This historic Chapel is now owned by the National Trust
See the National Trust Page for details!
The Services and some maintenance work are organised by
The Friends of Monksthorpe
Monksthorpe Stories
What have you heard? What do you know?
Frequently
stories about Monksthorpe are shared informally
- tales from before our time, - people who lived here,
- BB camps - war time events
as well as more recent memories of restoration, to mention a
few.
Before they are lost forever, we are planning to collect into book form as many stories and memories as possible.
Please help share the stories
Items can be any length from one sentence to about 500 words.
You may like to start your item with: “I like the story about ….”, or “Have you heard that .....”,
or “I
remember when …..”, or “Did you know that …..”
Anything which is of interest to you is likely to be of interest to
others.
Don’t presume others have told us - better repeat than not at all!
Write Items on paper, send email, tell us and let us write them.
We hope to produce the book during 2012.
Items can be sent to:
Bryan and Janet Keyworth 392 Nottingham Rd Newthorpe Notts. NG16 2ED
01773 713 044 bh.keyworth@ntlworld.com
or Harry and Frances Godden 1 Willow Rd New Balderton Newark NG24 3DA
01636 708 055 harryandfrances@care4free.net
Our Next Service
3pm
21st April 2012
Communion Service
For details of the 2011 Flower Festival click on the link below
Monksthorpe Chapel
Chapel from the rear
Contents
Click on the label to see our response to the proposed Triton Knoll Sub Station
Click on the label to see details of the 2011 Flower Festival
Click on the 'label' to view the pictures of the 2009 Flower Festival
Click on the 'label' to view the services planned for the future
Click on the 'label' to view the latest news of the involvement of the National Trust at Monksthorpe including information about access and viewing,
and details of the Cottage Restoration Project at Monksthorpe
Click on the 'label' to read an extract of a History of Monksthorpe and the early Baptists of Lincolnshire
Click on the label to see a list of early ministers and the inscriptions on the graves
Click on the label to see news of visitors to Monksthorpe
Click on the 'label' to see a page of Web Sites that have associations with the Monksthorpe Chapel
This is a page about the historic Monksthorpe Baptist Church in Lincolnshire which is
situated between Spilsby and Burgh-le-Marsh in a remote and secluded spot specially chosen
for its secrecy during times of persecution in the late 1600's.
Travel Directions
From Candlesby on the Lincoln-Skegness Road, turn south and follow the narrow road to
a T
junction. Turn left and immediately straight on along 'No-through Road'. Pass two farms
and when the track narrows, turn right into the tree-lined church drive!
For Sat Nav users, the Post Code is PE23 5PP That
will get you close, within sight of the Sign pointing to the chapel at the end
of the 'No-Through Road'
The Early Baptists
After leaving England as one of the persecuted Separatists, Thomas Helwys returned to
England from the continent in 1612 and founded the first Baptist Church on English soil at
Spittalfields which was then just outside London. By the year 1651, the Baptist cause had
reached Lincolnshire and small groups were meeting for worship. As it was not safe for
them to do so, they met in secrecy. A group formed and met at the 'Preaching Tree' in the
croft of Monksthorpe. They worshipped in the open air while watch was kept from the nearby
trees to give warning of the approach of the King's soldiers. People walked to worship at
Monksthorpe from distances of many miles. There was not a resident congregation at
Monksthorpe which had been chosen for its seclusion. This was at a time when it was not
safe to be other than a member of the established church. Therefore the congregation at
Monksthorpe was always intended to be a non-residential one! But - In 1781 there are
records to show that Monksthorpe had a membership of eighty-one. Since that time numbers
have fluctuated, its very seclusion being a hindrance to numerical prosperity.
The Chapel
When the building was erected in 1701 at a time when acceptance of Dissent
was in the air due to the Toleration Act, there was a suspicion that persecution might
return. Therefore the chapel building was erected in the form of a farmyard barn with a
thatched roof; and an escape hatch above the pulpit so that the preacher might make a
hurried exit on a horse tethered outside should that be necessary! The thatched roof was
replaced with tiles in 1847, when the vestries were also added
The Baptistry
An open air baptistry is in the grounds of Monksthorpe and was also used by the congregation at Burgh-le-Marsh until they had their own baptistry in 1873, which was used for the first time on 2nd March of that year. The congregation at Monksthorpe was formed when it was unsafe to worship within a town and so the congregation of Burgh-le-Marsh met at the Preaching Croft and so were part of the founding of Monksthorpe Baptist Church. The two churches have been linked since formation and this is further detailed in the 'History' Pages!
The baptistry was filled by flooding in water from the dyke behind it! That can't happen now as the water-table is lower than it was due to drainage work.
The baptistry was last used in 1972.
Worship
Regular worship ceased at the chapel in the late 1970's
and the building fell into disrepair. The roots of a large tree to the rear of the
building caused some disturbance to the foundations which has led to one wall having a
substantial list. The offending tree has been removed and a 'hoop-safe' foundation has
been inserted making the building safe again.
The 'Friends of Monksthorpe' worked to bring mains water to the chapel, install a
toilet, new windows and other repair work to allow the chapel to be used for worship
again. Seven or eight services are held each year, dates found by clicking on the Dates of future
Services
'button'
above.
When the National Trust took ownership they completely refurbished the chapel and it is now close to the standard when it was extensively repaired and balcony and vestries added in 1847.
Although it is in an isolated position we have good congregations attending. More
than a hundred at the harvest service is quite usual!
This is a chapel of great historical significance. Monksthorpe has its roots in the early
days of the Baptists, it developed from the South Marsh Church which met in secrecy during
times of persecution, and was one of the churches known to Thomas Grantham, an important
early Baptist who was born in the neighbouring village of Halton Holegate.
Part of the agreement with the National Trust is that we Baptists will
continue to hold our services there each year and they will be organised by the 'Friends
of Monksthorpe' who will act as the congregation and membership of the church.
Friends of Monksthorpe
This organisation was formed in order to help to save
this very historic chapel, to raise some funds in order to help with the
preservation and restoration and the on-going running of the chapel. As stated
earlier, the 'Friends' act as the members of the church and as such are
responsible for some running costs, organising services, buying hymn books,
cleaning and some maintenance of the grounds etc.
We have a dedicated small team who help with grass mowing and chapel cleaning etc. We are also needing to provide some of the reserve funds which will be used by the Trust for future maintenance work. Therefore we are seeking new members of the Friends of Monksthorpe - for a minimum of £5 per year ( you are allowed to give more!) you receive newsletters from time to time and have the joy of knowing that you are helping to preserve some important Baptist History, a part of history that is still active!
Cheques may be sent to 'Friends of Monksthorpe'
c/o Revd. Bryan H Keyworth
392 Nottingham Road
Newthorpe
Nottingham
NG16 2ED
01773 713044
This site is maintained by the Rev. Bryan Keyworth, who lives in Newthorpe, Nottingham
and is the Secretary of Friends of Monksthorpe
Email Me -Click Here! If you have any comments, I would love to hear from you!
You may make a direct link to the National Trust
Click below!
