TF4655 : Roof, All Saints' church, Friskney
taken 6 years ago, near to Friskney, Lincolnshire, England
The present church is medieval and has changed little since about 1450 although there are remains of a church from 1135 which was destroyed by fire at the base of the tower.
1247 was when the foundation stone of the present church was laid and several original features of this time remain, the lower middle part of the tower, a winding staircase which would have provided access to the rood screen, a squint which would have originally been on an outside wall to allow the “unclean” and excommunicated to watch the consecration at the altar and several other features such as tomb stones.
In the early 1300’s the church was altered with Sir Walter Friskney, a judge at the Court of the Exchequer in the reigns of Edward III and Richard II, being the benefactor. The nave was heightened by the addition of the clerestory and a third level was added to the tower. The chancel was also enlarged.
The sedilia is late 14th century. The clerestory was decorated with wall paintings in 1320 and they can still be seen, although very faint (with the exception of The Last Supper, which was restored in 1978 at a cost of £1000).
The remains of a stone effigy from the 14th century lie within the church. From the style of his armour he was very likely a Crusader, and a member of the Friskney family. Traces of the original paintwork, green and red, can still be seen. The effigy was unearthed from a field nearby in the middle of the last century, several parts of his anatomy are no doubt still there!
The north and south aisles were built in the 15th century and nave arches replaced the walls. The upper part of the tower now had a belfry added too plus the chancel and chapel screens were erected.
The font is 15th century and originally had an ornate stone carved cover which was so heavy it had to be lifted by a pulley system.
In the chancel stand a magnificent sarcophagus and monument to the Booth family. The family coat of arms, three black boars heads, is shown, as well as combined with the coats of arms of the families with whom they inter-married. (Brass plates on top of this tomb are so well worn its impossible to read or photograph)