Ancestry Page

 

Guidance Notes on Historical Documents

 

There are several documents available to view on this website. Please read these guidance notes which explain what each document represents and how to find out more information.

 

Architectural Notes on St Mary’s Church.

 

This gives general points about the history of the building and its architectural features. A full version of these notes is available for purchase at a small cost inside the church.

 

List of Churchyard Monuments.

 

This is a list of names on headstones in the churchyard. It is taken from a register of churchyard monuments. It is not a register of churchyard burials. The survey of churchyard headstones was undertaken in the 1980s and the register includes all names and inscriptions that were legible at the time of the survey. Please note however that since that time some headstones have been relocated to the edge of the churchyard and so may not be in their original position (although they will still be included on the list if the inscription was legible at the time of the survey).

My ancestor’s name appears on the list. If this is the case you can request a copy of the inscription which includes a line drawing of the headstone and any other comment’s noted at the time of the survey. There is a small fee for this based on the Church of England’s schedule of statutory fees. Please contact us at the parish office (details below).

My ancestor’s name is not on the list. If you are looking for an ancestor whose name does not appear on this list it does not necessarily mean that they were not buried in Pinchbeck. The reason could be: a). they were buried in the churchyard but did not have a headstone (quite often the case). b). they were buried in the churchyard and did have a headstone but it was removed before the survey took place or damaged or illegible at the time of the survey. c). They were buried in Pinchbeck Cemetery which is administered by the parish council, not the church.

For a proper search of all burials in the churchyard at St Mary’s you will need to contact the diocesan archivist (details below) because the burial registers are stored safely in the archives in Lincoln.   

 

 

List of persons named on monuments inside the church and on the wall of the South Porch.

 

This is taken from a full inventory of monuments, tombs and inscriptions inside the church, plus a handful on the wall of the south porch.

 

I would like more details about a particular monument or tomb that appears on the list. If this is the case you can request a copy of the inscription which includes a line drawing of the plaque or tomb, a physical description of it and of its location within the church as well as in some cases a note about its historical significance. There is a small fee for this based on the Church of England’s schedule of statutory fees. Please contact us at the parish office (details below).

 

List of the Vicars of Pinchbeck.

This is a list of the known incumbents of the parish dating back to the 12th Century. It is based on a list that was published in 1865.

 

Pinchbeck Heraldry.

This gives information about the shields borne by the angels in the ceiling. The coats of arms are those of the Pinchbeck family and of the various families related to them by marriage. The angels date from c1490 and were restored most recently in 2007. A copy of this is available for purchase in the church.

 

 

For more information on the above or about the history of Pinchbeck Church please contact us at the parish office:

 

The Vicarage, 19 Spalding Road, Pinchbeck, Spalding, PE11 3UD Lincolnshire, United Kingdom.

 

theglenoffice@btinternet.com

 

Telephone 01775 725 698

 

Other useful sources:

 

·      Remembrance of Times Past by Tom Bray, Elsam Cross Printers, Spalding 2005. This is a book of interesting anecdotes and quotes about Pinchbeck in times past. It has plenty of photographs and quotes from original historical documents and stories about incidents and individuals. It might be obtainable at a local bookshop but it is unlikely to be found further afield. Contact us at the parish office and we might be able to obtain a copy for you.

 

·      The Lincolnshire Archives. The diocesan archivist is based at the Lincolnshire Archives: St Rumbold Street, Lincoln LN2 5AB. Phone +44 (0) 1522 525 158 (Search Room), Email:  Lincolnshire_archive@lincolnshire.gov.uk or try their website at www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/archives