LincolnshireSPILSBYStJames(joshholmesPERMISSIONBYEMAIL)2 JoshHolmes

St James

Occupying a prominent position at the crossroads to the town, one cannot fail to be impressed with St James church, with its memorial to the explorer Sir John Franklin, who was born in the town.

Spilsby, Lincolnshire

Oriau agor

Open daily dawn to dusk.

Cyfeiriad

Church Street
Spilsby
Lincolnshire
PE23 5DU

At the west end of the church, on what was the original outer wall of the tower, is a memorial to Sir John Franklin (1786-1847). Franklin served under Admiral Nelson at Trafalgar and from 1834-1845 he was Governor of Van Dieman's Land (Tasmania). He is remembered most for his attempts to find the North West Passage linking the Atlantic and the Pacific oceans.

Nearby is a flag presented to the church by the High Commissioner of Canada on the two hundredth anniversary of his birth.

The Willoughby chapel is a place to remember generations of the Willoughby family. Taken as a whole this is probably the finest collection of medieval monuments in Lincolnshire.

The earliest tomb is of John Willoughby, 2nd Baron (1304-1349). The effigies of John and his wife Joan Rosceline lie under the easternmost window. He is shown in armour with his feet resting on a lion while Joan's feet lie on a lapdog, a symbol of fertility in the medieval period. John fought with the Black Prince at the Battle of Crecy in 1346.

But the finest memorial is that to Katherine, 12th Baroness Willougby d'Eresby, Duchess of Suffolk (died in 1580) and her second husband Richard Bertie. Katherine was the daughter of a Spanish lady in waiting to Catherine of Aragon. She was married at 14 years old to Charles Brandon, Duke of Suffolk. Katherine was a leading Protestant reformer and, following the death of Charles in 1545, it was rumoured that she was the next potential wife for Henry VIII. Instead, she married Richard Bertie. Their son Peregrine became a favourite of Elizabeth I.

Sir Peregrine's tomb, built in 1600, is the last major Willoughby tomb in the chapel and perhaps the first English tomb to feature a standing effigy of the deceased. This impressive monument is made of alabaster and marble and shows Peregrine in armour, his helmet and gauntlets at his feet.

  • Wildlife haven

  • Spectacular stained glass

  • Social heritage stories

  • National heritage here

  • Magnificent memorials

  • Glorious furnishings

  • Fascinating churchyard

  • Famous connections

  • Enchanting atmosphere

  • Captivating architecture

  • Wifi

  • Walkers & cyclists welcome

  • Train station within 250m

  • Space to secure your bike

  • Ramp or level access available on request

  • Parking within 250m

  • On street parking at church

  • Level access to the main areas

  • Dog friendly

  • Café within 500m

  • Café in church

  • Accessible toilets in church

  • Church of England

  • Repair Grant, £10,000, 2009

  • Our Repair Grants funded urgent repair work to help keep churches open.

  • Community Grant, £10,000, 2013

  • Our Community Grants helped churches to install essential facilities such as toilets and kitchens.

Contact information

Other nearby churches

Nederlandse Kerk

City of London, Greater London

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St Michael Cornhill

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The church lies over the remains of the Basilica, the northern most part of the great Roman Forum built in the first century AD.

Eglwys Crist

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