Church Of St Helen

The Church of St Helen is a parish church located in Kirmington, dating to the 13th century with substantial additions and alterations through the 14th century, and later Victorian restoration. The church possesses a 13th-century tower, an early 14th-century north arcade, and a later 14th-century south arcade. A spire was added in 1838, and the church underwent restorations in 1859-60 by S S Teulon, which included partially rebuilding the chancel, opening blocked arcades and the tower arch, and creating new aisles. The spire was subsequently restored in 1895.

The church is constructed primarily of ironstone ashlar for the tower, with the remainder of the building in limestone and ironstone with limestone ashlar dressings. The roof is covered with Welsh slate, with a copper-covered wooden spire. The church comprises a four-bay aisled nave, a two-bay chancel, and a west tower. The tower is four-stage in height, featuring a chamfered plinth, angle buttresses to the first two stages, stair lighting slits to the south-west corner, and small lancet windows. A clockface is located on the second stage, and twin lancet belfry openings are at the top, with angle gargoyles and a low parapet. Wrought-iron parapet railings with ball finials are present. The spire is hexagonal and topped with a weathercock.

The north aisle exhibits a plinth, buttresses, a sill string-course, and pointed two-light traceried windows. The south aisle features a plinth and pointed three-light traceried windows, along with a pointed moulded south door. The chancel has a pointed chamfered south door, pointed three-light traceried north and south windows, and a pointed five-light east window with a hood-mould and foliate stops. All windows are 19th century with geometrical tracery.

Inside, a tall triple-chamfered segmental-pointed tower arch features a hood-mould and plain chamfered jambs. The north arcade consists of pointed double-chamfered arches with hood-moulds and carved headstops on broad filleted quatrefoil piers featuring water-holding bases, circular plinths and a remarkable series of carved heads, including a bishop, a crowned head, and a signum triciput. The south arcade has pointed double-chamfered arches on octagonal piers with single rings around the lower sections, plain moulded capitals, chamfered bases, and square plinths. A 19th-century pointed double chamfered chancel arch also exists. The nave roof is a 19th-century design, featuring collar, king struts and curved wind-braces. An ornate ashlar and marble font is dated 1860. The north and south aisles were demolished in 1742 and 1774 respectively, and the roof was lowered in 1789.