Bourne
© Zbigniew Siwik (view gallery)
Bourne Eau is a short river which rises in the town of Bourne in Lincolnshire, England, and flows in an easterly direction to join the River Glen at Tongue End. It is an embanked river, as its normal level is higher than that of the surrounding Fens. It was navigable in the 18th and 19th century, but now forms an important part of the drainage system that enables the surrounding fen land to be used for agriculture. Image cannot be loaded
Bourne
© Zbigniew Siwik (view gallery)
Chapel of Rest , Bourne Cemetery . In 1854 at Bourne, the Burial Board decided to invite a select number of architects to submit plans for two chapels in a single building and a lodge . The design selected by the Burial Board on 15 February 1854 was by Edward Browning, who had recently drawn up plans for a similar cemetery chapel in Stamford. Edward Browning (1816-1882) was the son of the Stamford architect Bryan Browning (1773-1856), who designed Bourne Town Hall . Edward became a successful architect in his own right . There are around 30 Listed buildings attributed to him or associated with him, including the stone bridge erected over the River Welland at Stamford in 1849 . In Bourne, he was chosen from a select list to design a chapel that combined the requirements of the Anglican and the Nonconformist communities . The two chapels are combined in an L-shape . Construction began in July 1854, and the Anglican chapel was consecrated in May 1855. Image cannot be loaded
Bourne
© Zbigniew Siwik (view gallery)
The building we see today is the parish church of St Peter and St Paul, better known locally as Bourne Abbey, and was founded by the Lord of the Manor, Baldwin Fitzgilbert, in the 12th century. It was neither large nor wealthy but it was Norman and impressive and dates from circa 1138. Image cannot be loaded
St Peter and St Paul, Bourne
© Ken Ince (view gallery)
Mention was made of a Christian church in Bourne since as far back as the Domesday survey in 1086. In the early 12th Century there was a great revival in religious thought and action, and this led to the present Bourne Abbey being formed in 1138. In the Middle Ages it is thought that schemes were drawn up to increase the size of the Abbey to be like that of a cathedral. However, this came to nothing and it has been suggested that the Black Death might have been the reason.
The Abbey was home to Arrouasian monks, a sub division of the Augustinians, and was one of only five connected to that order. In 1535 the Abbey was dissolved with the nave being used after that date as the parish church.
The nave is the oldest part of the present structure, dating back to 1138. The church is kept open for visitors and entering the nave through the west door my gut reaction was how impressive it is. It is bright and welcoming, particularly on a gorgeous day like this with sunlight streaming in through the south windows.
In the centre of the Nave is a beautiful brass chandalier, similar to one hanging at nearby Langtoft. This was donated in 1742 by Matthew Clay, in memory of his daughter who passed away at the age of 22.
The font is interesting. The carving around it reads, in a form of Latin shorthand, Image cannot be loaded
