The church, which is a small neat structure, was re-built by the before mentioned Joseph Banks, Esquire. It is a donative of exempt jurisdiction.
At the east end of the chancel is a tablet containing this inscription:
“Dedicated to the Memmorie of NEHEMIAH RAWSON, Esq. A Member of this Common Wealth, and a Justice of Peace. Hee Married Frances the Daughter of Thomas Knightley of Brough Hall in the County of Stafford, Esq. By Whoome hee had Issue Six Daughters, Elizabeth Married to Richard Parkes of Lutton, Gent. Hanna to Theophilus Hartt of Birkwood Esq. Abigal to Daniell Hartt of London Grocer, Sarah, Rebecca and Mary, Dyed Younge, he Departed this Life in January 1657. Aged 80 Yeares.”
At the same end is another tablet, with the following inscription, and a shield containing a bend, in the sinister chief three crosses fitchy:
“To the perpetual Memorie of HENRY HOWARD third Son of Thomas Howard Earle of Barkshire by Elizabeth Daughter and heiresse to William Cecill Earle of Exeter his Wife who departed this Life in the XLIIII Yeare of his age in December MDCLXIII.
“This Monument was Dedicated and Erected by his Nephew whom hee made his heir and successor to this Mannor of Revesby and his Lands in Lincolnshire, Craven Howard Son of William Howard who was 4th Son of the Earle and Countesse of Barkshire (before mentioned) in the yeare 1691.”
On the north side of the chancel is a large marble monument, surmounted by the bust of the individual whose memory it perpetuates, and ornamented with a shield containing the arms of Banks, Sable, a cross or, between four flowers de luce argent. This monument contains the following inscription:
“H. S. E.
“JOSEPHUS BANKS Armiger ex antiqua familia apud Bank-Newton, in agro Eborac Oriundus. Juris prudentiæ studio operam dedit illamq. feliciter exercuit.
“In honorem Dei Ecclesiam hanc vetustate collahentem, a solo restituit Vicinium Ptochotrophium in X Senum aut Mancorum subsidium a fundamentis extruxit.
“Bis ad suprema Regni Comitia Senator Grimsbeiæ in Lincolnia, et Totenesiæ in Devonia. Electus, Regi suo et Patriæ utriamque vicem fideliter inservivit.
“Maritus et Pater benignus Amicus sine fuco Pacti et Promissi sui observantissimus Annos LXII. vixit XXVII Septemb. A.D. MDCCXXVII obiit.
“Liberos vidit adultos Josephum et Mariam Quorum hanc Dno Francisco Whichcote Barnto. nuptam, Patre superstite præpropera mors abripuit; Optimo Parenti superstes Ille.
M. H. P. C.”
Near to the church are ten alms-houses, on the centre of the front of which is the following inscription:
“Joseph Banks Esq. Lord of Revesby by his Will Directed the Building of these Almshouses for Ten poor People & Endowed the Same with Fifty pounds a year. He Departed this Life the 27th of Sept. 1727 Leaving Joseph Banks Esq. his only Son Heir who in Pursuance of his Father’s Will erected this Anno 1728.”
In this parish are two tumuli, each about one hundred feet diameter, and about one hundred feet apart, which have been formerly surrounded by a fosse. Dr. Stukeley supposes them to have been either the places of sepulture of two British kings, or places of religious worship. [76]