ST LAURENCE, NORWELL
Norwell church is surprisingly large, seating about 400 people; this reflects its historic relationship with Southwell Minster. There have been three prebendaries or canons of Norwell since the thirteenth century; some of them were rich and important and contributed to enlarging the church.
The Domesday Book mentions a priest in Nortwelle in 1086 but the earliest substantial part of the existing church building is the late 12th century south doorway. There is evidence that the nave and chancel were built in the late 12th century and additions, including two transepts and the clerestory, made between the 13th and 15th centuries. The main stone of the church is skerry (dolomitic sandstone), possibly quarried in nearby Maplebeck.
The dilapidated chancel was restored in 1857 and the rest of the church in 1874 by Ewan Christian, but many earlier features remain.
Points of historic interest include a 13th century aumbry, two 14th century effigies, a rood stairway, an impressive 15th century clerestory and two windows with 20th century glass by Kempe. In the churchyard are three 17th century headstones and an interesting sundial.
Just to the south of the church is a moat which marks the site of Overhall Manor. This belonged to the Prebendary of Overhall and was besieged in the Civil War.
This is a very quiet part of the County and, if you drive from Cromwell across the busy East Coast mainline towards Norwell the church is one of the first buildings that you will see. Please take time to have a look at the size of the church, it really is out of context with all of those in the surrounding villages.
**************************************
For full information on how you can expand the Church Micro series by sadexploration please read the Place your own Church Micro page before you contact him at churchmicro@gmail.com.
See also the Church Micro Statistics and Home pages for further information about the series.
*************************************