Church Of St Helen

KIRMINGTON MAIN STREET TA 11 SW (south side) 7/27 Church of Saint Helen 6/11/67 GV II* Parish church. C13 tower, early C14 north arcade, later C14 south arcade. Spire erected 1838. Restorations of 1859-60 by S S Teulon included partially rebuilding chancel, opening blocked arcades and tower arch and providing new aisles. Spire restored 1895. Ironstone ashlar tower, much weathered, remainder in limestone and ironstone with limestone ashlar dressings. Welsh slate roof; copper-covered wooden spire. West tower, 4- bay aisled nave and 2-bay chancel with vestry adjoining north side. 3-stage tower: chamfered plinth, angle buttresses to first 2 stages, stair lighting slits to south-west corner. Small lancets to first stage, blocked to south; string course. Clockface to second stage; string course. Twin lancet belfry openings, string course, weathered angle gargoyles and low parapet. Wrought-iron parapet railings with plain rails, single top rail and ball finials to principals. Hexagonal spire with weathercock. North aisle: plinth, buttresses, sill string-course; pointed 2-light traceried windows. South aisle: plinth; pointed 3-light traceried windows, pointed moulded south door. Chancel: pointed chamfered south door, pointed 3-light traceried north and south windows, pointed 5-light east window with hood- mould and foliate stops. All windows C19 with geometrical tracery. Interior. Tall triple-chamfered segmental-pointed tower arch with hood- mould and plain chamfered jambs. North arcade of pointed double-chamfered arches with hood-moulds and carved headstops on broad filleted quatrefoil piers with water-holding bases, circular plinths and moulded capitals with a remarkable series of carved heads, including bishop, a crowned head and a signum triciput. South arcade of pointed double-chamfered arches on octagonal piers with single rings around lower sections, plain moulded capital, chamfered bases and square plinths. C19 pointed double chamfered chancel arch with shafted inner order. C19 4-bay nave roof with collar, king struts and curved wind-braces. Ornate ashlar and marble font dated 1860. The north and south aisles were demolished in 1742 and 1774 respectively, and the roof lowered in 1789. N Pevsner and J Harris, The Buildings of England : Lincolnshire, 1978, 288-9; drawing by C Nattes, 1795, Banks Collection, Lincoln City Library. Associated Architectural Societies Reports and Papers, Vol V, pt 1, 1859, xx; ibid pt 2, 1860, lxxi.

Listing NGR: TA1061411296