/hintr...
Tags: Kingston on Soar church Nottinghamshire
© All Rights Reserved
St Winifred's church at Kingston on Soar appears at first glance to be an attractive if somewhat over restored late medieval building, its most noticeable features being the pinnacled west tower and the more ornate south chapel dating from the Tudor period that seems to make more of a statement with its unusually projecting bay window on the east side. It turns out that this chapel is the main reason to visit this church, for most of the rest of the building was rebuilt in the early 20th century (having suffered serious neglect over the centuries).
Stepping inside it is more apparent how renewed the nave and chancel are, but the eye is initially drawn instead towards the end of the south aisle to the aforementioned chapel. This was built in the 1530s to serve as the chantry chapel of the Babington family and the space is dominated by the spectacularly ornate canopy of a tomb, erected to commemorate Anthony & Katherine Babington in c1540, though surprisingly there is no monument lying beneath, just an incredible structure like the canopy of a four-poster bed in stone. It is a riot of ornament, including half figures of angels and smaller child-like figures holding barrels or 'tuns' to form a rebus of the family name ('Babe & ton'). Some elements have suffered damage, others are in better shape and a rare relief of the Last Judgement remains on the east side as a form of reredos.
Kingston on Soar church wouldn't rank high on a list of historic churches to visit were it not for this one showpiece which really is worth travelling to see on its own. The church was often though not always open to visitors in pre-Covid times so it may be best to check in advance of a visit. My photos are from a churchcrawling group visit back in 2009 when to my regret I only took handheld photos, so will be limited to uploading only the more passable shots.
More on the church and the Babington tomb on the site below:-
southwellchurches.nottingham.ac.uk/kingston-on-soar/hintr...
Tags: Kingston on Soar church Nottinghamshire
© All Rights Reserved
St Winifred's church at Kingston on Soar appears at first glance to be an attractive if somewhat over restored late medieval building, its most noticeable features being the pinnacled west tower and the more ornate south chapel dating from the Tudor period that seems to make more of a statement with its unusually projecting bay window on the east side. It turns out that this chapel is the main reason to visit this church, for most of the rest of the building was rebuilt in the early 20th century (having suffered serious neglect over the centuries).
Stepping inside it is more apparent how renewed the nave and chancel are, but the eye is initially drawn instead towards the end of the south aisle to the aforementioned chapel. This was built in the 1530s to serve as the chantry chapel of the Babington family and the space is dominated by the spectacularly ornate canopy of a tomb, erected to commemorate Anthony & Katherine Babington in c1540, though surprisingly there is no monument lying beneath, just an incredible structure like the canopy of a four-poster bed in stone. It is a riot of ornament, including half figures of angels and smaller child-like figures holding barrels or 'tuns' to form a rebus of the family name ('Babe & ton'). Some elements have suffered damage, others are in better shape and a rare relief of the Last Judgement remains on the east side as a form of reredos.
Kingston on Soar church wouldn't rank high on a list of historic churches to visit were it not for this one showpiece which really is worth travelling to see on its own. The church was often though not always open to visitors in pre-Covid times so it may be best to check in advance of a visit. My photos are from a churchcrawling group visit back in 2009 when to my regret I only took handheld photos, so will be limited to uploading only the more passable shots.
More on the church and the Babington tomb on the site below:-
southwellchurches.nottingham.ac.uk/kingston-on-soar/hintr...
Tags: Kingston on Soar church Nottinghamshire
© All Rights Reserved
St Winifred's church at Kingston on Soar appears at first glance to be an attractive if somewhat over restored late medieval building, its most noticeable features being the pinnacled west tower and the more ornate south chapel dating from the Tudor period that seems to make more of a statement with its unusually projecting bay window on the east side. It turns out that this chapel is the main reason to visit this church, for most of the rest of the building was rebuilt in the early 20th century (having suffered serious neglect over the centuries).
Stepping inside it is more apparent how renewed the nave and chancel are, but the eye is initially drawn instead towards the end of the south aisle to the aforementioned chapel. This was built in the 1530s to serve as the chantry chapel of the Babington family and the space is dominated by the spectacularly ornate canopy of a tomb, erected to commemorate Anthony & Katherine Babington in c1540, though surprisingly there is no monument lying beneath, just an incredible structure like the canopy of a four-poster bed in stone. It is a riot of ornament, including half figures of angels and smaller child-like figures holding barrels or 'tuns' to form a rebus of the family name ('Babe & ton'). Some elements have suffered damage, others are in better shape and a rare relief of the Last Judgement remains on the east side as a form of reredos.
Kingston on Soar church wouldn't rank high on a list of historic churches to visit were it not for this one showpiece which really is worth travelling to see on its own. The church was often though not always open to visitors in pre-Covid times so it may be best to check in advance of a visit. My photos are from a churchcrawling group visit back in 2009 when to my regret I only took handheld photos, so will be limited to uploading only the more passable shots.
More on the church and the Babington tomb on the site below:-
southwellchurches.nottingham.ac.uk/kingston-on-soar/hintr...
Tags: Kingston on Soar church Nottinghamshire tomb monument chantry chapel Tudor medieval carving
© All Rights Reserved