Saint Mary's Stow Church

St. Mary’s Church in Stow is one of the oldest parish churches in England. Founded in the seventh century in what had been the Roman town of Sidnacester, St. Mary’s was originally part of the diocese of Lindsey. It is possible that the church served as a cathedral for this diocese at this time, but lack of surviving documentation means this is unclear. In the tenth century it did become the mother church, or minster, of the diocese of Lincolnshire until Lincoln cathedral was constructed in the eleventh century. The architecture of St. Mary’s Church is a visual history of the styles used in the construction of parish churches over a 500-year period, from pre-Conquest Anglo-Saxon architecture to Gothic. The church’s cruciform plan and portions of the crossing and south transept were constructed around 975 during the time of Bishop Aelfnoth. The nave and chancel were rebuilt in the mid-eleventh and twelfth centuries, respectively. The central tower, supported by Gothic arches, was reconstructed in the early fifteenth century, though the Saxon arches, the tallest in Britain, were kept and enclosed by the later construction. Finally, the chancel and nave were restored the mid-nineteenth century by John Loughborough Pearson, a famous Victorian architect. The church is a Scheduled Ancient Monument, indicating that it is of national importance. St. Mary’s has long suffered from water ingress because of faulty gutters and a leaky lead roof. The building had been insufficiently maintained for years because of limited access to the roof and a lack of funds. Additionally, a pigeon infestation caused large quantities of guano to clog drains and pose heath hazards to conservation volunteers.

2006 World Monuments Watch

St. Mary’s is an active parish church with a small congregation and had limited means to raise substantial funds for conservation. In 2003, WMF secured funds through the Robert W. Wilson Challenge to Conserve Our Heritage to assist St. Mary’s with restoration of the roof, timbers, and drainage systems. Gutters were renewed in the original form of an oak box lined with lead. Existing down pipes were adapted to move water away from the building more efficiently. Pigeon deterrents, including spikes on ledges and light wire mesh, were installed across access ways to prevent the birds from roosting on the building. The small roof hatches were replaced with larger ones to improve safe access to the roof. The belfry clock was repaired, additional security measures were put into place, and a maintenance plan was established to guide ongoing care of the building.

St. Mary’s in Stow is one of Britain’s oldest parish churches and has an important place in the history of Lincolnshire. Its architecture is an interesting collection of styles showing architectural development over some 500 years, including a substantial portion of large Anglo-Saxon remains, which is unusual.