He into dust dissolves, she into tears - a visit to the Norman church at Stragglethorpe Lincolnshire

[@OkieJammer2736]

Your videos make the viewer feel we're there with you, hearing the acoustics, even smelling the ancient stone and wood. Very appreciated.

[@elizabethmcglothlin5406]

He into dust dissolves, she into tears. That moved me to tears, having outlived a beloved and complicated husband.

[@generalkenobi5533]

Being American, where even extraordinarily old buildings in historic places on the east coast only date to the 17th century, it's absolutely insane to see a church where you can still worship that dates back to the Norman era. Britain is staggeringly historically rich. Thanks so much for sharing these incredible places with us.

[@allanbarton]

It is my pleasure - it is such a great privilege to have access to them and a delight to share them with you.

[@Kevin-mx1vi]

You should visit us and see it first hand. You can find amazing architectural treasures and churches such as this one almost anywhere there's good farming land and which has hence been settled for a very long time.

[@bethena1855]

I loved this tour. I do like the smaller churches and their feeling of intimacy. Very poignant memorial verse which reveals the humanity of someone from the past and that we can relate to today. Thanks for sharing.

[@allanbarton]

It is very relateable isn't it - these intimate churches are on a human scale, sometimes the larger churches are just not.

[@Elon54321]

🥳. Fantastic video thanx muchly.. This church was built for my ancestors.. sadly no males survived to pass it down 😢 We lost the lot including stragglethorpe hall.. tho word has it the only female survivor did marry a man from Denby hall and she was rather vexed at being unable to keep her family hall she actually stripped stragglethorpe of it's entire contents including the staircase 😂 I'm an earls Richard was best friends with the then king.. A town named after him in Ireland.. I learned all info from the EARLS chronicles.. P.s the door key is huge black iron and is kept at the last small cottage down the lane.. 😇

[@cathystillman-lowe972]

It is a lovely little gem of a church. I feel aware when church visiting that the dead speak eloquently of social & economic inequalities, of those with rank and status - and those without. Seeing monuments in the chancel makes me feel uneasy - thinking that these people have "bought" their way into the most holy part of the church. While outside, seeing chest tombs jostling each other to be as close to the church (and chancel) as possible (Ewelme is a good example), reminds me that these belonged to the "haves" of their time, not the have nots, whose graves would not be marked at all. Churches hold so many layers of meaning, so many kinds of loveliness (like wood silvered with age); no wonder visiting them offers an infinite variety of experiences!

[@allanbarton]

So much of history is the history of the wealthy - they leave a mark behind where the poor do not. I often think that in these churches untouched by the Victorians you can feel the presence of people of all social situations much more, you can see where they sat. Sometimes you see hat pegs above the box pews, somehow such details make their presence more immediate.

[@petermuller3530]

Man darf aber auch nicht vergessen, die Wohlhabenden haben zum Unterhalt der Kirche beigetragen.

[@cathystillman-lowe972]

@@petermuller3530 An excellent point, thank you. I translated your reply as "One must not forget, however, that the wealthy contributed to the upkeep of the church." I had overlooked that key fact completely!

[@mavisemberson8737]

It is no use lamenting things which are past. each age has it''s inequalities,. We are all equal in death and the Last Judgement No pockets in shrouds, as they used to say

[@julieannscotia7632]

Lovely church! Thank you. I very much enjoyed this video. I was brought to tears over the monument of the son by his mother. Thank you.

[@balesjo]

A wonderful tour of a lovely little medieval church that continues to have a life in the community. So interesting to see that those that passed through over the centuries simply left their marks along with those of centuries past, creating a wonderful time capsule of English life as the church moved from Roman Catholic to Protestant in the 16th century.

[@allanbarton]

Layers and layers of history that creates as rich tapestry.

[@annettewillis2797]

I was so moved by the inscription where a mother laments the loss of her son. St Michael's is such an interesting, jewel of a church with so many elements intact. I really enjoy your tours of these small churches. There is so much lived history on display.Wonderful.

[@allanbarton]

A full set of photos from the last time I was in Stragglethorpe church in 2010. www.flickr.com/photos/vitrearum/albums/72157624283117615

[@4sstg]

Such a little treasure, and the inscription made me weep. Love to Teddy❤

[@allanbarton]

Me too! Of so poignant and it was lovely to have my son with me.

[@jennyhunter9346]

A few years ago I set myself a project to visit all the cathedrals in the UK. As I was pottering around the country I came across so many small village churches with equally fascinating stories that I added them to my list. Obviously I’ve never managed to see as many as I would like which is why I appreciate you posts so much. Thank-you for doing so much research and legwork on my behalf and presenting these videos so well. 🤗😘

[@allanbarton]

My pleasure.

[@susanross1651]

What a lovely sweet little church, & such a sad monument to a mother’s love & heartbreak.

[@nrowland5094]

Such an incredible place to worship. Thank you so much for thd tour and history. Beautiful.

[@allanbarton]

I'm so glad you enjoyed it, it is a very beautiful and peaceful place.

[@CincinSea]

I am in southwest Florida in the aftermath of hurricane Ian and we don’t have power but just got data and it’s just really wonderful watching your beautiful church videos! Thank you! It’s a break for a short time in the middle of utter devastation

[@allanbarton]

God bless you, I hope you are all safe.

[@havingalook2]

I'm so grateful to see this. I am going there this August (2024) . I am going to St. Helen at Brant Broughton but Stragglethorpe is only 1.5 miles away and they say you must see both. Many thanks

[@newportshapwick]

I've never seen a church with a ceiling! But in such a humble place, such a tale of desperate loss.

[@markuslangguth7315]

Thanks a lot for the tour of that beautiful small church. It is really a sad story about the mother laying to rest her young son and such seeing the end of their family line.

[@christineholbrook1107]

Thankyou for guiding us around this beautiful small church . Its amazing that so much has survived. I'm from NZ and adore British history.x

[@allanbarton]

Glad you enjoyed it, we are so blessed to have so much surviving, but so much has been lost.

[@leannesmith3480]

I will have to refer to your lovely videos if I ever get the chance to visit England again and see these churches.

[@YorkistRaven]

Thank you, this was a very touching video and the poem is the sword thrust to the heart. Very effective memorial, I would say. 💔

[@dianespears6057]

I love the church tours. Thank you.

[@martinwarner1178]

Lovely video, I pass Stragglethorpe, visiting family, so thank you for this tip off, to see this church. Peace be unto you.

[@allanbarton]

Glad you enjoyed the video, hope you do get to visit the church!

[@thenomadrhodes]

Britain is so ancient and full of mystery and lore. Its just beautiful. I do so wish to tour it some day. Thank you for these videos.

[@kevinchambers1101]

I've decided to watch this again on the first day of the new year 2023. All of these are wonderful programs.

[@allanbarton]

Thank you very much, glad you're enjoying my videos!

[@darkestbeforedon914]

Thank you thank you for showing this

[@imsunk5813]

Loved the tour you gave and I’ll certainly look out for mass dials in future. I had no idea they existed. I did go off on a bit of a tangent trying to find the cause of death of Richard Earl in 1697 at such a young age. No luck up to now, just references to his death itself no explanation. Mortality rates were so high, it could have been anything. I’d be really interested to find out.

[@allanbarton]

Me too - let me know if you do find anything. So many people died young and each one was a personal tragedy for the family - his monument almost represents them all.

[@scotzer]

Thanks!

[@Xanaseb]

Many thanks for pointing out the Mass dial! Will keep a look out now

[@allanbarton]

Once you've seen one, you'll spot hundreds.

[@toniblackmore3016]

That inscription! The forlorn sadness reaches through the centuries to where parents hide their greatest fear.

[@allanbarton]

It is seeing things like this that make you realise these were real people who had hopes and dreams and who felt pain like we do. Often tragedy seems so removed, but not in this case - it is immediate and raw.

[@woodmason]

How beautiful and how touching

[@rhiannonpoole6019]

Thank you so much, you've set me off researching again, this time on mass dials, how fascinating, That was a lovely inscription, very moving and you read it beautifully,

[@allanbarton]

Glad you enjoyed it 😊

[@JonathanLight1]

Amazing church. Should have checked if the bells still work 😊

[@annlindsaywright3169]

😢such a beautiful peaceful little church, so much to see, worth it just for the monument. Please continue your tours of these beautiful small places of worship.

[@allanbarton]

Thanks Ann, it is a wonderful, peaceful place and the monument is very sad. I will keep going with these, it is great that people like them.

[@stuartfisher8419]

Love this interior and especially love Richard Earl’s tablet. Absolutely stunning.

[@calamityjenn]

That is a beautiful little church. It must be lovely lit up by candlelight.

[@allanbarton]

It would be amazing.

[@davidthemod4729]

That was very enjoyable. Thank you and hello from NZ.

[@allanbarton]

Good morning (here anyway) and thank you.

[@bryaneast2513]

I was very interested to see this video and hear the history. I was vicar of St Peter's, Humberston, North East Lincolnshire for thirteen years - I am now retired. Another historic church with a monument to Matthew Humberston. It is believed a church could have existed on or near the site from the 700s. The present church tower dates from about 1470/80 with the nave and sanctuary being rebuilt 1720/22 by Matthew Humberston (apparently he adopted the name of Humberston). Also, the present building was the abbey church, a monastery having been erected possibly as early as the 1100s but the history that far back is somewhat hazy. Humberston is mentioned in the Dooms Day records. I thought this might be of interest to you. Rev Bryan East.

[@allanbarton]

Dear Father, How lovely to see your comment. I grew up in Tetney and know Humberston church very well, in fact, my grandparents' and great-grandparents' ashes are buried there. The local churches are where my interest in all of these things began, I was always fascinated as a child by the remains of the little abbey there - the ice house (which turned out to be a slype) and by bishop Alnwick's account of the monks' misdemeanors. Somewhere I have a copy of Tailby's excavation report from the late 60s with photos of the stone coffins found in front of the long-lost high altar. I believe we may have met some years ago at St Augustine's Grimsby, - it was at one of the late Fr Stephen Jones' jamborees for the Assumption, I think. I was newly ordained and then curate in Louth.

[@Nana-vi4rd]

In your videos exploring the different churches I have noticed that what you call the Communion table, here in the U.S we call the Alter. Is there some history I don't know about behind this difference? I would love to know. Truly enjoy all your videos, I am so glad I came across them. Thank you each and everyone of your uploads and I hope you continue doing these as well as the Historical ones as well.

[@michaelhealy1590]

It would be very interesting to see the flat ceiling removed to reveal a vaulted roof that would open up the church to its original simple beauty.

[@aib0160]

I wonder if the church started to fall apart in the 17th century and at that time the reinforced the gable, replaced the tops of the internal arches and installed the internal ceiling? Would the area beyond the arches have been where the confessional booth/box would have been pre-reformation?

[@Wosiewose]

What are the red-white-and-blue hanging objects - I'm guessing bell pulls?

[@allanbarton]

Yes they are the bell ropes.

[@torcal47]

Allan - What was the purpose of the box pews? I can imagine people carrying in hot rocks for foot warmers during the winter.

[@alhilford2345]

The boxes were reserved for the wealthy, those who paid extra, so that they need not be too close to the poor, dirty peasants.

[@allanbarton]

They were basically intended to help deal with draughts in these freezing buildings. Each family in a village would pay an annual rent for one, the more you paid the better the pew. Sometimes the posher ones have fireplaces in them. If you were too poor to rent one you often had to make do with backless benches places at the back of the church.

[@ceebvlog5988]

I love ur voice

[@allanbarton]

Thank you.

[@ChrisIrish-op7ui]

My father,grandfather grandmother buried in the churchyard to the left of the entry path. Grandad and grandmother were servants at the hall living in rooms to the right as approach the hall. Grandad was a carpenter amongst other duties and I was told he carved the altar rails. I have made many visits over the years from childhood and this video particularly poignant on Remembrance Day

[@dorothywarren1441]

Fascinating. So much local history of real people in our churches.

[@marierowe5969]

A wonderful church .but I feel it's sadness

[@WudEvZ]

What is the statue that is placed in the late Saxon early Norman buttress on the outside? @1:27 never seen that before

[@allanbarton]

It's an image of St Michael, the patron of the church.

[@WudEvZ]

@@allanbarton Ty! So the Roman statue on the side of this church is very alarming I guess! 0_0 kzbin.info/www/bejne/nqK7ZpeHm8aJoJY

[@THINKincessantly]

Was that “drum font” possibly the original pillar base that the post reformation arches attempted to replace?

[@allanbarton]

I think it was made bespoke - it has a simple charm.

[@leahnichol6665]

Is the drum font a baptismal font?

[@petermuller3530]

Man kann es als historisches Gebäude nicht besser haben, als in England zu sein. In diesem Land hat man ein Gefühl für die eigene Vergangenheit.

[@tfSmudge]

😥👏🏻👏🏼👏🏽🇬🇧🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@VynylFantasy]

Hey Allan, I recently subscribed to your magazine about a week ago or so, by the way I’m incredibly excited by the endeavor, but I’m wondering when to expect my first issue in the mail?

[@allanbarton]

Thank you very much for the subscription. As you’ve subscribed in February, your first payment will be on the 1st of March and then you will receive the March issue as your first issue. We send them out around the 7th of each month, it can take a week for UK post to arrive and two, sometimes three for overseas. After the first month things then roll forward. I do hope you enjoy it when it arrives, I really enjoy writing and designing it.

[@lianefehrle9921]

13:10 I wonder how he passed away

[@karenfieker7329]

Is this church still used for services?

[@allanbarton]

I believe it is, though lots of rural churches in Lincolnshire have services once a month or so.

[@asseyez-vous6492]

Was that an ancient Norman gas fire? 😉

[@allanbarton]

😂almost certainly.

[@philiproseel3506]

Amazing, and poignant.

[@diane8885]

Thank you so much.

[@allanbarton]

You are very welcome.