St Hugh's Church, Sturton by Stow

St Hugh's Church is a redundant parish church in the village of Sturton by Stow in Lincolnshire, England. It was built originally for the residents of the village and was under the demotion of Stow Minster in Stow. It was built originally in 1879 as a mission church[1][2] and this remained the status of the church until its closure in 2022. The church has since been sold and is in private ownership. The nearest church is now Stow Minster.[3]

St Hugh's Church
St Hugh's Church of Avalon, Sturton by Stow
St Hugh's Church, Sturton by Stow
Map
53°18′49″N 0°39′55″W / 53.313595°N 0.665285°W / 53.313595; -0.665285
LocationSturton by Stow, West Lindsey,
CountryEngland
Previous denominationChurch of England
MembershipMission church
Website[1]
History
StatusFormer parish church
DedicationSt Hugh's of Avalon
Dedicated1879
Consecrated1879
Past bishop(s)Christopher Wordsworth
Architecture
Functional statusRedundant
Heritage designationGrade II
DesignatedDecember 1964
Architect(s)John Loughborough Pearson
Architectural typeRed brick
StyleRed brick
Completed1879
Closed2022

Architecture

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The church was built in a red brick style by John Loughborough Pearson, it was built with plain tiled roofs which were decorated with ridge tiles. Additionally, the church also includes a plain tile west gable, double dentillated eaves and the eastern bell turret has a plain tiled base. The wooden slat bell openings, squat lead spire and weathervane. The gable rises above the narthex with a three pointed, cusped, ashlar-dressed lights. The north side has a large, projected stack to west of the building, and two windows to east, have three ashlar-dressed, pointed lights. The north vestry has a plain west wall, the north wall has three ashlar-dressed lights, the central is a taller light and there is an ashlar hood mould. The east wall has a pointed doorway with an ashlar hood mould and a plank door. The church also has a tall, broad apsidal east end with five plain, pointed, ashlar-dressed lights. The south side of chancel and nave with two stage buttresses and three light, pointed, ashlar dressed windows. The south wall of the narthex has a pointed doorway with an ashlar hood mould and a plank door.[4][5]

 
The church in 2005

Present day

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The church was in use between 1879 and closed at some point in the late 2010s-early 2020s. The church was officially sold to a private buyer in January 2022 for a cost of £158,000 which more than the original guide price of £60,000. Its use is currently unknown but the building remains heavily unaltered aside from the removal of all Church-related props and notices.[6]

References

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  1. ^ "MLI96797 - Church of St Hugh of Avalon, Sturton by Stow". heritage-explorer.lincolnshire.gov.uk. Retrieved 21 December 2023.
  2. ^ "Sturton by Stow St Hugh". National Churches Trust. Retrieved 21 December 2023.
  3. ^ "Visit". Welcome to Stow Minster. 25 November 2015. Retrieved 21 December 2023.
  4. ^ Flintham, Jack (21 October 2021). "Inside the iconic Lincolnshire church sold at auction". Lincolnshire Live. Retrieved 21 December 2023.
  5. ^ Historic England. "CHURCH OF ST HUGH OF AVALON, Sturton By Stow (1146772)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 21 December 2023.
  6. ^ "St. Hugh's, Sturton". Welcome to Stow Minster. 25 November 2015. Retrieved 21 December 2023.