Scarrington

St John of Beverley

Nottingham Archdeaconry

East Bingham Deanery

Introduction

Scarrington Church was originally a chapel of ease to Orston until 1867.

Built of stone, the building comprises a chancel, a nave of three bays, south aisle, vestry and west tower with octagonal spire, formerly containing three medieval bells, one bearing the arms of the Kempe family (John Kempe was Archbishop of York 1426-52). These were silent for much of the 20th century but restored in 2002, when a fourth bell was added. The bells were augmented to five in 2004 and to six in 2007.

Tower and spire are of the 14th century, the tower rising in two stages. Originally there was a north door in the nave wall, now blocked up. The south arcade is early 14th century, consisting of three wide arches supported by an octagonal column and a circular column. Round the base of each are circular stone benches for the infirm.

Entrance is by a west doorway in the tower. It has a two-light, early Decorated window above it. Elsewhere in the building there are good examples of Decorated square-headed windows. The small font is from 1662. Outside there is a small scratch dial.

The church was in a ruinous state c.1800 when it was repaired, the south aisle removed and the south arcade walled up with bricks. In 1867 the south aisle was rebuilt, the church enlarged, new windows inserted, the ceiling removed, roofs retiled and old pews replaced. The tower and spire were repaired in 1896 and the tower again in 1960.

The chancel arch and reredos are from the late 19th century. In 1960 a glazed oak-framed screen was erected across the tower arch.

Particular thanks to Amy Calladine and Andy Nicholson for research on this entry
and to Geoff Buxton and Dr Chris Brooke for the photographs.