St Helens Church, Willingham Road, Lea

Image: © Jo and Steve Turner Taken: 14 May 2016

Grade I Listed church. Of the first Church, little is known except that it was Early English in Architecture. Of the restored Church handed down to us, the Chancel and Nave appear to be the oldest parts; while the North Aisle dates from 1380 and the Tower from about 1500. In 1849, Sir Charles Anderson was responsible for a major restoration of the Church carried out under the direction of Pearson, the famous architect who later designed Truro Cathedral. The painted pews were removed and replaced by oak ones; the mural monuments were transferred from the Chancel to the North Aisle; a new Chancel Arch, Organ Chamber and South Porch were built. The Church Registers date from 1572. Charlotte, Lady Nelthorpe gave the Clock with quarter chimes in 1814 and it was restored in 1985. The Tower dates from the early 15th Century. In 1553 it contained three bells. Early in the 19th Century, the heaviest of these was sold to Willingham and the remaining two were re-cast into four smaller bells by Harrison, a bell-founder of Barton. In 1882 two more bells were added. In 1935 the bells were re-tuned, quarter turned, and re-hung on a cast iron H. & A. frame by Taylors of Loughborough. The ringing chamber was raised in 1953 to its present position which allowed the ground floor of the Tower to be made into a Choir Vestry. In 1814 Lady Anderson gave an Organ but the Organ you see today, was bought by subscription and opened by Dr. W.H. Monk, organist of York Minster and composer of many hymn tunes, on 30th May 1875. Saint Helen (Helena) was born in Bithynia, later to be known as Helenopolis. The Patronal Feast Day is 18th August.

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