Haugham is a tiny settlement of a few houses and farms just off the A16 south of Louth. It’s church tower can be seen poking above the trees for miles.
The church is at the end of a green lane and the church is surrounded by yew trees and a large conifer. Seen from the lane it is feels a dark and gloomy place. Once in the churchyard, to the south of the church there are views across the rolling Lincolnshire Wolds and it is warm in the sunshine. This is the best place for photographs.
The spire soaring above the square tower draws the eyes upwards with its flying buttresses and pinnacles and a weather cock at the top. It is supposed to be modelled on the spire of the older St James’ church in Louth.
The nave and chancel are long and low with a parapet and more pinnacles. Round the top of the tower and at the ends of nave and chancel is an attractive open carved stone frieze. There are more pinnacles on the south porch and a carved stone cross above the door.
Inside, the church is rather uninspiring Victorian. There is a Royal coat of arms of Queen Victoria above the low chancel arch. On either side are boards with the ten commandments.
There are two box pews at the front left side of the nave which probably belonged to the Eve and Cartwright families. Behind are much simpler pews with slat backs which wouldn’t have been very comfortable during long sermons.
Above the box pews is a stained glass window with a representation of Holman Hunt’s ‘Christ, Light of the World’ and beside it ‘Christ the Good Shepherd’.
There are old gravestones down the centre of the nave floor. Above is a wooden beam roof with the ends of the beams resting on bases covered with white plaster vine leaves.
There is a simple wooden pulpit, font at the back and memorials to local gentry on the walls. These include one to Lt Col Henry Anton who was related to the Cartwright family. He was briefly Governor of Gambia but died young in 1871 and was buried at sea.
The chancel is plain with a choir stall on the right and small organ on the left. There is an open carved altar rail with a simple wood table covered with a cloth and crucifix and candle sticks.
Above is a modern stained glass window in shades of brown and yellow with some blues. In the centre is Christ carrying the cross. On the left is a rock, representing St Peter. On the right is St Paul.
The church as rebuilt in 1840 on the site of an earlier church. The congregation numbered just 111. It was paid for by the vicar, Reverend George Chaplin who came from a land owning family with 25.000 acre estate covering all of Haugham. His memorial stone is above the doorway into the tower.
We were a bit disappointed by the inside of the church. It lacked the wow factor and is a fairly average Victorian church. There is no parking near the church and we had to park on the verge by the junction to the settlement. This isn’t one we’d bother to go back to.
No longer in use, the church is looked after by the Churches Conservation Trust and is always open.
