RINGSTEAD & DENFORD
RINGSTEAD : CHURCH OF ST MARY
Church Post Code NN14 4DH
Open to Visitors
It was late July in 2025; a Sunday morning with no church commitments for myself and the chance to travel, spending the first part of the day in Northamptonshire, where I had a full English breakfast at Stanwick with the congregation as they prepared for a café church service, before moving on to the church of St Mary at Ringsted and then on to neighbouring Holy Trinity at Denford where I had arranged to attend a service; this being a church that I had never been inside before.
Arriving at Ringstead with a full stomach I found the church open with preparations being made for that morning’s service. In previous visits here over the years I have never found this church closed.
The village here was first documented in 1124 and recorded a population of 1371 at the time of the 2021 census, with the church of St Mary to be found central but a little off to the south of the village. We are close to the furthest reaches of the churches covered by my sites to the south west of Peterborough; with Peterborough itself around 23 miles away. Kettering is roughly 11 miles away to the west and Thrapston three miles off to the north,
Local legend states that the church grounds here are haunted by the ghost of local girl Lydia Atley who disappeared in 1850. She was heavily pregnant with the child of local butcher William Weekley Ball; with the two overheard arguing on the night of her disappearance. A skeleton was found 14 years later outside the village; with Ball being tried but acquitted as it could not be confirmed that the skeleton was that of Lydia.
The church of St Mary, or to give it it’s full name the church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, that we see today consists of west tower with spire, nave with north aisle and north chapel, north and south porches and chancel.
The church dates back to the 12th century with much of the present structure dating from the mid 13th century with the west tower nave and north arcade dating from that period. The chancel was rebuilt; with chantry chapel running alongside to the north. During the 14th century the chancel was extended and the north wall of the aisle was rebuilt.
There was obviously some wealth here in the past with a chantry chapel being funded by rich benefactors who would set up a chapel within the church, with full time paid clergy who would be paid to pray for the souls of the benefactors and their families to lessen the time that they had to spend in purgatory in those Catholic pre reformation days.
The north and south porches are each medieval additions and it is thought that at one point in time the main entrance was from the south.
During the early 1860’s it was suggested that the church here might be pulled down and replaced but that idea was discounted and a full restoration took place soon after instead. In the mid 20th century the north wall of the chancel was in danger of collapse and rods were used to tie the north and south walls together!
There is a ring of six bells here, with all of these originally having been cast by Matthew and Henry Bagley of Chacombe Northants in 1682. The first and the fourth of the ring were recast by Gillet and Johnstone of Croydon in 1914 with the original inscriptions included.
The first of the ring has the inscription ‘CANTAT DOMINO CANTICUM NOVUM’ which translates as ‘Sing to the Lord a new song’ which is the opening line from Psalm 96. The second reads ‘Henry Bagley Made Mee’ with the third reading ‘God Save Thee O King’. The fourth of the ring is inscribed ‘Matthew Bagley Made Mee’ with the fifth having the names Thomas Lilleyman and Thomas Farey who were the church wardens of the day. The sixth reads ‘I to the church call the living and I to the grave do summon all’.
The church grounds are quite tight here, and there are a few trees around, making this a difficult church to shoot externally. Taking a look at the exterior, the church itself stands on slightly raised ground.
The west tower is of two stages, with the lower stage having a very tall slim lancet window; the church clock looks out to the north. A tall octagonal broach spire rises up from the tower with three tiers of gabled lucarne windows; with this dominating the landscape across the field to the south. Fond memories of a previous trip here back in 2013; late on in the day on a warm and humid summer evening, with the church spire standing proud with a blood red setting sun alongside.
A grotesque beast looks out; or possibly not as it appears to be asleep, with wild hair and crudely fashioned teeth. The chancel is impressive with fine five light east window and three, three light windows to the south wall.
The visitor enters from the north, up three steps; the church open sign was up and there was a welcome banner over the door of the north porch. A friendly welcoming space, we were good to go! Moving inside it was fairly bright and welcoming, with the lack of stained glass helping in that respect. The welcome received from the ladies setting up was also first rate!
The north arcade here is of five bays, with quatrefoil piers and pointed arches which contain bands of ironstone. Moving in to the chancel there is a three bay chancel arcade, which leads in to what was the chantry chapel; no masses have been said or sung here since the reformation with the central bay now housing the church organ and the east end being used as the verstry.
The east window is of five lights and is of clear glass with intricate tracery. As mentioned earlier, the church here was restored thorough in the 1860’s but there are still medieval survivals to be seen. Against the south wall of the chancel, in its traditional position, is the triple sedilia, the seating for the priests during the Mass. Each of the three seats is enclosed within an ogee headed arch and all of the seats are on one level; unlike some which are graduated with the seats rising the further they go towards the east. To the east of the sedilia is the piscina in which the Holy Vessels used during the Mass would be washed. This also included the almost obligatory bottle of hand sanitiser; a common sight since covid reopening. Unusually, to the east of this are two small aumbry, cupboards in which the Holy Vessels used in the Mass would be stored. These would normally be seen against the north wall.
Looking back to the west the tower arch is slim and elegant, with the single tall lancet window on the west wall of the tower standing out through it; what a pleasant sight this must be late on in a summer evening with the setting sun shining through it. A very large ladder leads up to the bell tower, inspiring vertigo even from thirty yards away.
While I was looking around the interior and chatting to the ladies preparing for service one of them said to make sure that I saw the carved heads in the south porch. The internal door to the south porch is always closed and entry to the church is through the north porch so this is not something that I had seen inside in previous visits. Opening up and moving inside, this turned out to be the highlight of the whole church for me. Moving inside there is a delightful ribbed vaulted ceiling, with each rib ending in a delightfully rustic carved head.
This is a lovely church, both in terms of architecture and in what this church stands for in the community. Open and welcoming for anyone who wishes to enter; memories of an earlier visit when someone walked past and saw me with the camera; saying, ‘Have you been inside, you are welcome to take a look around if you wish’. This is the type of church that would have been hurt badly by having to close during the covid lockdowns; seeing an open church as an important Christian witness. It was time to move on, just a short distance north to Denford where their morning service was due to start in half an hour or so.
DENFORD : CHURCH OF HOLY TRINITY
Church Post Code NN14 4ED
Closed to visitors
Leaving Ringstead we headed off the short distance north to Denford, where I had arranged to attend a service at the church of the Holy Trinity. The church here is normally closed to visitors and this was the first time that I had seen inside after visiting here a few times previously over the years.
By the time that we arrived the clouds had closed in and there was a light drizzle falling; which was unusual in this record breaking hot dry summer. The church was already open with a couple of people inside preparing for what was to come. A warm friendly welcome and it wasn’t long before the kettle was on!
Denford can be found set alongside the south bank of the River Nene; and recorded a population of 285 in the 2021 census. Fond memories of a visit here some years previously on a glorious summer’s day back in 2013; looking at the spire of Holy Trinity set against the river, spending a little time with the ducks who appeared to have mastered the art of relaxation.
The church of Holy Trinity is set back a little from the busy main road which runs through the village; central but offset slightly to the west of the village. It is built on a man made mound which gives it some protection from flooding.
There was a church mentioned here at the time of the Domesday Survey in 1086, but the church that we see today dates back to the mid to late 13th century, with this later structure thought to stand on the site of the former. The present structure consists of west tower with spire, nave with north and south aisles and clerestories, south porch and chancel.
Most of the present structure dates from the 13th century, with two periods of building during the mid and late 13th century, with the clerestory added during the 14th century. The lower stage of the tower is suggested to be early 13th century with the upper stage from later that same century.
At one point in time there was a north chapel here, the foundations for which were uncovered during Victorian restoration. This was taken down at some point after the Reformation but was still standing in 1556 with mention made of it in a will at that time.
The four light east window dates from the 15th century. There were two periods of Victorian restoration here, with the first in 1864 and the second being in 1897 when the tower and spire were restored.
Taking as look at the church from the south my reaction was that this is a church of pleasing proportions, set in spacious and well maintained grounds. It was also peaceful on this Sunday morning despite the relatively close proximity of the main road leading towards Thrapston.
The tower is of two stages, buttressed and pinnacled, with frieze running across the top which has ancient carvings which include an owl, a bear and two human heads which appear to be joined together. The church clock in the traditional colours of blue and gold faces out from the south. Many but not all church clocks are of these colours and this refers historically to a decree made by Henry VIII that they should be ‘blew with the signs upon them gilt’ which refers in turn to Exodus Chapter 39 where God commanded Moses that Aaron’s priestly vestments should be made up using those colours.
A two light window can be found on all four sides of the tower, with each being flanked by blind arches. A fine octagonal broach spire rises up from the tower. The clerestory is in the form of four two light square headed windows. The chancel is long and attractive with ironstone banding. The wasps nest in the tracery of a south window appears to be a modern construction.
A series of finely carved gargoyles greet the visitor making their way in from the south. A grimacing toothless figure with beard and moustache is depicted with eyes looking off in different directions. Close by a mouth puller, who appears to have had its hands restored, is in need of dental work.
These carvings are of different ages, with one ancient figure; vaguely human is probably the kindest description, looks out through sightless eyes, its mouth being a large hole where the downspout would have gone. We also see a green man, with close by a further figure in anguish, with lichen encrusted eyes and hands up against ears.
There are six bells in the ring herewith the first being cast in 1629 by Thomas Norris of the Stamford bellfoundry. This bell is inscribed ‘Thomas Norris Cast Me 1629’ with, as is often the case with bells from this foundry, the letters ‘N’ and ‘S’ are reversed. The second is dated 1581 and was cast by Robert Mot, who was an active founder between 1570 and 1606 and is associated with the foundation of the Whitechapel Bellfoundry in 1570, which ran continually until its closure in 2017.
As is the case at Ringstead, there are bells here from Matthew and Henry Bagley of Chalcomb in Northamptonshire; four in total giving us the ring of six, with all dated 1680. Matthew has his name inscribed on the third of the ring and Henry on the fourth. The fifth of the ring has the names Bryan Sutton and Richard Burges who were the churchwardens of the day with the sixth inscribed Sr Edward Reade Baron Knight who would have donated these four bells.
The ring of six from the Bagley’s at Ringstead were dated two years after the bells here; fascinating to think back to when the wardens from Ringstead came over to hear these new bells; were obviously impressed with what they heard, with an order placed accordingly.
Moving inside, it was bright and welcoming inside, even on a dull day. The congregation were friendly and one of the ladies kindly showed me around pointing out a few points of interest
Walls are whitewashed and there is little in the way of stained glass here, which helps in that respect. A red carpet runs throughout the nave and up to the high altar. The north and south arcades are each of four bays with quatrefoil piers and capitals. Fittings appear to be from the Victorian restoration. The eastern end of the north aisle is screened off and I assume that this forms the vestry and apparently there is a blocked doorway in there which would have led to the demolished north chapel.
Moving in to the long chancel there are stalls against the north and south walls; with four against the north wall and two to the south. The stalls against the north wall are of great interest as they also have acoustic sound holes, which had unglazed ceramic pottery inside them which was said to improve acoustics and reduce echo. These were uncovered during the restoration. Fairly crudely carved human heads peer out from between the arches.
The east window is of four lights with tinted glass which would have cast coloured shadows throughout the nave early on a sunny morning. The hand of the Victorian restorer is visible throughout the interior but the piscina, set in to the south wall of the chancel is a medieval survivor.
The only stained glass in this church can be found in the east window of the south aisle; with this featuring 16th century roundels featuring Bible scenes and a couple of 17th century rectangular panels depicting saints. The roundels are of great interest, depicted in grisaille, shades of grey and black, but with gold highlighting. We see the nativity, with the wise men presenting their gifts in front of the Virgin and child. Close by we see the parable of the Good Samaritan, with the Samaritan paying for the care of his sworn enemy the Jew.
We also see Jesus sitting at a table with sinners and tax collectors; the Pharisees looking on in judgement from a distance ‘It is not the healthy who need a doctor but the sick’ (Luke Chapter 5 verse 31).
We also see the infant Jesus shown with orange nimbus; one hand raised in blessing and holding a globe and also a depiction of Paul, who is easily identifiable with receding hairline and holding a sword point downwards.
The east end of the south aisle is set up with an altar and the presence of a medieval piscina against the south wall indicates that the Mass in pre reformation days was given from both the chancel and south lady chapel.
Out in the church grounds there are a couple of gravestones just still legible from the late 17th century. A table tomb, decorated in quatrefoil designs, which has its own Grade II Listing, which suggests that this dates from the 16th century.
It was great to be able to see inside the church here after so many years and to attend a service here; with a friendly welcome from those present on the day. Well worth taking a look at if you are can and the TDI Churches benefice office was helpful in arranging the visit, for which I was grateful.
It was time to move on; as we headed for the fourth church of the day, at Hargrave across the field to the south east. The weather was deteriorating, the rain was now coming down fairly steadily and an early finish looked on the cards.
And to complete this look at Holy Trinity Denford, a few shots from previous visits. The two long distance shots are from the summer of 2013 with the three at the bottom being taken late on in the evening on a glorious August evening.
