Early in the seventeenth century, the benefice was held by the Rev. James Forrester, who was chaplain to Anne, Queen of James I., and wrote a curious book, entitled “The Marrowe Juice of 260 Scriptures, or Monas-Tessera-Graphica”; printed at the signe of the crowne, in Paul’s churchyard, 1611.
The head of one of our old and distinguished Lincolnshire families, Sir Edward Ascough, presented to the benefice in 1679 and 1685. In 1734, Decimus Reynolds presented, and in 1782 Henry Best, Esq., presented. “Liber Regis.,” s.v., Malvis, alias Maurice, Enderby.
The present owners of the parish are Mrs. Rashdall of London, Mrs. Coltman of Hagnaby, Mr. Holmes of Eastville, and the Rector.
It need hardly be said that the poem, by Miss Ingelow, of Boston, called “The Brides of Mavis Enderby,” has no connection with this parish, being entirely imaginary, except that it is founded on the fact of a high tide on the Lincolnshire coast. It was published in 1849, and Tennyson, the Laureate, much admired it. “Life of Lord Tennyson,” Vol. I., p. 287. The name was chosen as being euphonious.
The Church, dedicated to St. Michael, consists of tower, nave with south aisle, and chancel. The tower is of three stories. In the western wall, above the west door, is a three-light trefoiled perpendicular window, above this a clock, above that a smaller three-light window, similar windows being in all four faces. The sill of the west door is an ancient stone, with the “Runic involuted knot” pattern, which, however, is almost obliterated by the tread of worshippers entering by the door. It is similar to the Runic stone at Miningsby. The church has been restored or rebuilt at various periods. The tower, originally a lofty one, but a large part of which, through decay of the sandstone, had fallen down, was partly rebuilt in 1684, and a lower bell-chamber provided. In 1894 it was again restored, and carried up to its original height. The chancel also was rebuilt to its original length in 1871, and the nave, aisle, and porch were handsomely restored in 1878. There are three bells. On the south interior wall of the tower is an inscription on a tablet, recording that the tower was restored and clock set up in 1894, in memory of four generations of the Ward family, “who were married in 1704, 1728, 1783, 1836, G. Ward, F.S.A. (Rector), W. Sharpe (Churchwarden), their 23rd year of office together, C. Hodgson Fowler (Architect), Edwd. Bowman and Sons (Contractors).”
In the north wall of the nave is a door, two three-light trefoiled windows, with two quatrefoils above. The south aisle consists of three bays, one of the original sandstone pillars still remains in the north corner of the west end, next to the tower wall, where there is also a two-light window behind the font. In the south wall, east of the porch, are two windows of three lights, one of the decorated style, the other perpendicular, both square-headed. The eastern one has coloured glass, by Clayton and Bell, the subjects being—in the centre the annunciation, to the east the angel appearing to Zacharias, to the west the visitation, adapted from the famous picture by Mariotto Albertinelli, in the Academy Gallery, at Florence. The seats are of modern oak, with carved poppy-heads, except one or two ancient ones preserved from an older structure near the tower, and the roof throughout is of red deal. There is a modern oak rood screen, with rood-loft, having standing figures of angels, one on each side, as well as one over the pulpit. These were originally in Louth church. The pulpit and reading desk are of modern oak. The font is octagonal, decorated with plain Ogee arch on each face. The south porch is modern, but having a curious old stoup, the pedestal being a cluster of early English columns, the bowl of a rather later date, in keeping with the carving round the doorway; these have probably been imported from elsewhere. The chancel, entirely modern, has a three-light east window, both the tracery and coloured glass being adapted from a window in Louth church (where the Rector was formerly Curate), the glass being by Clayton and Bell, the tracery by the late Mr. James Fowler of Louth. The subjects are—below, the agony, crucifixion and entombment, and above, the annunciation, with six-winged cherubim on either side. In the south wall are two windows of two lights, with quatrefoil above. On the north is an organ chamber, with low wide arch, and a modern piscina and aumbrey in the wall. The altar cloths are very handsome, the upper cover being crimson plush, decorated with shields, and the cross and scales; the frontals are gifts of various persons, one of Algerian red silk and gold work in three compartments; a second of white silk, worked by Mrs. Clarke, late of Stainsby House, with the Agnus Dei in the centre; the third is of green silk, with very rich embroidery; the fourth, of plain purple velvet, with four bands of darker purple, for the Lent season.
The churchyard cross has been recently restored after the fashion of the Somersby cross, a portion of the shaft being old. There is also a modern sun dial, erected by the present Rector. Fragments of the old tower, and of the Norman sandstone pillars, form ornaments in the Rectory garden.
The present Rectory was built in 1871, the architect being the late Mr. James Fowler, of Louth, it has been added to since that date, and now forms a commodious residence in pretty grounds, and a picturesque situation.
It may be added, as an incident of special interest, that the father of the late Sir John Franklin, the arctic explorer, on retiring from business in Spilsby, bought a portion of ground in this parish, in south field, and built a house, now occupied by Mr. W. R. Cartwright, in which he resided for some years, and in which Sir John Franklin spent his youth.
Some years ago, the Rector found in his garden a silver groat of Philip and Mary, two Nuremberg tokens, and a half-penny of William III.