Saint Peter's Church
The Medieval Parish Church that was moved to a new site in 1877, but they left the tower where it was! The old tower, called The Stump was saved from demolition in 1976 by a local farmer, and is now taken care of by The Friends of Friendless Churches. New St Peter's is the only remaining parish church of Saltfleetby where regular services still take place.
Old Saint Peter's Church on Saltergate, photographed in about 1870, before the main nave was moved brick by brick to the new site in 1877 and reassembled to make new St Peter's as it is today, on the corner of North End Land and the Main Road.
St Peter's Church at its new location on the corner of North End Lane and The Main Road, where regular Church of England and Methodist services still take place.
Medieval Building
There has been a church at the original site on the corner of Charlesgate and Saltergate for nearly 900 years. The old church building which dates from the 13th century was at first a simple rectangular building. Alterations and additions such as aisles, a tower, chancel, vestry and south porch were added piecemeal over time in the 14th and 15th centuries. Building materials were limestone ashlar and greenstone rubble. Buttresses were added in the 19th century to try to stabilise the fragile structure.
In 1872 it was described as a small structure of stone, consisting of nave, north and south aisles, chancel, porch, vestry and a western tower containing three bells. The parish chest contained a register dating from 1558, containing many entries relating to the Newcomen family. “The Church, in consequence of its settlement on the south side, cannot be restored, but it is in contemplation to rebuild it”.
All that remains of it today in the original position is the 15th century tower.
Subsidence
By the 1870s the old medieval church building was collapsing. Built on marshy ground it was unstable, in a terrible state of repair and a long way from the main areas of the village. In 1872 Louth architect James Fowler, who had much experience of renovating old churches, acting as the "Diocesan Surveyor of Dilapidations", inspected the church. He submitted a report recommending that it should be rebuilt. Without enough money to build a completely new church, it was thought that moving the church to a new location, would be the best solution. It was also a chance to bring the church closer to the congregation. This idea was supported by the Bishop of Lincoln, the Archdeacon, and the Rural Dean
A detail from the Earliest Victorian Ordnance Survey Map, compiled between 1805-1869. It shows St Peter's Church on the corner of Charlesgate and Saltfergate, its original location.
Later map which was made by the Ordnance Survey from 1888 to 1913. I have marked the old and new locations of St. Peter's Church. The remaining tower ("The Stump") is marked as "St. Peter's Church, remains of".
A New Site
A suitable, more accessible place was found at the crossroads on the main road. Some glebe land (farmland owned by the parish church) was exchanged for the new site, along with a gift of more land, so a new location was secured. The opinions of parishioners were heard, and a faculty granted, giving permission to undertake the work on the building.
Fund Raising
It was certainly a cheaper option than building a new church. But, to achieve such an undertaking as to move a whole unstable medieval church half a mile, would be expensive. To help raise the money the above photograph, which illustrated the need for a new church and its historic significance, was circulated. Archdeacon Edward Trollope wrote an accompanying letter in support of the plan, describing the dreadful state of the church and the urgent necessity to take action to rescue it. In response to the appeal gifts of donations towards the cost of the work were received from benefactors, keen to help save an important historic church.
The final service at Old St Peter’s
On 30th April 1876, the second Sunday after Easter, Rev. William Richards Watson conducted the final service in the old building. After hundreds of years of continual use as a place of worship and centre for community celebration, marking the events in the lives of generations of Saltfleetby’a residents, it was to be dismantled.
Three weeks later, the Bishop of Lincoln laid the foundation stone of the new building.
The People who Brought About the Move
The Bishop of Lincoln: Rt. Rev. Christopher Wordsworth
Born on 30th October 1807 in Lambeth, London, the youngest son of Christopher Wordsworth, a clergyman and scholar, master of Trinity College Cambridge, from Cockermouth, Cumberland, and Pricilla Lloyd from Warwickshire. His father was the brother of poet William Wordsworth. He went to Winchester School and Trinity College Cambridge, to study classics, gaining a B.A. and then M.A. There he was also accomplished in athletics and poetry. He tutored in classics at Trinity, where he became a fellow in 1830. He travelled around Greece studying architecture, upon his return in 1833 he was ordained as a priest.
Whist serving as headmaster of Harrow School, he married Susanna Hatley Frere, with whom he went on to have seven children. After 8 years at Harrow, he left to take up an appointment as a Canon at Westminster. He became vicar of Stanford in the Vale, Berkshire in 1850 and Archdeacon of Westminster in 1864. In 1869 prime minister Benjamin Disraeli appointed him Bishop of Lincoln.
He wrote numerous books on topics ranging from history, architecture and divinity. He was the literary executor for his uncle William Wordsworth, writing a memoir of the famous poet in 1851. He’s also remembered for writing hymns, many of which are still familiar to church goers today. His wife Susanna died in 1884. He remained Bishop of Lincoln until his death on 21 March 1885 at the age of 77. He is buried near the Shrine of St Hugh in Lincoln Cathedral.
Bishop Christopher Wordsworth
Christopher Wordsworth (1807–1885)
Rev. Edward Trollope (1817–1893)
The Archdeacon: Rev. Edward Trollope
Edward Trollope was born in Uffington, near Stamford on 15th April 1817, the son of Sir John Trollope and Anne, nee Thorold from Cuxwold, Lincolnshire. He was the second cousin to the writer Anthony Trollope (author of the Barsetshire Chronicles novels). He attended Eton College and Christ Church, Oxford, becoming the vicar of Rauceby in 1841, then appointed as rector of Leasingham in 1843. He married Grace Palmer from Skeffington, Leicestershire in 1846. They had two daughters Mary and Caroline. In 1867 he was made the archdeacon of Stow and Lindsey. A member of the Lincolnshire Diocesan Society, he was very interested in architecture and antiquities, publishing several books on the subjects.
He was appointed as Bishop of Nottingham in 1877, where he was again successful in fundraising, resulting in restoration to Southwell Minster, Nottinghamshire. After the death of wife Grace in 1890. he remarried in 1892, second wife Louisa Harris. He died on 10th December 1893 at the Rectory in Leasingham, his home for 50 years, at the age of 76. Daughter Mary Grace died on 16th July 1924, and Caroline Julia (who married Wyrley Peregrine Birch in 1871 with whom she had several children) died in 1927.
The Rural Dean: Rev. Canon Frederick Pretyman
Frederick Pretyman was born in Lincoln on 19th October 1819, the son of Rev. George-Thomas Pretyman, one time Chancellor of Lincoln Cathedral, and grandson of George Pretyman Tomline who served as Bishop of Lincoln from 1787 to 1820. He was made a fellow of Magdalen College, Oxford in 1843 where he was awarded a bachelor in divinity. In 1847 he was ordained by the Bishop of Oxford, and in 1850 he became the rector of Great Carlton, succeeding his brother George. He also served as a local Justice of the Peace from 1857. In 1858 he married Georgina Elizabeth Knight, with whom he had 4 children: Earnest, Amelia and Herbert. Georgina died in 1864, two days after the birth of their fourth child, Arthur Frederick, who died in infancy shorty after.
In 1865 he was made the Rural Dean of Louth eske and Ludborough, in 1873 he was created a Prebendary (Canon) of Lincoln Cathedral. Daughter Amelia died in 1879 age 17. Son Herbert died of diphtheria in 1891, age 28 whilst serving as a Lieutenant in the Grenadier Guards. He retired in 1891 and died on 14th February 1905 at the age of 85. His only child to survive him was Earnest George Pretyman, who became a Captain in the Royal Navy, later serving as financial secretary to the admiralty and was elected MP for Suffolk South East in 1895.
Frederick Pretyman (1819-1895)
The Local Rector: Rev. William Richards Watson
From a prestigious military family, William Richards Watson was born in Glamorgan in 1828. He studied at Oriel College Oxford and became rector of Saltfleetby St Peter in 1856. He remained here for nearly 50 years, where he and his wife Louisa raised their five children. For much more about Rev. Watson and his family see:
James Fowler FRIBA, architect and five times mayor of Louth
(1828-1892)
The Architect: James Fowler
James Fowler was born on 11th December 1828 in Lichfield, the son of Joseph Fowler from Chesham, Buckinghamshire and Hannah Emery from Great Barr, Staffordshire. He was a pupil of the Lichfield architect and builder, Joseph Potter Jn, whose work included public buildings, churches and restoration projects, including to Lichfield Cathedral. He came to Louth in 1849 to work on the Louth House of Correction (which was demolished in 1885), probably for county surveyor James Padley with whom he undertook other work. From 1851 to 1859 he was in partnership with Grimsby surveyor Joseph Maughan. In 1861 he married Marianne Sheen from Sudbury, Suffolk, they had two sons and a daughter.
He was elected a fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects (FRIBA) in 1864. He amassed a great deal of experience designing both private and public buildings, mainly in and around the Louth area, as well as in other areas of the country. Known for a distinctive red brick style with beige brickwork features. Many of his buildings are very well known locally and still in use today, such as parts of King Edward VI Grammar School, Horncastle corn Exchange, Retford Holy Trinity Hospital and Number 15 Market Place (now Spa) and the Old Police Station in Louth. He is particularly remembered for his many churches, rebuilt or renovated. In 1871 he became a surveyor for the Diocese of Lincoln, taking on responsibility to offer his expertise in the preservation of ecclesiastical buildings in Lincolnshire. He also served five terms as mayor of Louth. He died on 10th October 1892 age 63
The Builder: Mr Thomas Maxey
Thomas Maxey was born in Louth in 1810 to father John Maxey (who listed his profession as chief turnkey) and Harriet Maxey, nee North, both from Louth. He married Mary Giddy, who was born in Saltfleetby All Saints in 1812, with whom he had two sons, William in 1836 and Thomas in 1842. Mary died in 1844, age 31. Thomas had a daughter, Harriet with his second wife in 1856. He started out as a carpenter, growing his business over years to become a master joiner and builder, employing about 8 men in the 1870s, from his home at 56 Upgate in Louth. Both his sons worked in the family business as joiners, starting as apprentices to their father. William’s sons also followed to become apprentice joiners. Thomas Maxey died on 23 June 1889 age 79 after a long and prestigious career. He is buried in Louth Cemetery.
Moving the Church
A Brick by Brick Move
In early May 1876 the old church began to be taken down, stone by stone and carried to its new site half a mile away, where it was re-erected. Bishop Wordsworth came from Lincoln to ceremonially lay the first stone himself, on 23rd May 1876. Mr. Maxey was the builder in charge of the work, but members of the congregation all pitched in to help, giving their labours for free, to speed up the work. Rev. Watson wrote a full account of the rebuilding. Archdeacon Trollope took a keen interest and was a regular visitor to the site to observe its progress. On one visit he complained of the amount of ale being consumed on the site and was immediately promised that not another drop of ale would be brought in. It is said they had all they required secreted away!
The work was completed remarkably quickly, in 14 months, being ready for the first service at the new site to take place at the end of July 1877.
Changes
It was intended to make the new building an exact replica of the original, but due to the damage caused by subsidence in the old building, and expense, this wasn’t entirely possible. Originally the tower was intended to be moved as well, but it would have been too expensive. The ground plan was the same: the nave, aisles, porch and vestry are all the same size, though the chancel is three feet longer-than before. The arches and pillars had become distorted by the subsidence of the old building and were restored to their former shape. The timbers in the old roof were in too poor condition, with many rotten and couldn’t be reused, so the dilapidated clerestory level (high-up row of windows) couldn’t be restored. Instead, a new high-pitched roof without windows was substituted where the old clerestory windows used to be. Throughout the new church, many of the original windows were re-used, dating from the 13th to 15th centuries.
Slide to compare diagrams of changes to old church and rebuilt new church.
Cost
The total cost, which included a new gate, bridge (over Mar Dyke in front of the site) and path, came to £1,788 2s. 5d. £85 was given by the Church Building Society on condition that “The Stump”, remained as a Chapel of Rest in the cemetery. Bishop Wordsworth gave £50 towards the project. The rest of the cost came from public donations, and it was completed to the budget. Rev. Watson wrote with, some pride that: “even before the gate was hung, no debt remained on the building”. A triumphant entry records that collections on the day of completion amounted to £74 1s. 6d.
Opening
Rev. Watson invited the Bishop of Lincoln back to consecrate the new building, and to celebrate the first service of Holy Communion in the new church. On 31st July 1877, a special train was put on, to bring about 130 people to Saltfleetby for a day of celebration. Bishop Wordsworth formally consecrated the newly completed church in a morning service, at which £96 was received in the collection. At noon lunch was provided, followed by a public afternoon tea. Further services were conducted, by Archdeacon Trollope in the afternoon and Rev. Overton of Legbourne in the evening. The total offertory donations collected came to £117.
The church has been in continuous use ever since. Since 1973, it is the only remaining active place of worship in the village (there used to be six: three Church of England and three Methodist). Now used for both C of E and Methodist services as well as community events.
Old St. Peter's Tower: "The Stump"
The remaining tower of St Peter's as it was left after the removal of the rest of the church. Taken in 1889, 12 years after the the new church was made from the old.
Slide to Compare Old Photos of the Tower with Recent Pictures of the Same View
The old tower of St Peter's (The Stump) in 1898, compared to how it looks in 2023
Slide to compare a 1930s postcard of the Stump with a photo taken from the same spot in 2023, about 90 years later.
Some believed it was a mistake not to move the tower at the same time as the rest of the church, there wasn’t going to be a better or cheaper opportunity to do so. But due to the need to keep within their budget, it remained in its original location.
The openings which were left at the front and back were bricked up. A gate was put in the back where it used to open out onto the nave of the church.
Initially the bells remained in the tower, which was at first used as a memorial chapel, overlooking the graveyard, which is still used for burials today.
Becoming home to pigeons and owls, it became disused and overgrown over the years. A west tower, early Perpendicular in date, belonging to a church that has been removed, standing strangely on its own for 147 years.
Even when badly neglected, its historic value was recognised and it was given listed building status in 1967.
The Stump in 1936
Bells
The tower contained three medieval bells, two bore inscriptions of dedication to the Virgin Mary. The smaller one which was thought to have been made in Nottingham, was inscribed In amore Sanctoe Mariae (translates as: “in the love of the Holy Mary”).
The larger, weighing 56 stone is inscribed: Pura pudica pia miseris miserere Maria Pure, (translates as: “chaste, pious, have mercy on the poor Mary”)
Unfortunately, the smaller inscribed bell was badly damaged when someone tried to ring it by hitting it with a blacksmith’s hammer. It was melted down along with the third (uninscribed) bell and recast in 1908 by John Taylor & Co. of Loughborough into one new bell with the inscription In Amore Sca Maria ("for the love of Saint Mary") which now hangs in the bellcote of the rebuilt St. Peter’s on the Main Road.
The largest medieval bell was left in the old tower, where it was neglected, until being rescued in 1956.
Inscription on the largest bell
1956 - The Extrication of the Last Bell
In 1956 the last bell from the tower, bearing the dedication “Pura pudica pia miseris miserere Maria,” was bought to be installed in the new church of St John the Baptist, Ermine, Lincoln. Arranged in memory of Mr Arthur Howard Adams, a former history teacher at Lincoln School who died in 1947. £75 was paid for the bell, of which £10 was paid back as a donation towards the new church. His widow, Mrs Dorothy Adams was a keen naturalist who enjoyed visits to Rimac and going for tea with her family at the Prussian Queen afterwards. Their daughter, Rosalind Lucas (who was 23 at the time) travelled from Lincoln to Saltfleetby with colleagues and employees from her husband’s building firm, who helped remove and transport the bell.
Measuring three feet across and weighing 7 cwt (hundredweight), about 56 stone or 355kg, it was quite an undertaking! As it was a rare pre-reformation bell, dating back about 500 years and in danger of falling down from the bell tower, the Diocese was happy to give them permission and may have contributed to costs. Mrs Lucas recalls that the curate insisted on being present, and he did nothing but get in the way of them lowering the very heavy bell!
Many thanks to Mrs Rosalind Lucas from Lincoln and her daughter-in-law Aileen Lucas from Louth for sharing these wonderful pictures and memories of the event.
The bell was first sent for repair to Loughborough Bell Foundry where it was cleaned and had a new clapper fitted. It was then installed in a newly built turret at St John’s, Lincoln. A dedication ceremony took place on Sunday 2nd February 1957, led by Rev. J. Hodgkinson, and the bell was tolled by the verger Mr R. J Trett, ringing out again 80 years after the dismantling of St Peter’s. Probably the oldest bell in Lincoln.
It was moved to St Nicholas’ Church, Newport, Lincoln in 1988 .
Friday 8th Feb 1957 St Peter's Bell Silent for 80 years bell rings again at the brand new St John the Baptist, Lincoln.
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Grimsby Evening Telegraph Thu 31 Jan 1957
Mrs Adams buys St Peter's pre-reformation bell
Grimsby Evening Telegraph Friday 3rd Aug 1956 Bell which has lain silent since 1877 will now ring in Lincoln, in a new church still under construction.
Article from Ermine News, published by St John the Baptist Church, February 1957. "Ancient Bell to Ring Again"
Lincolnshire Echo Monday 4th February 1957 Dedication of St Peter's Bell at St John the Baptist, Ermine, Lincoln
The bell was hung outside St John's church hall, but it was subjected to vandalism there, so in 1986 it was offered to nearby St. Nicholas Church, Newport, Lincoln, which used to be part of the same the Parish of St. Nicholas with St. John. The bell was hung in the church tower with the original St. Nicholas Church bell hung beside it, and was dedicated by Bill Ind, the Bishop of Grantham, during the Patronal Festival on 11th December 1988.
The church of St Nicholas, Newport, Lincoln, where the old St Peter's bell is now installed.
Deterioration of the tower
During the 1960s and 70s the old tower of St Peter's fell into a dangerous state of disrepair. Falling stones posed a serious hazard, signs were put up warning people to keep away. Some stones were taken for use elsewhere and Rev. Keith Jones was keen for it to be demolished and the medieval stones to be taken for use by any builders who might want them.
Grimsby Evening Telegraph, Friday 7th September 1962.
85 years after the rest of the church was moved, the 500 year old tower of St Peter's is crumbling. The Rector of St. Peters with All Saints, Rev Keith F. Jones, fearing the hazard, invites any builders to come and take away the "jolly good Ancaster limestone", that a builder "might find useful and be in a position to demolish it themselves".
Thursday 29th December 1966
All three churches in Saltfleetby and the old tower of St Peter's are considered worthy to be listed buildings. Rev Jones believes The Stump doesn't warrant the special historic/architectual status of the others and its stones should serve better purposes than "vegetating in a ruin". If it must be preserved, the nation should contribute to the cost of its upkeep.
The Stump, photographed on 22nd September 1972
A sign reads: "Danger, Falling Stones"
The Stump from South East, 22nd September 1972
Showing the state of disrepair and danger sign.
1976 - Saved from Demolition
Despite being given grade 1 listed building status since 9th March 1969, the tower remained threatened due its deteriorating state.
But thanks to the efforts and generosity of a local farmer it was not only saved but could continue to be cared for.
Farmer Mr Mark Stubbs fought hard to prevent its demolition and in 1976 called in the organisation "Friends of Friendless Churches" who were able to take ownership of the tower.Mr Stubbs left them a sum of money for its maintenance, wishing that after his death the interest on savings would continue to be used for the maintenance of the tower.
Mr Stubbs died in 1977 and a plaque commemorates his connection with the church on the north wall.
Wed 25th May 1977 local farmer Mr Mark Stubbs leaves bequest to help save the tower of St Peter's
Plaque at the Stump: In memory of Mark Robert Stubbs, 1900-1977, loved this tower and in his will provided for its maintenance in future years. He is buried in the churchyard: "He being dead yet speaketh. R.I.P."
The Friends of Friendless Churches was established at a meeting held on 3 July 1957 in a Committee Room in the House of Commons. Welsh politician Ivor Bulmer-Thomas led a group of friends with a passion for protecting the ecclesiastical heritage of England and Wales. They sought to become friends to friendless churches, to “secure the preservation of churches and chapels .. for public access and the benefit of the nation.” Aiming to rescue and repair historic buildings, by undertaking gentle repairs, sensitive restoration, and careful conservation. They have now taken ownership of 60 churches throughout the country which may otherwise have been lost.
The Stump from the South, a crumbling structure with ivy growing up it and loose stones. Photographed for Record the National Monuments on 22nd September 1972
Click here to see their website:
The Rectors of Saint Peter's
The first page of the official Baptisms Book of Saltfleetby St Peter, containing records of everyone christened in the church (old and new locations) from 1813 to 1916. Click to see some of the first pages
Parish Registers
It has been a legal requirement for every parish to keep a formal written register since 1538, when Henry VIII formally split from the Roman Catholic Church. Thomas Cromwell, chief minister to Henry VIII, acting as his Vicar General issued an injunction requiring that in each parish of the Church of England registers of all baptisms, marriages, and burials be kept. It is the responsibility of the parish priest to hand write these records. Some have helpfully copied out information from older records. They used to be kept in the actual church but now all original records from 1538 to 1990 are kept in The Lincolnshire Records Office and most have been photographed and made available online.
This list of rectors of St Peter’s from 1150, was probably written out by Rev. Samuel Stamp in about 1910. Click on it to see a larger image with a few more initial pages of the book.
Rev. Samuel Stamp, Rector of St Peter with All Saints from 1906 to 1921
Samuel Stamp was born in Arnold, Nottingham in 1864 to Frank Stamp, a butcher and Elizabeth Stamp, who worked as a dressmaker. He was baptised on 24th January 1864 at St Mary’s Church, Arnold. His father died age 44 in 1878, when Samuel was 14. He continued to live with his mother in Arnold where they took in boarders and he worked as a joiner, before attending Queen’s College Cambridge, graduating with a BA in 1891.
He then trained at Lincoln Bishops Hostel (Theological College) and was ordained in 1892.
He went on to serve as curate of Keelby, Burgh le Marsh, Winthorpe and Holy Trinity Gainsborough. Following the retirement of Rev. William R. Watson in 1906, Rev. Stamp was appointed Rector of St. Peter’s with All Saints in March 1906. In 1911 he made headlines and sparked debate by publicly criticising the Bishop of Lincoln’s membership of the Free Trade Union, believing that clergy should stay out of politics, saying that "Religion with Politics is a Monster".
Grimsby Daily Telegraph, Sat 28th Jan 1911
Following a toast to "The Bishop and Clergy" at the annual dinner of the Saltfleetby Lodge of the Conservative Benefit Society, Rev. Stamp voiced strong criticism of the Bishop of Lincoln's politics.
Retford and Worksop Herald and North Notts Advertiser, Tue 7th Feb 1911. Report on Rev. Stamp's speech against the mixing of religion and politics, aimed at the Bishop of Lincoln's membership of the Free Trade Union.
Letter in defence of the Bishop of Lincoln's Free Trade Union membership, written by G Wallace Carter, the Union's Secretary, appearing in The Nottingham Guardian
on Tuesday 14th February 1911
In June 1914 Rev. Stamp was appointed as the Rural Dean of Louth, retiring from that role in 1920. In 1921 he moved to Nettleham, near Lincoln, where he served as vicar until 1927. He retired to Mablethorpe, and died on 2nd March 1934 age 71. He is buried in the graveyard of his former parish of Nettleham.
Lincolnshire Echo, Wed 7th March1934 Requiem held for Rev. Stamp at Nettleham
Lincolnshire Echo, Monday 5th March 1934 Announcement of the death of Rev. Samuel Stamp at Louth.
The Rev. C.K. Watkins M.A. was appointed the next Rector of Saltfleetby St Peter with All Saints and served from 1921 to 1926, living at All Saints' Rectory with his family.
Rev. William Jackson Palmer, Rector of St Peter with All Saints from 1926 to 1951
Born on 1st September 1871 in Lincoln, the eldest son of George Palmer, a builder and his wife Jane Clara Isabel. He enrolled at Oxford University in October 1888, gaining a BA in 1891.
Ordained in 1895, becoming the curate of Witham-on-the-Hill, Lincolnshire, then moving to a curacy in 1896 at Bottesford, Leicestershire. He was both curate and later vicar of Enstone, Oxfordshire for 22 years. Whist employed at Enstone he married Milburah Mary Eliza Parish (daughter of Robert Parish, an engine driver from Newport, Monmouthshire) on 21st June 1898 at The Parish Church of Cirencester, Gloustershire.
From 1914 to 1926 Rev. Palmer served as the private chaplain to Eric FitzGerald Dillon, 19th Viscount Dillon, an Irish Peer and distinguished British Army officer during the first world war. In 1926 he was appointed Rector of Saltfleetby St Peter’s with All Saints, living in the rectory at All Saints.
Rev Palmer was well-liked by the children at the village Church of England School, as he organised their annual school outing, by train from Saltfleetby station to Mablethorpe.
Milburah died on 16th December 1946. He retired on 28th August 1951, spending his retirement living on Upgate in Louth. Rev. Palmer died in 1953 at the age of 82, and was buried on 8th February 1953 at his former parish of Enstone.
Lincolnshire Echo, Mon 25th June 1951 Rev. Palmer announces his retirement
Rev. Francis K. Kenyon, Rector of St Peter with All Saints from 1952-1957
Francis K Kenyon studied at Queens College Cambridge and Bishops' College Cheshunt, earning an M.A. He was ordained at Thaxted Parish Church, Essex by the bishop of Chelmsford on 3rd July 1933. His first appointment was as Curate of St John Buckhurst Hill from 1933. In 1935 he went to St Luke’s, Bromley Common, London until 1938. He was then appointment vicar of Upton Cressett with Monk Hopton, diocese of Hereford.
He came to Lincolnshire to be vicar of New Bolingbroke, near Boston in February 1944. He married Muriel Smith in April 1944 in Spilsby. Taking up the appointment of Rector of Saltfleetby All Saints and St Peter in 1952, he lived with his family at All Saints Rectory. As well as church duties he acted as clerk to the parish council and secretary of the village hall committee. His wife also played an active part in village life. In 1957 they moved to take charge of the church of St. Lawrence, Great Waldingfield, near Sudbury, Suffolk. In August 1960 he officiated at the wedding of his son Richard Arthur Kenyon, and Barbara Appleyard of Middle Rasen.
Rev. Keith Franklin Jones, Rector of St Peter with All Saints from 1959 to 1968
Rev. Jones was the eldest child of Rev William George Jones and his wife Florence. He was born in Newcastle upon Tyne, Northumberland in September 1896 while his father was a clergyman there. The family moved to Barons Court West Kensington. During the First World War he served as a lieutenant in the Middlesex Regiment. He studied at Corpus Christi, Cambridge and was ordained by the Bishop of Bradford in 1922. Before being appointed as Rector of St Peter’s with All Saints in June 1959, he had been vice principle of St Aidan’s College, Durham, the vicar of Oakamoor, Staffordshire, Bloxwick near Walsall, and Rector of Burwarton, Shopshire since 1942.
He married Alice Thorndyke in Louth in 1930. During his time at Saltfleetby he took on the supervision of St Clement's Church (as well as St Peter’s and All Saints) in 1965, following the death of Rev Carr-Gregg the previous year. He also worked hard on the “Marshlander” magazine printing news and interesting information for the whole parish. He retired in June 1968 after spending 46 years in holy orders. He died in October 1975 in Louth aged 79.
Grimsby Evening Telegraph, Thu 18th Jun 1959 The appointment of Rev. Jones at Rector of St Peter's with All Saints
Grimsby Evening Telegraph, Wed 20th October1965 Rev. Jones becomes the first Rector serving all three parishes of Saltfleetby when he also takes on responsibility for St Clements church, as well as St Peter's and All Saints.
Grimsby Evening Telegraph, Friday 12th Oct 1962 A team of eight people work on publishing the Marshlander Magazine with a new look and entertaining content.
Grimsby Evening Telegraph, Mon 21st Dec 1959. Induction of Rev. Jones by Archdeacon of Lindsey
The Walsall Observer, and South Staffordshire Chronicle
Walsall, West Midlands, Friday 21st June 1968 Report of the retirement of Rev. Jones in his former parish of Bloxwich
Rev. David N. Lambert
Rev. David N. Lambert took over as Rector of Saltfleetby - with - Skidbrooke in 1969. This combined parish included the churches of St. Peter, St. Clement and All Saints in Saltfleetby, as well as St. Botolph's in Skidbrooke. All but St Peter's were declared redundant in 1973.
Lincolnshire Echo
Thursday 16th Oct 1969
Photographs of St Peter's Church, taken on 24th May 1973 for Royal Commission on Historical Monuments, National Monuments Record.
Scroll Through Gallery of Photos of the Church and Stump Today
References
Picture Credits
1870 photo of old St Peter's Church, http://slha.org.uk/photogallery/index.php?thislocation=Saltfleetby%20St%20Peter
New St Peter's taken in April 2010 by Richard Hoare, https://commons.m.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:St_Peter%27s_Church_Saltfleetby_-_geograph.org.uk_-_1801790.jpg
Old maps from: https://www.archiuk.com/
Christopher Wordsworth by Samuel Alexander Walker, albumen carte-de-visite, 1870s, NPG x19144 and NPG Ax38638 © National Portrait Gallery, London, https://www.npg.org.uk/collections/search/person/mp97216/christopher-wordsworth
Edward Trollope by Samuel Alexander Walker, printed by Waterlow & Sons Ltd carbon print, published December 1889 NPG Ax38347 © National Portrait Gallery, London, https://www.npg.org.uk/collections/search/use-this-image/?mkey=mw157966
Reverend Canon Frederic Pretyman (1820–1905) by William Carter (1863–1939) in The Usher Gallery, Lincoln, https://artuk.org/discover/artworks/reverend-canon-frederic-pretyman-18201905-81965
James Fowler portrait in Louth Museum
The Tower Of The Old Church Of St Peters Saltfleetby, 1898, by Alfred Newton and Sons, Reference: AA98/04032 and Reference: AA97/05714
https://historicengland.org.uk/images-books/photos/results/?searchType=HE+Archive+New&search=saltfleetby&page=1
The Stump - 1930's postcard, By kind permission of Mrs. W. Green of Louth from https://web.archive.org/web/20050904012504/http://www.saltfleetby.co.uk/home.htm
1956 photos of bell extrication by kind permission of Mrs Aileen Lucas of Louth and her mother -in-law Mrs Rosalind Lucas of Lincoln
Old St Peter's Tower in 1972 and church in 1973 from Historic England, English Places Collection: https://historicengland.org.uk/images-books/photos/englands-places/card/251429?place=Saltfleetby+St+Peter%2c+Lincolnshire+(Place)&terms=saltfleetby&searchtype=englandsplaces&i=2&wm=1&bc=0%7c1&g=7283
Plaque on The Stump dedicated to Mark Stubbs, Window in St Peter's dedicated to Rev. Watson, Cross-Keys Harry Stones, font and interior view, all taken by Jean Howard for Society for Lincolnshire History and Archaeology http://slha.org.uk/photogallery/index.php?thislocation=Saltfleetby%20St%20Peter
Parish Baptisms Register from Lincolnshire Records Office, accessed via FindYourPast.com
References
Article "Moving Churches by Rev. Bridget Hill that appeared on the Christian Rural Concern Website, #8 Spring 2002, https://web.archive.org/web/20050424203753/http://www.cruc.org.uk/mag/j8.htm#4
White's Directory of Lincolnshire, 1872
St Peter's Church and The Stump from https://web.archive.org/web/20050904012504/http://www.saltfleetby.co.uk/home.htm
Christopher Wordsworth: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Wordsworth
Edward Trollope: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Trollope
James Fowler: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Fowler_(architect)
David Kaye (Author), Sam Scorer (Author), David N. Robinson (Editor): Fowler of Louth: The Life and Works of James Fowler, Louth Architect, 1828-1892, Published 1992 by Louth Naturalists' Antiquarian and Literary Society
West Tower of St Peter's, listed building https://britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/101165820-west-tower-of-former-church-of-st-peter-saltfleetby
History of parish registers, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parish_register
J. J. Raven, The Bells of England, originally published 1906 by E.P. Dutton
Historic England: https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1063060?section=official-list-entry
Multiple census returns and other historic documents, clippings found from newspapers.com
Many thanks to Aileen and Rosalind Lucas for information about the extrication of the bell in 1956.
Many thanks to Mrs Betty Brown from St. Nicholas Church, Newport, Lincoln for information about the bell's move from The Ermine in the 80s