St Vedast's church, Tathwell

Image: © J.Hannan-Briggs Taken: 10 Nov 2011

Grade II* listed. Vedast was a monk in northern France. He is believed to have been born about 450AD and was made the first Bishop of Arras in 499, holding the position until his death in 540. The church at Tathwell was already dedicated to Vedast by 1182 however it is not known why. It is a rare dedication in England. There are known to have been two such dedications in Norfolk in medieval times, but now only one other remains, in Foster Lane, London. In France it is a popular dedication, although the French now abbreviate his name to Vaast. A previous building may have been here in Saxon times as a section of ornamented tenth century grave cover has been found. However, the oldest portion of this building is the base of the tower dating from the 12th century. For reasons unknown the church was largely rebuilt in brick in 1778. The present windows were inserted in 1857 and the south door and porch in 1889. The base of the tower is constructed of local Spilsby Sandstone, often called greenstone because of the colour it becomes with weathering, by which means some of the blocks have deteriorated considerably, especially to the west. The upper tower is of brick in four reducing stages to finish with a battlemented stone capping. The gothic arched western doorway was once the only entrance to the church and it is said the servants from Tathwell Hall would wait in line her to doff caps or curtsey as their employers entered! The doorway is fitted with an outward opening secondary latticed door suspended on long blacksmith-made hinges. The porch is to the design of James Fowler of Louth who reordered the church in 1889. During its construction the foundations of a medieval porch were discovered on the same site. The present porch is timbered with panels of brick noggin and a fluted gable. The words above the entrance “Keep Thy Foot When Thou Goest Into The House Of God” are from Ecclesiastes Ch5 v 1. They can be interpreted as a moral exhortation to walk the way of truth, or advice not to trip on the step! (From guide book)

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