Morton was originally a small village on the edge of the older and larger settlement of Gainsborough. With the rapid growth in population in the areas in the C19th, it was created a separate parish in 1846.
A site for a church at Morton was given by Sir Henry Hickman Bacon of Gainsborough Old Hall and Lord of the Manor of Gainsborough. The newly built church was soon too small for the ever increasing population. A public meeting was held in 1890 and it was agreed to rebuild and expand the church and a subscription list was opened.
Sir Hickman Bacon, of Gainsborough Old Hall, was a generous benefactor and offered to double the amount of money raised, which came to £850. Ultimately he ended up funding most of the cost of the church which came to more than £10,000. His memorial can be seen on the side of the chancel arch.
Only the tower of the original church survived.
Sir Hickman Bacon certainly got his moneys worth. It is a large and impressive church both outside and in. It succeeds in feeling both traditional but also modern, with its clear lines and stylish apprearance.
Opening the door it immediately feels warm welcoming and well loved church. When built, it was described as the ‘finest example of a parish church in Lincolnshire’, with its painted ceiling and its ten stained glass windows designed by Burne Jones and executed by William Morris. No other church has an amny examples of their work.
The arcade of octagonal pillars and pointed arches separates nave and side aisles. The opened carved rood screen is topped by the figure of Christ on the Cross with the Virgin Mary and St John.
The painted nave ceiling has panels with the Ten Commandments.
The brightly coloured embroidered kneelers were worked by church members for the Millennium project.
Immediately inside the west door are two brass memorials in memory of people from the parish who died in both World Wars. The small memorial on the left commemorates 100 years since the loss of life of seven soldiers from the Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry who were drowned while training in Gainsborough in 1915.
Also at the back is the black Frosterley marble font with its elaborately carved canopy which is raised by metal chains and pulleys.
Next to the pulpit is a smaller modern font.
Four of the Burne Jones windows are in the south aisle. Each has a small information card by them. At the back is a window dedicated to the memory of Rev Danks who was vicar when the church was built. It has images of St Germanicus, Christ as the Lamb of God and St Nicholas.
The second window is in memory of Cyril German Danks who was a lieutenant in the Manchester Regiment and was wounded during the Boer War. It has images of St Martin, St Edmund and St George.
The third window has images of Bishop Grossette, Bishop Hugh and King Alfred and is in the memory of Francis Hickman who died in 1829.
Next to it is the window in memory of Sir Henry Hickman Bacon. This has St Paul preaching on Mars Hill in Athens.
Opposite it in the north aisle is a window depicting the stoning of St Stephen.
There was no information about the window next to this, either in the church or in the guide book.
A carved wood rood screen separates the chancel from the nave. The carpet was designed and made by William Morris. On the south wall are a sedilia and piscina. The east window depicts the Adoration of the Shepherds.
The window on the north wall of the chancel depicts the Saints Barnabus, Peter, Paul and Stephen and is in memory of John Edward Sanders who funded most of the building of the earlier church.
Also in the chancel is the organ with its brightly coloured organ case.
On the south side of the chancel and separated by an open carved screen is the chapel dedicated to St Hugh of Lincoln.
This is at the end of the south aisle and has an iron screen across the front. High on the wall above the altar is a carving of St Hugh of Lincoln with his swan.
The window on the south wall of the four evangelists is in memory of Sir Henry Hickman Bacon.
The church really is a delight. It is normally kept locked although visits can be arranged through the parish office of All Saint’s Church in Gainsborough. It is well worth making the effort to visit.
website
A site for a church at Morton was given by Sir Henry Hickman Bacon of Gainsborough Old Hall and Lord of the Manor of Gainsborough. The newly built church was soon too small for the ever increasing population. A public meeting was held in 1890 and it was agreed to rebuild and expand the church and a subscription list was opened.
Sir Hickman Bacon, of Gainsborough Old Hall, was a generous benefactor and offered to double the amount of money raised, which came to £850. Ultimately he ended up funding most of the cost of the church which came to more than £10,000. His memorial can be seen on the side of the chancel arch.
Only the tower of the original church survived.
Sir Hickman Bacon certainly got his moneys worth. It is a large and impressive church both outside and in. It succeeds in feeling both traditional but also modern, with its clear lines and stylish apprearance.
Opening the door it immediately feels warm welcoming and well loved church. When built, it was described as the ‘finest example of a parish church in Lincolnshire’, with its painted ceiling and its ten stained glass windows designed by Burne Jones and executed by William Morris. No other church has an amny examples of their work.
The arcade of octagonal pillars and pointed arches separates nave and side aisles. The opened carved rood screen is topped by the figure of Christ on the Cross with the Virgin Mary and St John.
The painted nave ceiling has panels with the Ten Commandments.
The brightly coloured embroidered kneelers were worked by church members for the Millennium project.
Immediately inside the west door are two brass memorials in memory of people from the parish who died in both World Wars. The small memorial on the left commemorates 100 years since the loss of life of seven soldiers from the Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry who were drowned while training in Gainsborough in 1915.
Also at the back is the black Frosterley marble font with its elaborately carved canopy which is raised by metal chains and pulleys.
Next to the pulpit is a smaller modern font.
Four of the Burne Jones windows are in the south aisle. Each has a small information card by them. At the back is a window dedicated to the memory of Rev Danks who was vicar when the church was built. It has images of St Germanicus, Christ as the Lamb of God and St Nicholas.
The second window is in memory of Cyril German Danks who was a lieutenant in the Manchester Regiment and was wounded during the Boer War. It has images of St Martin, St Edmund and St George.
The third window has images of Bishop Grossette, Bishop Hugh and King Alfred and is in the memory of Francis Hickman who died in 1829.
Next to it is the window in memory of Sir Henry Hickman Bacon. This has St Paul preaching on Mars Hill in Athens.
Opposite it in the north aisle is a window depicting the stoning of St Stephen.
There was no information about the window next to this, either in the church or in the guide book.
A carved wood rood screen separates the chancel from the nave. The carpet was designed and made by William Morris. On the south wall are a sedilia and piscina. The east window depicts the Adoration of the Shepherds.
The window on the north wall of the chancel depicts the Saints Barnabus, Peter, Paul and Stephen and is in memory of John Edward Sanders who funded most of the building of the earlier church.
Also in the chancel is the organ with its brightly coloured organ case.
On the south side of the chancel and separated by an open carved screen is the chapel dedicated to St Hugh of Lincoln.
This is at the end of the south aisle and has an iron screen across the front. High on the wall above the altar is a carving of St Hugh of Lincoln with his swan.
The window on the south wall of the four evangelists is in memory of Sir Henry Hickman Bacon.
The church really is a delight. It is normally kept locked although visits can be arranged through the parish office of All Saint’s Church in Gainsborough. It is well worth making the effort to visit.
website