St Botolph's Church, Helpston

The church here dates back to Norman times, with much of the present structure dating from the 13th century. However, this has been a place of worship for a very long time and Saxon foundations were found in the 1860's during rebuilding work. As with nearby Bainton, the church here is close to the village cross, which dates from the 14th century.   The west tower leads on to an curious short octagonal spire. Some ancient looking gargoyles look out from each side of the tower. Three bells hang here, with at least two of them being made by the Norris family, who ran the nearby Stamford bellfoundry. The first bell in the ring is dated 1671 and was cast by Thomas Norris. This is inscribed "God Save The King". The third bell in the ring is earlier, being dated 1618, This is inscribed with the Latin phrase "Omnia Fiant Ad Gloriam Dei" which translates as Let All Make Praise To God. The second bell was re-cast by Warner of London in 1866. It was, as with the first bell, originally inscribed "God Save The King" as I suspect that this bell was also by Thomas Norris.

Helpston Cambridgeshire