Guide to St Mary's Church - Page 1
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 DOOMESDAY SURVEY LISTS A CHURCH & PRIEST IN FRAMPTON IN 1086 AD. 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.
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