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Guide to St Mary's

It is though that this earliest recorded church would have been of wooden construction and that it was soon replaced by a NORMAN stone built church of which the present FONT BOWL and the hidden foundations which support the present pillars of the NAVE are the only remains. The remainder of this 12TH CENTURY CHURCH was pulled down about 1350 and the present church was built. This comprised the Nave, Aisles and South Transept as remaining today. Originally there was also a North Transept and a ROOD LOFT. Missing portions of the moulding and the high doorway in the chancel arch show where the Rood Loft was accommodated. On the south side of the arch under the small window which houses the oldest stained glass in the church is an opening thought to have housed a PISCINA, which would indicate the presence at some time of an altar on the rood loft. The CHANCEL of the 14th CENTURY church was no longer than at present. At some time between 1750 and 1850 the east end of the Chancel was demolished and one of the side windows used to provide the present east window.The stone carving around the doors and recesses in the Chancel is good, although suffering from ageing. It is interesting to note the measures taken in the south east corner to preserve one recess of the SEDILIA with its carving.The recess on the north side of the Chancel is thought to have housed the tomb of the founder. During the same period the North Transept was demolished and the arches which spanned the east end of each aisle were removed because they were causing the pillars to lean. The SCREEN said to be 15th century, is believed to be part of the screen which at one time divided the Nave from the transept crossing. Recesses in the Nave pillars show where this was fixed.The PULPIT is of oak and dates from the mid 17th century. It was purchased for £3.3.0 from Bourne Abbey after a fire there and installed in its present position in 1891.In the SOUTH TRANSEPT is a monumental effigy, much damaged and of unknown origin; it is thought from details of the costume to date from about 1300. ‘White's Lincolnshire’ records that the lady is Johanna de Huntingford, a patron of the church in 1275 but this cannot be confirmed. Also in the South Transept can be seen the Mensa or stone top of a medieval altar, now set as the base of an altar table.The floor tiles in the LADY CHAPEL are of medieval origin. Below the plaques of 'THE TEN COMMANDMENTS' are two stone tablets, which were originally sited at the front of the former Frampton Church of England School, which was sold in 1997 and demolished in the Spring of 1998. The school closed in July 1968.A semi-circular stone bears the inscription:+ RECEIVE INSTRUCTION THAT THOU MAYEST BE WISE + A.D. 1877.Another tablet is in the form of a Sun Dial and bears the words:'HEAVEN FAVOURS THE DILIGENT' ERECTED 1818.

The FONT is also situated in the South Transept. The absence of carving on two faces of the NORMAN BOWL indicates something of its more recent history. For many years the Font was housed in the south east corner of the tower, until such time as it became necessary to move it to the south west corner, to enable further strengthening of the tower support. It was moved to its present more practical location in the LADY CHAPEL in March 2000, to allow for a new Meeting Room in the south-west corner.At the same time, the stone altar was relocated to a more central position.In the SOUTH AISLE note the centre window depicting St. Mary, Patron Saint of this church; St. Hugh, Bishop of Lincoln, with his swan and holding a model of his Cathedral Church and St. Botolph with a model of Boston Parish Church (The Stump) at his feet.By the north door of the church is a fine oak VESTRY CHEST, medieval, with hasps for three padlocks.This chest was cleaned and restored by members of Frampton W.I. as their contribution to the European Heritage Year.The TOWER houses a peal of SIX BELLS the earliest dated 1602. The blocked elevated doorway in the south west corner of the tower gave access to a ringing chamber floor at that level at some earlier period.The fine CHANDELIER hanging in the nave holds 25 oil candles and is in regular on festive and other important occasions. The quaint inscription on the boss proclaims it to be the gift of Coney Tunnard Gent in 1722 and the rabbit surmounting the boss is no doubt a visual pun on the name Coney. Major restoration work was carried out in 1889. The ORGAN was installed in 1909 and restored in 1981.The NAVE and AISLES were re-roofed in 1930.The modern stone ALTAR in the South Transept was erected in 1955 as a memorial to the Dennis family.More recent improvements have been made to St. Mary’s, with the addition of a gas fired warm air heating system, new carpeting for the Chancel and Nave, a kitchen and toilet. The BELL ROPES were replaced in 1999.The MEETING ROOM was completed in September 2001, using timbers of English Oak; which blend in well with the much older surroundings. The work by craftsmen of Nene Joinery, is to a very high standard.The church was re-wired and a NEW LIGHTING SCHEME installed in 2009, dedicated by The Bishop of Lincoln - The Rt. Revd. Dr John Saxbee on 30th August.At the KITCHEN entrance note the list of Priests dating from 1277.Outside, on a gabled buttress on the north-east angle of the South Transept is a grotesque sculptured head and above it a now illegible inscription:Wot ye whi I stad her for: I forswor my Saviour; ego Ricardus in AnguloAlong from the main gate, there are steps up to the top of the boundary wall, where a gentleman might mount his horse, whilst steadying himself by holding on to an iron spike set into the stonework.This ancient parish church clearly shows the loving care of successive generations, and is still used for the purpose for which it was built - as a place where Christians can jointogether in fellowship, to worship God.Sadly the church roof was subject to lead theft in 2011, and the south side has a temporary covering!BOSTON BOROUGH TOURIST CHURCH OF THE YEAR AWARD 2002(Medium Parishes Class)Requests for further Frampton history information will be forwarded tolocal historian - Mrs Joan Deane

Guide to St Mary's Church

The DOOMESDAY SURVEY LISTS A CHURCH & PRIEST IN FRAMPTON IN 1086 A.D.

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