With a name like St Genewys, you would expect this church to be in Wales. It isn't. It is in Scotton, a small village in the depths of the Lincolnshire countryside. Off the main road, it is bypassed by the traffic and you have to want to come here.
No-one seems to know why the church was dedicated to St Genewys. The name is thought to be derived from St Genesius, a 7thC bishop of Clermont Ferrand in France but why a church in in Lincolnshire is named after him is a mystery. There is a portrait of him in the 19thC stained glass window in the north wall of the chancel.
The church stands on the edge of the village, overlooking farmland. It is an attractive building with small square battlemented tower, nave, side aisles and chancel.
The church dates from the 12thC but was extensively rebuilt in the 19thC.
There are dog tooth mouldings around the door. Immediately inside the doorway is the octagonal font which Pevsner describes as “really terrible”. It's a mish mash of styles, but isn't that bad.
It is a rather characterless church with round pillars on the north arcade and octagonal pillars on the south arcade, both with pointed arches above. The church was heavily restored by the Victorians and the fittings are all Victorian. It is unusual as there are two small windows above the chancel arch.
At the end of the south aisle is the 13thC effigy of a cross legged knight in chain mail and wearing a surcoat. His feet rest on a lion and it is thought this could be Robert de Neville who went to Jerusalem in 1290. Against the south wall is a 15thC effigy of a lady in flowing robes with a dog at her feet. This is thought to be another member of the Neville Family, who were Lords of the manor during the Middle Ages.
At the end of the north aisle is the tomb stone of a 15thC priest with his head, shoulders and arms shown in relief in a recessed panel at the head of the stone slab.
When we visited the church was open as local ladies were decorating the church for a wedding. If it is locked, a key can be obtained from the vicarage. There is plenty of parking in the church hall by the church.
The church is well loved and cared for by the parishioners. There is nothing special about it but is worth a quick look if passing.
