Church Of St Andrew

Church of St Andrew

Parish church located on Church Lane. The building spans multiple centuries, with the 11th to 12th century nave and north arcade responds forming its oldest core. The late 12th to early 13th century saw the addition of the south arcade, south aisle, lower section of the tower arch, chancel arch, and the west section of the chancel. A later 13th century north arcade followed. The 14th century brought the north door and the east and west windows to the aisles. The 15th and 16th centuries added the north aisle windows, while the 16th to 17th century introduced the tower, clerestory, and chancel east window. The roof was replaced in the 17th century.

The church underwent major restorations in the late 1880s, followed by further work in the 1920s. The north aisle was restored in 1921 by W Bond of Grantham, the nave in 1923, and the tower in 1924. The nave and tower roofs were renewed in 1957. The building was re-floored in 1969.

Construction materials vary across the structure: limestone ashlar forms the tower and nave clerestory, while mixed limestone and ironstone rubble with squared masonry was used for the aisles and the east end of the nave. The chancel similarly employs these materials along with some chalk and flint rubble. The roofs are slate.

The plan comprises a west tower, a four-bay aisled nave, and a two-bay chancel.

The three-stage tower features a moulded plinth and angle buttresses with offsets. Stair lighting slits pierce the south west face. The stages are stepped inward with weathered string courses between them. The first stage contains a pointed three-light west window with partly-restored Perpendicular tracery in a hollow-chamfered reveal with hoodmould. The second stage displays square openings with pierced quatrefoils set in roundels with incised spandrels in plain chamfered reveals. The belfry openings are pointed two-light traceried lights in hollow-chamfered reveals with hoodmoulds. A moulded string course runs across, and gargoyles project at the angles and centre of each side. The embattled parapet is coped and topped with eight crocketed pinnacles; the pinnacle buttresses carry blind-traceried panels and the merlons feature quatrefoil panels bearing shields. Quoins define the angles of the aisles and chancel.

The south aisle presents an early 13th century round-headed chamfered door with chamfered imposts and a hoodmould ornamented with nailhead work. Twin lancets pierce the south side: the eastern one is 13th century with an ashlar tablet between the arches bearing a cross in relief, while the western one incorporates a reused 13th century incised grave slab; the central lancet was restored in the 19th century. The pointed two-light traceried west window has a restored mullion, an original hoodmould, and good headstops. The similar east window retains its original hoodmould but has a restored mullion and worn headstops.

The north aisle features a chamfered plinth. Its door is chamfered with wave moulding, a hoodmould, and a worn headstop; a sill string course runs below. Partly-restored square-headed three-light windows display original Perpendicular tracery with hoodmoulds and worn headstops. The partly-restored two-light traceried west window carries a hoodmould and restored headstops. The pointed three-light traceried east window has a hoodmould and a good headstop.

The clerestory features four-centred-arch traceried three-light windows in plain chamfered reveals. The parapet is coped and restored. A line marking an earlier nave gable is visible in the east wall.

The chancel possesses a chamfered plinth on its south and east sides, with 19th to 20th century mid-buttresses to the north and south sides. The south side has a pointed hollow-chamfered door with hoodmould and headstops, a sill string course, and a partly-restored pointed two-light traceried window with hoodmould and headstops in the western section. A partly-restored triple lancet occupies the eastern section. A single lancet pierces the north side. The small three-light east window has four-centred-arch lights with restored mullions.

Internally, the south arcade comprises round arches with inner chamfered and plain outer orders, supported on cylindrical piers and responds with plain moulded capitals, octagonal abaci, and plain moulded bases on square pedestals. The north arcade displays pointed double-chamfered arches on plain chamfered responds and octagonal piers with plain moulded capitals and bases.

A tall pointed double-chamfered tower arch, raised in the 16th to 17th century, rests on shafted responds with plain moulded capitals and bases. The north jamb bears an inscription recording the 1920s restorations, while the south jamb carries a tablet documenting the 1957 restoration. Arcade piers and the jambs of the tower arch retain traces of red and black paint. A pointed chamfered door to the tower spiral staircase features a notched newel.

The pointed double-chamfered chancel arch sits on keeled responds with plain moulded capitals and bases. A small square aumbry with a stone shelf above is set into the chancel. A small corbel bearing relief paterae projects from the east end of the south aisle. An ashlar wall tablet commemorating John Teale, dated 1809, features an oval medallion and rosettes in relief at the west end of the nave. Eight alabaster wall tablets in the south aisle record naval casualties from the 1914-1918 War.

The font dates to the 15th century and is octagonal. Its bowl bears foiled panels and shields decorated in relief with paterae, fleur-de-lys, and crosses. Paterae ornament the underside. It stands on a moulded base and octagonal shaft.

The chancel holds a stained glass east window, a carved oak reredos, and a traceried Gothic Revival chancel screen of 1909. An oak lectern from the early 20th century Immingham Dock Naval Church is also present. A large painted Royal Arms dated 1688 hangs in the church.

The tower bears similarity to those at Aylesby and Healing. The notched newel of the staircase and the "Mixed Gothic" belfry tracery suggest a date between 1550 and 1650.