St Michael's Church, Buslingthorpe

St Michael's Church, Buslingthorpe
St Michael's Church, Buslingthorpe, from the northwest
St Michael's Church, Buslingthorpe Location in Lincolnshire
Coordinates: 53°21′08″N 0°22′47″W / 53.3523°N 0.3797°W / 53.3523; -0.3797
OS grid reference	TF 079 852
Location	Buslingthorpe, Lincolnshire
Country	England
Denomination	Anglican
Website	Churches Conservation Trust
History
Dedication	Saint Michael
Architecture
Functional status	Redundant
Heritage designation	Grade II*
Designated	1 November 1966
Architect(s)	A. J. Wilson (restoration and rebuilding)
Architectural type	Church
Style	Gothic, Gothic Revival
Groundbreaking	13th century
Completed	1835
Specifications
Materials	Limestone and brick Slate roofs

St Michael's Church, Buslingthorpe, is a redundant Anglican church in the hamlet of Buslingthorpe, Lincolnshire, England. It has been designated by English Heritage as a Grade II* listed building,^[1] and is under the care of the Churches Conservation Trust.^[2] It stands in an isolated position adjacent to a partly moated farm to the east of the A46 road.^[2][3] The church is notable for two mediaeval monuments to members of the Buslingthorpe family.^[2]

History

The church dates from the 13th century, with alterations and additions in the following century.^[1] In 1835 it was restored and, other than the tower, was rebuilt in brick by A. J. Wilson.^[1][2] The church stands on the site of a deserted mediaeval village.^[2] It was declared redundant in 1984.^[4]

Architecture

Exterior

St Michael's is constructed in coursed limestone rubble and yellow brick, with ashlar dressings. The roofs are in slate, with stone coped gables. Its plan is simple, and consists of a nave, a chancel and a west tower. The tower has two stages, is set on a plinth, and has a pyramidal roof. In the lower stage is a lancet window on the west side. The upper stage contains single-light bell openings with ogee heads on each side. There are three-light windows in the north wall of the nave and at the east end, and two similar windows on the south wall of the nave. The doorway is on the south side, and has a pointed head.^[1]

Interior

All the fittings date from the 19th century, other than the font; this has a re-used octagonal bowl. The east window contains fragments of 14th-century stained glass. One of the monuments to the Buslingthorpe family dates from the late 13th century. It consists of a tomb chest bearing the effigy of a knight, his feet resting on a lion, and his head on a cushion which is supported by angels. He is dressed in chain mail, a helmet and a surcoat. The tomb chest is decorated by a frieze carved with quatrefoils containing shields. The other monument dates from the early 14th century, and consists of a limestone tombstone with an inscription around its edge. It contains a brass showing a knight in chain mail and surcoat, his head resting on a pillow, and his hands holding a heart. It is one of the earliest military brasses in England.^[1]

See also

• List of churches preserved by the Churches Conservation Trust in the East of England

References

1. ^ ^{a b c d e} "Church of St Michael, Buslingthorpe", The National Heritage List for England (English Heritage), 2011, http://list.english-heritage.org.uk/resultsingle.aspx?uid=1359510, retrieved 12 May 2011 
2. ^ ^{a b c d e} St Michael's Church, Buslingthorpe, Lincolnshire, Churches Conservation Trust, http://www.visitchurches.org.uk/Ourchurches/Completelistofchurches/St-Michaels-Church-Buslingthorpe-Lincolnshire/, retrieved 25 March 2011 
3. ^ Buslingthorpe, Streetmap, http://streetmap.co.uk/grid/507837_385188_120, retrieved 7 February 2011 
4. ^ Buslingthorpe: Church History, GENUKI, http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/eng/LIN/Buslingthorpe/#ChurchHistory, retrieved 7 February 2011