St Martin's Church, Stamford, is a

parish church A parish church (or parochial church) in Christianity is the church which acts as the religious centre of a parish. In many parts of the world, especially in rural areas, the parish church may play a significant role in community activities, ...

in the

Church of England The Church of England (C of E) is the established Christian church in England and the mother church of the international Anglican Communion. It traces its history to the Christian church recorded as existing in the Roman province of Britain ...

located in Stamford,

Lincolnshire Lincolnshire (abbreviated Lincs.) is a county in the East Midlands of England, with a long coastline on the North Sea to the east. It borders Norfolk to the south-east, Cambridgeshire to the south, Rutland to the south-west, Leicestershire ...

, England. The area of the town south of the

River Welland The River Welland is a lowland river in the east of England, some long. It drains part of the Midlands eastwards to The Wash. The river rises in the Hothorpe Hills, at Sibbertoft in Northamptonshire, then flows generally northeast to Market ...

was in

Northamptonshire Northamptonshire (; abbreviated Northants.) is a county in the East Midlands of England. In 2015, it had a population of 723,000. The county is administered by two unitary authorities: North Northamptonshire and West Northamptonshire. It is ...

until 1889 and is called Stamford Baron or St Martin's.

History

St Martin's Church was founded by the 12th century. It was entirely rebuilt in the

Perpendicular style Perpendicular Gothic (also Perpendicular, Rectilinear, or Third Pointed) architecture was the third and final style of English Gothic architecture developed in the Kingdom of England during the Late Middle Ages, typified by large windows, four-c ...

in the 15th century. The North Chapel houses the tombs of the Cecil family, including monuments to Sir Richard Cecil, William Cecil, first Lord Burghley, and

John Cecil, 5th Earl of Exeter John Cecil, 5th Earl of Exeter (c. 1648 – 29 August 1700), known as Lord Burghley until 1678, was a British peer and Member of Parliament. He was also known as the Travelling Earl. Life Exeter was the son of John Cecil, 4th Earl of Exeter (162 ...

. The church was restored over the course of the nineteenth century, with a new nave roof, lowered floor, extended Burghley Chapel, as well as new oak pews, bells and organ. Later additions in 1920-30s include a new screen and pulpit with carvings by

Mahomet Thomas Phillips Mahomet Thomas Phillips (1 June 1876 – 7 June 1943) was an English-Congolese sculptor and stone carver. His work features in cathedrals and churches in England and beyond, including in a memorial to Edith Cavell in Peterborough Cathedral, and a ...

while working at Bowman & Sons. The majority of the mediaeval coloured glass was bought by the Earl of Exeter from the Church of the Holy Trinity at

Tattershall Tattershall is a village and civil parish in the East Lindsey district of Lincolnshire, England. It is situated on the A153 Horncastle to Sleaford road, east from the point where that road crosses the River Witham. At its eastern end, Tatters ...

in 1754. Properly it is the Church of St Martin Without, Stamford Baron. Burials include Dutch portrait painter

William Wissing Willem Wissing, known in England as William Wissing (1656 – 10 September 1687), was a Dutch portrait artist who worked in England. He was born in either Amsterdam or The Hague, and studied at The Hague under Willem Doudijns (1630–97) and ...

(1687), in the churchyard, and

Daniel Lambert Daniel Lambert ( 1770 – 1809) was a gaol keeper and animal breeder from Leicester, England, famous for his unusually large size. After serving four years as an apprentice at an engraving and die casting works in Birmingham, he returned ...

(1809), in the detached part of the churchyard.

Organ

The church has an organ by Bevington dating from 1880. A specification of the organ can be found on th
National Pipe Organ Register

List of organists

* John Speechley ???? – 1833, (afterwards organist of St Paul's Church, Bedford, later organist of

Peterborough Cathedral Peterborough Cathedral, properly the Cathedral Church of St Peter, St Paul and St Andrew – also known as Saint Peter's Cathedral in the United Kingdom – is the seat of the Church of England, Anglican Bishop of Peterborough, dedicated to Sain ...

) * Charles C Noble 1833 – 1836 (afterward organist of

St Mary's Church, Nottingham The Church of St Mary the Virgin is the oldest parish churchDomesday Book: A Complete Translation (Penguin Classics) of Nottingham, in Nottinghamshire, England. It is the largest church after the Cathedral in the city of Nottingham. The church ...

) *

Richard Layton Richard is a male given name. It originates, via Old French, from Old Frankish and is a compound of the words descending from Proto-Germanic ''*rīk-'' 'ruler, leader, king' and ''*hardu-'' 'strong, brave, hardy', and it therefore means 'stron ...

1836 – ca. 1846 – ca. 1876 *

John Clare Billing John Clare Billing ARCO (1866–1955) was an organist, composer and writer based in England. Life He was born in 1866 in Stamford, Lincolnshire, and educated at Stamford School. He studied organ with Haydn Keeton at Peterborough Cathedral ...

1918 – 1921 – ???? *Ernest John Charles Warner 1952 – circa 1970Who's who in Music. Fourth Edition. 1962. p. 224 *Graham Johnson *Harold Harvey (Also St Mary's) *Gary Seiling (Also St Mary's) *Fergus Black (Also St Mary's)

References

External links

Stamford Churches

Music at St Martins
{{DEFAULTSORT:Stamford, Saint Martin Church of England church buildings in Lincolnshire 12th-century church buildings in England Grade I listed churches in Lincolnshire Churches in Stamford, Lincolnshire