Saleby: St Margaret’s Church and the medieval churchyard cross

If you choose Saleby for a stay and are interested in church and monument history, St Margaret’s Church offers a particular focus. The church brings together 19th-century architectural history, a knight’s effigy and a brass relief in the chancel, as well as the remains of a medieval churchyard cross. The Sale 281/1 footpath adds a link between Saleby and Thoresthorpe to these themes.

St Margaret’s Church: architecture and furnishings

St Margaret’s Church was built by Stephen Lewin in 1850 and restored in 1958. The two dates mark different stages: 1850 refers to Lewin’s construction of the church, while 1958 marks its later restoration. This distinction helps place the building and restoration in their respective periods.

In the north wall of the chancel, a full-length effigy of a knight in chain mail and a coat of arms stands in a vaulted niche. The term “full-length effigy” makes the form depicted clear: it is the whole figure, not just a portrait of the face. Its position in the north wall and the vaulted niche are two specific features to look out for.

A second memorial lies in the chancel floor: a small brass relief for George Harrington, who died in 1556. Both details are in the chancel, but they differ in material, form and position. The knight appears as a figure in a niche in the wall, while Harrington’s memorial is a small brass relief in the floor. This makes it possible to compare two different forms of remembrance.

The medieval churchyard cross

At St Margaret’s Church are the remains of a medieval standing cross, considered a good example of its type and featuring a rarely carved base. The base and lower part of the limestone shaft survive. The base is square and chamfered, and the shaft is octagonal. An octagonal shaft has eight sides; the chamfering refers to the worked edges of the base. You can trace the change from the square base to the octagonal shaft by looking at their shapes. The cross probably still stands in its original location.

Planning your walk and visit

The Sale 281/1 footpath offers a second perspective with clearly defined endpoints. Described in August 2017, the route connects the southern edge of Saleby with the northern edge of Thoresthorpe. The endpoints refer to the edges of the villages, not their centres. Check current path conditions before including the route in your plans.

For travel planning, these two options are clearly distinct: St Margaret’s Church brings together architectural history and memorials, while Sale 281/1 describes a link between the edges of two villages. This can help you decide whether you are more interested in viewing the monument or following a footpath link.

If you would like to see the details in the chancel, contact the church in advance to ask about a possible visit; you can also obtain further information there.

Discover more destinations: Humberston, Stamford, Waltham, Greatford, Burton Coggles, Great Carlton, South Hykeham, North Killingholme

For the broader travel overview: Lincolnshire.