Just to let you know this church will be appearing in the near future (as of August 2011) in the regular Then & Now feature in the Grimsby Telegraph Friday edition, or in the monthy Bygones failing that.

I am the person who has been doing this column since 2006, and have finally got round to using this subject. I am using an old postcard view of the church.

I was interested to find there is a group at this church (?) exploring the topic of psychic issues in a Christian context. Now THAT interests me, since most Christians have only a narrow outlook on the Bible and their understanding of life. I am a Christian, but also an esotericist. What I knew before is in many ways only peanuts compared to what I know now. From an esoteric standpoint, the 6-pointed Hexagram, the so-called Star of David, is a very ancient symbol of God and His people, as is the 5-pointed Pentagram. These are rightly to be considered holy and sacred. The “Christian” cross does not compare with them, although it itself has become sacred over the centuries merely by Christian usage and the power of association.

Cant add anything to the history of the church-except that my grandarents were married there!

The Initiate Star a.k.a.The Six Pointed Star a.k.a The Star of David is a powerful, sacred and holy symbol………………………………….

The mandala of the hexagram, also known as the “Star of David” is much older than Judaism, older even than history! As an archetypal symbol for the sacred union of the opposite energies, it is the “yin-yang” of western civilization. [edit - Rod]

I’ll certainly be adding information to this page as and when possible Jenny

I’m off to take a look at your pictures now
Best wishes
Rod

We visited Lincolnshire for the first time a couple of weeks ago for a short break. The main reason for the visit was to see the seals at Donna Nook - which were wonderful.
I have recently started researching my family tree and discovered that my father’s family originally came from Lincolnshire - in particular from South Somercotes. The earliest record I have found is of William Stubbs, my 7 Gts Grandfather, who was married in S Somercotes in 1683, and died there in 1695. Consequently we took the opportunity of visiting the villages/churches. I tramped around the churchyards, more in hope than expectation, looking for family gravestones without much luck, but found it very interesting, and quite evocative to visit churches where my forebears had been baptised, married and buried.
I found S Peters very interesting, and I also noticed the cupboard pictured above. I noticed a gravestone with the Star of David carved on it in one of the churchyards I visited - I think it was Grainthorpe - but have no idea of the reason for it. You mention that S Peters is referred to as S Marys in some places. I think the answer can be found in the Churches Conservation Trust leaflet available at the church. In the History section it explains that in 1585 there was a union with the church at N Somercotes, which is called S Marys, and a clerical error was made in 1681 when the Rev Charles Wolley was presented with both livings on consecutive days, and from that time until 1940 the church at N Somercotes was known as S Peters. Confusing!

You say that you hope to visit all churches in Lincs, and were amazed at how long that list was. We come from Northamptonshire - known as the County of “Squires & Spires” - but we commented on the number, and size of the churches in the area. There also appear to be/have been, at least one chapel in each village too. In addition to S Somercotes, we visited Grainthorpe - not open, unfortunately, Marshchapel - very beautiful, and felt ‘loved’, and St Botolphs - now just a shell, and very atmospheric. N Somercotes was clsoed, and as it was blowing a gale we gave it a miss. I wish you luck in achieving your ambition!

I understand that the population of the area was decimated by the Plague. I have not been able to find out much about this, but would be interested to find out.

If you, or any of your readers, know anything about the history of the Stubbs family in the N & S Somercotes area I would be very interested. I understand that the Stubbs family still farm in the area.

Regards

Jenny

Thanks for taking the time to share a comment Amy
All the best
Rod