Sempringham Church

My blog on grave cleaning on Monday reminded me of another church that we visited back in the summer.  It is called St Andrew's, Sempringham and we found it by accident.  We were just coming back from somewhere, I forget where now, when we saw signs to this church.  It is  not too far from us. Just past the village of  Pointon and before you reach Billingborough.  Sempringham was a hamlet that was mentioned in the Doomsday book.

Anyway we saw an old sign pointing up a track seemingly into a field which said Sempringhma church and something about a princess. We were intrigued as there was no sign of a church. We decided to investigate so headed up the bumpy track. Once around the first bend we caught our first glimpse of a church in the distance. It is the most lovely place. It is actually nearly 1 mile along this track before you arrive at the church. It is an idyllic spot, so peaceful. It is surrounded by fields. I have posted a Google map on Google Plus which will show you the location.

This is part of the track.

The church is the church of St Andrew and it is a Norman church. It is built adjacent to the site of the old St Mary's Priory founded by the crippled priest St. Gilbert in about 1139 The priory was destroyed in 1558. The church was originally larger but a Norman chancel and transept were taken down in 1788 after becoming dilapidated, leaving the tower unusually at the east end of the building. A priest's door was also removed and in 1899, the arch was returned and incorporated into a new porch that was designed to protect the original Norman door, a project that was carried out to mark Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee in 1897. It is a very pretty church. Unfortunately we were unable to get inside. They do have a service there about once a month and it is also possible to arrange to meet someone there with the key so you can see inside. We had planned to do that but I guess it is something for next year now.

The other claim to fame is the link to the mediaeval Princess Gwenllian, daughter of Llewellyn, the last true-born Prince of Wales, and the only grand-daughter of Simon de Montfort. She was held captive here for more than half a century. Gwenllian was born at Abergwyngregyn in Wales on 12th June 1282 but when she was only 17 months old, Edward 1, fearing that she was a threat to himself, wrote to the prior and prioress at Sempringham, the Gilbertian Abbey asking them to admit her to the order and habit.

Gwenllian died on 7th June 1337 after 54 years of virtual imprisonment by the order.

In 1993 a stone and slate memorial was erected as a tribute to the princess. It was financed by the Princess Gwenllian Society of Wales. Apparently it is regularly visited by Welsh pilgrims and was even blessed by the Bishop of Bangor.

The history of this place is just amazing. Trying to picture it back in the days of the imprisoned princess is hard. It would have been very isolated back then. As we stood looking up at it and then looking round at the surrounding countryside we tried to imagine the lives of the people that would have worshipped there. Imagine..... they had to trudge over a mile from the main road along a dirt track in all weathers. Probably a lot further as there is little housing nearby. Amazing.

Phyllis and Cindy you would just love this place.

Ok, off to do some jobs now.