OUTING TO St. MARY’S CHURCH. TYDD St. GILES

BOn a very pleasant sunny evening the church wardens greeted a small group of members & guests & gave a short talk about the history of the church. Tydd St. Mary was once an important landing place as the outlet for the river Elloe, now known as the Nene. Tydd is thought to take the name from the word ‘tide’ written in the doomsday book as ‘Tid’. The wooden Saxon church was replaced around 1130 by a Norman Church, the large Nave columns and the lower parts of the chancel walls being all that remain of this, the chancel was rebuilt on its earlier foundations in 1320. The tower is one of few 15th century brick built towers in Lincolnshire & stands 55 feet high topped with a spire also 55 feet high. The clock was donated by Harry Banks in 1912. The Lynch Gate was erected in memory of those from the village who gave their lives in the two world wars. The 15th century octagonal font has angels with shields bearing ecclesiastical emblems on each of its sides. After the talk we were able to look around the church & note the alabaster coffin lid of William de Tydd. The east window of the Chancel was restored in 1869 but the tracery windows in the walls on each side are from the early 14th century & there are several wall plaques & monuments to notable residents of Tydd St. Giles. There were five bells originally –a sixth being added by the father of a young man who died in the village. There were registers available to peruse & the healthy amongst us climbed a small circular stairway to the top of the tower. Many photos were taken & tea coffee & biscuits refreshed us whilst the wardens answered many questions. [Barbara Holmes]