Saint Michael and All Angels, Elton

Saint Michael and All Angels, Elton on the Hill lies in the civil parish of Elton on the Hill, and is the smallest village in the parish to have its own church building. The church dates from the 12^th century and further details of its history can be found on the Southwell and Nottingham Church History Project.

A brief history of Elton church

Elton’s small simple Grade II* church, dedicated to St Michael and All Angels, sits in the heart of the village and is clearly visible from Sutton Lane. The church stands well within its surrounding grassed churchyard. Views of the church are particularly pleasing from the courtyard of the recently converted Ridge Farm buildings opposite.
(These buildings won the coveted Harry Johnson Award, for the best conversion within a village setting in Nottinghamshire in 2001).

The church is recorded in the Domesday Survey of 1069. In 1088 Roger de Busti granted the church to the Priory of Blyth. The church is a stone building consisting of a chancel, nave, south porch and a low, embattled tower at the west end. The present 3-stage tower of brickwork, externally stuccoed in imitation of ashlar was rebuilt in 1856. Inside the tower there are two bells. Of the two bells:

1.         Taylor Lo’boro 1850                     Diameter 17.5″
2.         Dated 1702 on the haunch        Diameter 18.5″

This latter bell is evidence that a tower was in existence before the erection of the present one.

For many years Elton church and the Manor’s history were intertwined. The church obviously fell into considerable disrepair during the 16^th Century and early 17^th Century as it is recorded that young elms were growing in the pews. The altar rails that are substantially Jacobean, of pre-Laudian date reflect this period of the church’s history. However, it was not until in the mid 1700s that Elton really came into its own.

In 1707 Elton was purchased by John Collin who married Mary Langford with descendants of this family marrying into the wealthy Launder family. It was the Collin’s, Launder’s and later Norton’s money that saw Elton Manor built by the Adams brothers. Whilst Elton Manor no longer remains, having been demolished in 1934, many of the buildings and structures associated with the Manor, such as the Manor entrance gates, the three Lodge houses, can still be seen around the village as can the many red brick walls and the charming red brick toy fort/gazebo.

Historical evidence of these influential Elton families can be seen in the various memorials, in and around the church. including the Grade II listed Launder tomb in the churchyard to the south of the chancel door.
(See separate sheet for further details)

There is a group of slate headstones in the graveyard along the south side of the nave going back to the latter half of the 18^th Century and early 19^th Century Grade II listed:

1. Rectangular with fine detail and ornate lettering to: Rebecca Mann wife of Thomas Mann d.1769 aged 43
2. Large with shaped head decorative foliage to: Thomas Mann d.1779 aged 52
3. Shaped head, delicate classical detail to: Stephen Mann d. Dec. 22^nd 1789 aged 30 years
4. Shaped top and decorative surround to: Rebecca Mann daughter of Stephen and Jane Mann d.April 11^th 1811 aged 23 years, included for group value.
5. Tall with shaped top and decorative surround of foliage to: Mary wife of John Burrows d.October 5^th l779 in her 58^th year. Also John Burrows d.1780 aged 71 years.
6. Rectangular with simple decoration to: William Burrows d.1780 aged 71 years.
7. Tall with shaped head and classical incised detail to Eleanor wife of Thomas Mann d.1788 aged 32 years.
8. Large, rectangular with classical detail with a small relief carving in head. Inscribed in capitals “Reader! The green sod on which thou stands covers the remains of John Burrows…… …. ” Signed Wood, Bingham
9. Round top with simple decoration to: Mary Gibson relict of John Gibson d.1812. Included for group value.
10. Shaped top with relief carving of trumpeting angel and legend “arise ye dead and come to Judgement” to: John Gibson d.5^th April 1788. Also two sons.

The other two Grade II listed headstones stand at the south-east corner of the chancel:

Two headstones, 1728 and 1703 Slate.

1. Small rectangular stone with round faced winged angel and inscribed in the top corners “BE YE READY” to: Francis son of Nicolas Boot by Ellin his wife d.April 6^th 1728 aged 2 years.
2. A small tapering stone with angled top and with edge moulding inscribed: “Here is buried ye Body of John Chamberling he died January the 25^th 1703 And in the 48^th year………….”

It was during the mid 1700s and 1800s whilst Elton was flourishing that the church was considerably overhauled. The nave formerly had a south arcade that was demolished in 1786 with 3 bays, the arches being of two orders of chamfers with hood moulds. These arches are now built up with 2 large attractive windows that allow the sunlight to gently filter into the church. When the south aisle was destroyed the final bay was built up to house the main entrance doorway, this 14^th Century door was set back under a later porch. The nail head ornament of the capital of one pier projects into the interior of the church. The piers themselves do not show but the arcade was probably of transitional period towards the end of the 12^th Century and a Norman corbel head still remains. There is no chancel arch.

It was between 1855-7 that the church was heavily restored giving it the appearance it has today when the tower was rebuilt and the exterior plastered in imitation ashlar. The porch on the Grange (now a B&B) on the opposite side of Sutton Lane is of a similar style to the current south porch and is thought to have come from the church. The farming family who lived at the Grange for many years know that this porch, described in Thorold’s guide to Nottinghamshire, came into their family from Elton Manor in the mid 1800s around the time Elton church was being heavily restored.

Whilst recently restoring some of the render on the northwest side of the nave the uncovered brickwork revealed evidence of a previous doorway that may have been the location of a second porch. There are references to a porch commonly known as “S. Maries Porch” found e.g. in the will of John Younge who wished to be buried there.

The pointed east stained glass window depicting Paul preaching at Athens is in memory of Robert Weatherall, Rector of Elton 1851-1883 was presented by his widow who also gave an American organ in 1895 (the organ has since been replaced). This window has been inserted into a larger former square headed opening.

On the north side of the nave is a charming small ogee-headed window near the pulpit and another larger 2-light window with geometrical tracery. There have obviously been two of the latter windows as can be seen from the outside but one window has been filled in with no evidence remaining on the inside as the Norton hatchment now covers this area of the northern wall.

The interior of the church is very simple and very much a part of its charm. The Parrs who lived in the Old Rectory, Noel Parr being Elton’s patron, renewed all the oak pews, pulpit and lectern with help from the Player family at Whatton. This work was done towards the middle of the 1900s. A few of the old pew mouldings were kept and incorporated in the new pews, ones that had not been destroyed by woodworm. The simplicity of the pews very much enhances the interior of this small church.

The simple stone font in front of the Vestry probably replaced the previous one when the church was restored in 1909. The size of the church is very much in keeping with the size of the village seating 60 comfortably and 100 if necessary utilising the choir stalls and extra portable seating in the aisle.

There are three hatchments in the church, two hatchments on the south wall of the chancel. One commemorates Frances (died 1822) one of the co-heiresses of Cornelius Launder. The second bears the arms of William Fletcher Norton-Norton and his first wife Ursula, co-heiress of Cornelius Launder. The third hatchment is in the Nave with the arms of William Fletcher Norton-Norton (died 1865) and the impaled arms are those of his second wife Sarah Brisco who had been twice previously married.

Hatchments

The Launder Tomb

Historical evidence of the influential Elton families can be seen in the various memorials, in and around the church, including the Grade II listed Launder tomb in the churchyard to the south of the chancel door described as:

Chest tomb. 1780 Signed W. Stretton, Nottingham The stone chest with “square vase” corners moulded plinth and cap. Slate front panel inscribed in Latin: Dec. 22 1780…….
Margaret Launder aged 50 the wife of A. Collin Launder the Rector of Elton church plus a verse. Sandstone panel on opposite side inscribed to Revd. Abel Collin Launder formerly of Clare hall, Cambridge, rector of this parish 33 years and 49 of Clifton cum Clapton. He died August 29the 1803 in his 78th year. Marble end panels.

The following is a translation of the Latin epitaph on the table tomb of Margaret Launder, wife of A. Collin Launder, died December 22nd 1780.

“If it were right for me to indulge in private grief, as a husband I should be justified in weeping for thee taken away (from me), yet spare your tears, nor let anxiety (an anxious mind) distract you. No one who has lived well dies wretchedly. The honour commonly accorded to you is less than your deserts. So, my wife, thou has gone away (to a place) where goodness will be regarded as real honour. O dear to me, farewell; yet I hope the time will come, when I shall be with thee again if by any means I shall be worthy.”