St Helen's Church, Selston

St Helen's Church, Selston
St Helen's Church viewed from the south-east
St Helen's Church, Selston
53°04′30″N 1°19′02″W / 53.0749°N 1.3173°W / 53.0749; -1.3173
DenominationChurch of England
ChurchmanshipBroad Church
Websitewww.sthelensandstmarys.co.uk
History
DedicationSt Helen
Administration
ProvinceProvince of York
DioceseDiocese of Southwell and Nottingham
ParishSelston
Clergy
VicarRevd Dr Lee Gordon

St Helen's Church, Selston is a parish church in the Church of England in the village of Selston, Nottinghamshire. It is part of the Diocese of Southwell and Nottingham.

The church is a Grade II* listed building[1] due to its significant medieval architecture and historical importance to the region.

History

The church dates back to the medieval period, though it underwent a major restoration in 1899 which included the addition of a north aisle.[1][2]

The site may have pre-Christian significance; a monolith located in the churchyard is similar to those found in Derbyshire stone circles, suggesting the site was used for worship before the current church was built. The churchyard is also the resting place of Daniel Boswell, known as the "King of the Gypsies."[3]

Parish and daughter churches

St Helen's serves as the parish church for Selston and has a daughter church, St Mary's Church, Westwood.

Organ

The church houses an organ built by Henry Groves in 2010. A full specification of the instrument is maintained by the National Pipe Organ Register.[4]

List of incumbents

The following is a list of the vicars and incumbents of St Helen's. Before 1344, the church was led by Rectors; after the church was appropriated by Beauvale Priory, the church was served by Vicars.

Year Name Notes
1176 Adam Earliest recorded incumbent.
1244 Roger del Clay
1252 Verasour de Wansley Also known as John le Vavasur; served as Rector for 35 years.
1287 John de Gateyford
1290 Robert de Gateyford
1310 Thomas de Hothum
1321 William de Ilkeston
1322 John de Kendale
1324 William de Leston
1339 William de Ros
1344 John Dell Hill de Panvil The first Vicar, following the church's grant to Beauvale Priory.
1344 John de Arnale
1363 John Sheperly
1363 Henry Barton
1434 John Eyswayte
1434 Richard Twigge
1446 Richard Holt
1456 John Day
1483 John Derman
1490 John Wilson
1525 Rd. Martyn Served prior to the Dissolution of the Monasteries.
1550 Nicholas Walker
1575 Thomas Taylor
1605 Thomas Mylner
1611 George Longden
1614 Peter Parote
1615 Franc Stephenson
1621 William Williamson
1624 Thomas Bowcher
1631 Henry Denham
1650 Samuel Sildon
1653 Charles Jackson Ejected in 1662 following the Act of Uniformity 1662.
1662 William Pearson
1669 Nicholas Sore
1669 Robert Hettcliffe
1713 J. Cooper Had served as Curate since 1699.
1754 Anthony Carr
1805 I. Pepper
1838 F. Churchill
1843 J. Hides
1855 George Frederick Williamson
1856 Robert John William Wright
1887 Charles Harrison Oversaw the major Victorian restoration of the church in 1899.
1916 Richard Dudley Weller
1924 Philip H. Hart
1929 Palmer Allison Sharp
1936 Henry Wright Schofield
1945 Edward Frederick H. Dunnicliffe Previously Vicar of All Saints' Church, Nottingham.
1949 Hugh Bickersteth Biddell
1956 Gerald Nettleton Pearce
1962 Hubert Victor Simmons
1978 John Frederick Jacklin
1996 Robert White Yule
2001 Timothy Mitchell
2006 Fiona Shouler First female incumbent of the parish.
2023 Dr Lee Gordon

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Historic England. "CHURCH OF ST HELEN, CHURCH LANE (1275170)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 4 January 2014.
  2. ^ Pevsner, Nikolaus (1979). Nottinghamshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England). Penguin. p. 305. ISBN 978-0300096361.
  3. ^ Churches in the Ashfield Area. Ashfield District Council
  4. ^ "NPOR [E01864]". National Pipe Organ Register. British Institute of Organ Studies. Retrieved 19 March 2015.
  • Media related to St Helen's Church, Selston at Wikimedia Commons
  • Official Parish Website