St Peter’s Church

2467 Reviews

Star Travel Rating

4/5

Review type

Things to do

Location

Date of travel

2013

Product name

Product country

Product city

Travelled with

Husband

Reasons for trip

With its very tall and elegant spire, this is often referred to as the “Queen of the Marsh”. It is thought it served as a beacon to sailors.

South Somercotes is a small settlement just off A1031, Grimsby to Mablethorpe road, which isn’t marked on the road atlas. It is rather an uninspiring linear settlement with a small post office but little else. The Church is no longer used and cared for by the Churches Conservation Trust and is always open.

It is a peaceful setting surrounded by a large graveyard with trees and snowdrops. It is built of the local limestone, green sandstone and ironstone with buttressed walls, tiled roof and a small cross at the end of the chancel. The large sturdy west tower is topped by a tall slender spire from 15thC with a weather cock.

Entry is through the south door. Just inside the door is a large old wooden chest still with two of its three padlocks.

Inside it is a huge building with a very wide nave with round pillars with pointed arches separating it from the side aisles. THere are small carved heads at the base of the arches. Above is a beautiful wood roof. The floor is covered with red clay quarry tiles.

The inside is light and airy as the stained glass in the perpendicular windows was lost during bombing in the Second World War and replaced with plain glass. It felt cold and damp inside and there was green algae beginning to grow on the stonework. In the side aisles are two Victorian small cast iron stoves. We wondered how effective they were at keeping the church warm in winter.

The tower has a doorway at the west end and a wooden ladder to the bell loft which still has its three pre-reformation bells.

Along the sides of the aisles are old pews. The nave now has old wooden chairs. At the end of the south aisle is an old stone grave slab in the floor. The north aisle has a marble memorial to Thomas Bennet Freshney 1843-1906 who had been to America where he had been acting as a judge at the Great International Show of Chicago where “in the fulness of his powers and at the height of his honest fame he was suddenly called to rest”.

The font is 15thC an has an octagonal bowl with symbols of the passion carved round it with small heads below. Above is a 15thC cover with the traces of green and red paint.

The Victorian pulpit is beautifully carved and a memorial plate above explains that it was a tribute to Frederick Allen Freshney, Trooper Imperial Light Horse, who was severely wounded at the Battle of Colenso in 1899 and died at Saltfleet in 1906.

There is a beautifully carved rood screen, still with the remains of red and green paint, with a simple cross above.

The chancel has a red and black brick floor with 3 stone gave slabs along the centre. Above is a beautiful wood barrel roof with carved wood bosses above the altar. On either side is a carved angel. One has a harp, the other two pipes.

There is a wooden altar rail with a simple wood table altar with “This do in Remembrance of Me” carved under the top. This is also carved along the base of the east window. On the south wall is a small marble memorial to the Rector of the Parish from 1886-1919.

A nice touch were the flower arrangements in the nave.

Visit website

Silver Travel Advisor

Join the club

Become a member to receive exclusive benefits

Our community is the heart of Silver Travel Advisor, we love nothing more than sharing ideas, inspiration, hints and tips between us.

Come feel the love on a Princess cruise. You’ll enjoy the MedallionClass experience others simply can’t, and it’s exclusively for everyone. Visit incredible destinations and be involved in the best experiences around each one of them.

Experience more with Princess and connect effortlessly with the world around you, spend time away with loved ones, take a moment for yourself, and fall in love with your holiday of a lifetime, every time.

With over 20 years of experience, Wendy Wu Tours has mastered the art of creating exceptional, fully inclusive tours which showcase the very best of each destination.

Each tour is led by a world-class guide, who will highlight the very best of their homeland, and includes authentic cultural experiences so you are not just seeing the sights, but truly immersing yourself in local life.

Say hello to ease at sea. Ambassador’s purpose is simple: they want to inspire every guest to experience authentic cruising, effortlessly and sustainably. Passionate about protecting our oceans and destinations, their ships comply with the highest industry emission standards and there is no single-use plastic on board.

On your voyage, you will receive the warmest of welcomes from the Ambassador community as you sail upon the friendliest ships afloat.

This is a global co-operative co-owned by local partners using real local experts and guides, which supports local communities, environments and wildlife. It offers travellers quirky places to stay, activity holidays and learning experiences. Not In The Guidebooks gets travellers off the beaten track into local culture with day experiences and longer, immersive adventures.

From wild wellness breaks in Wales to painting in Portugal, sustainable adventures in Mauritius to food safaris in Brazil, this is immersive, exciting travel.

Seabourn’s five intimate ships carry guests to the heart of great cities, exclusive yacht harbours and secluded coves around the world, while two new purpose-built expedition ships will combine exhilarating adventures in remote destinations with the sophisticated amenities of the world’s finest resorts at sea.

From the luxury of all suite accommodations to complimentary fine wines and spirits, and a no tipping policy, Seabourn exemplifies the definition of travelling well.