In the latter part of the 17th century another family, the Webberley’s of Addlethorpe, resided at East Kirkby. They intermarried with the Amcotts family, now represented by Colonel Cracroft Amcotts, of Hackthorne Hall, Lincoln. John Webberly, who was born here, was a strong partizan of Charles I., in his contentions with the Parliament. He did not die for his King on the field of battle like his compatriot Hallam, possibly of Bolingbroke (see “Notes” on Bolingbroke); but his support of the King, and his religious opinions (Socinian), subjected him to persecution, and, in 1648, to much suffering from imprisonment. He was afterwards expelled from Lincoln College, Oxford. (Weir’s History, Ed. 1828, vol. i. p. 415).
The church, dedicated to St. Nicholas, is pronounced by Mr. Jeans to be “one of the most interesting in this district, though sadly patched with brick, and defaced with ugly windows.” It is no longer used for services, a small modern church having been recently erected more conveniently near the village. The varied colouring of the edifice, from the combination of grey-green crumbling sandstone, with the red tone of the bricks, surrounded as it is also by lofty trees, render it a pleasing study for the artist, but its decayed condition inspires the fear that, unless tenderly dealt with, this interesting relic, may soon go to decay. It is to be hoped in the interest of archæology that this may be averted.
The original Saxon church was mostly replaced by a later fabric, but now ancient, of the 14th century. It consists of nave, aisles, chancel and tower, having two bells; this tower probably dating from early in the 13th century, occupies an unusual position, being attached to the south aisle towards the west end of it. Its lower storey forms a groined porch, having a head of the Saviour, rather rudely carved, as the central top of the vault. It has some early features, especially the window in its eastern face, but, we quote the late Precentor Venables, in a description given by him on the visit of the Architectural Society in 1894. Like the rest of the fabric, it has been patched and repaired at various periods, and most of the remains are debased. The battlemented upper storey is Perpendicular, the fabric generally being Decorated, of the 14th century. Of the windows, however, there are few surviving of that period, the west being the most noticeable. It is of two lights, beautifully designed, the mask heads of the hood moulding being remnants of an earlier style. The side windows, both of nave and chancel, were square-headed. One remains, to the west of the tower, portions of others remaining among modern degradations. The eastern windows of both aisles have flamboyant tracery, but now blocked and partly destroyed. The blocked arch of an entrance to a north chantry which has been removed, is seen in the north aisle wall. It must have been filled in at an early date, as the window inserted is of the Tudor period. The piscina of this chantry altar, with a square basin, is still to be seen outside the church. In the north wall of the chancel, a small two-light window is worth attention as an excellent example of the purest Decorated. The south chancel wall has three-light windows, with segmental heads and super-mullioned tracery of Perpendicular date; one of these has been removed to form a poor east window, in place of a good 14th century window, destroyed a few years ago. The eastern gable is surmounted by a good cross and saddle stone. The windows of the south aisle are of the meanest type. There is an arcade of four bays, with Decorated arches supported on very slender octagonal piers, which are too tall and slender, and which drive up the arches too high. The moulded brackets which serve as responds, being elaborately moulded, deserve notice. The roofs are very poor, being of a later period; one of the beams bears the date 1583. The chancel arch has been decapitated and blocked by boarding, but the rood-screen below is an unusually good specimen of Perpendicular. It has five bays, the centre being double the width of the others, and having still its panelled doors. It is 12ft. 4in. wide, and nearly 18ft. high. [129] (Dr. Mansel Sympson, “Architect. S. Journ.,” 1890, p. 209).
Parts of the parclose which formerly enclosed the chantries at the ends of the aisles, still remain. The Silkstone chantry on the south retains its decorated trefoil piscina.
In the floor of the south aisle is an incised slab, commemorative of Sir Robert Silkstone, the builder of the chantry and church. The late Bishop Trollope’s rendering of the Latin inscription, which is somewhat defaced, the slab being broken into four pieces, is as follows:—“Here is buried Sir Robert Silkstone. He erected this church and chantry. He departed hence in 1347, and on the 14th of June lost his life. To whom may God ever grant rest in Heaven. Amen.” The tradition is that he died an untimely death, if not by his own hand. (“Linc. N. & Q.,” 1896, p. 50).
The old oak seating remains at the west end, and there are fragments, scattered about, of other screen-work. In the north wall of the chancel is a narrow trefoil-headed recess, thought by some to be an Easter sepulchre; it has a curious carved panel, with three kneeling figures, supposed to be the three Maries, each holding a heart. The recess is an aumbrey, intended for the Host. The projecting basin, which Mr. Bloxam thought was a receptacle for “creeping silver,” is a piscina and the so-called carved “hearts” are boxes for spice. This portion of the service of the Mass is referred to by Barnaby Googe (1570), in the lines:—
“While frankincense and sweet perfume
Before the shrine they burn.”
The font is a good sample of Perpendicular, having a panelled octagonal bowl, supported on a panelled shaft, standing on a platform of steps; the panels contain heads and flowers. There are fragments of old stained glass scattered about the windows, and old encaustic tiles in the floor. A St. Edmund’s penny was found some years ago on the north side of the church, which the late Vicar, the Rev. G. Maughan, pronounced to have been issued before A.D. 905. Not far distant, in the year 1899, on some cottages being pulled down, there were found some fragments of dog-tooth pattern, and portions of columns and capitals, which are supposed to have come originally from Revesby; these are now in the garden of Mr. T. Coltman, at Hagnaby Priory.
The chantry on the north side of the church formerly existing, was called the Jesus Chapel. Here was buried William Goodrick, father of the Bishop of Ely, at his own request, by his will dated 20 March, 1517, to be buried “in the chapell of Jhus in my p’ysh church of Saint Nicholas.” [131] “On the viij. Kal. Nov., 1344, Robert de Silkestone presented” Thomas West, of Mucton, priest, to this chantry (then newly founded), and on Kal. June 1346, he presented “Rob., son of John Fowler, of Mithingsby, priest, to the same chantry.” (“Linc. N. & Q,” 1896, p. 51, note).