For this church:

Introduction

Location

History

Archaeology

Contacts

Fittings

Glass

Organ

Bells

Clock

Stonework

Monuments

War Memorial

Churchyard

References

Pictures

Plans

Listing Description

List of Incumbents

Bilsthorpe
St Margaret

Features and Fittings

The Altar

A modern oak framework.

Reredos

An elaborate carved and painted timber work of unknown origin. There is an unsubstantiated local belief that it was painted by the daughter of the 20th century rector, the Rev W H Hunt, but is more reasonably a product of the 1873 restoration. It carries the following inscription:

Piscina

A chamfered 13th century piscina is in the south wall of the chancel.

Credence table

Between the piscina and the reredos, believed to have been created from two pieces of a shaft of the Early English chancel arch, found in the wall demolished to allow the building of the organ chamber in 1873. Described as 15th century.

Altar Rails

Installed in 1959.

The Font

Cylindrical, consisting of three stones, the upper two being described in 1820 as ‘modern’, but in 1912 as ‘early Norman’. The plinth with zig zag ornamentation, designated as Norman by Pevsner, has attracted wide interest and has produced the suggestion that it is of pre-Conquest origin and perhaps part of the earlier preaching cross. The font is considered to be 12th century with an earlier base. A modern wooden cover carries the words:

The Pulpit

Pulpit

LectErn

Octagonal, of mainly 19th century structure, but with a section of 17th century work. 

The Lectern

The oak carved eagle lectern was donated in 1948 in memory of those from the parish who gave their lives in the Second World War.

Choir Stalls

There are three 19th century stalls and a 20th century rear stall, all chamfered. The rear stall was given in memory of Mrs Kathleen Tordoff in 1967.

The Litany Desks

A small desk and chair stand in the chancel, by the south wall. An accompanying plate carries the inscription:

A second larger desk and chair stand near the southern end of the chancel arch and were installed in 1963 in memory of Mr William Maskrey.

The Samaritan Guild desk (in the Tower Vestry) and the Sanctuary Lamp were given in memory of Robert Hoggett, who lost his life in a mining accident in 1962.

Benefactions Board

On the south wall is the following:

Benefaction to the Parish of Bilsthorpe Miss Ann Benson, daughter of the Revd Thomas Benson, formerly Rector of Bilsthorpe, died in the year 1846 and left, by will, a legacy of £100 to be invest- ed in “Government securities” in the names of the Minister and the Churchward ens of the Parish of Bilsthorpe for the time being; the interest thereof to be distributed among the poor of the Parish of Bilsthorpe, in December, at the discretion of the Minister and Churchwardens. This tablet was erected by order of William Ashmore   } Churchwardens William Hage   April 1849

Vestry Screen

The screen to the Tower Vestry was installed in 1944.