BELTON : CHURCH OF ST PETER & ST PAUL
The church is in the grounds of Belton House
Open to visitors
I visited the church of St Peter & St Paul at Belton in the summer of 2025; this being a revisit, having previously visited here back in the summer of 2016, whilst staying in a bed and breakfast at Grantham, this being part of a five day cycling tour of churches in the area. Fond memories of my previous visit here and also fond memories of the cheese scone at the restaurant at Belton House that day; this being without doubt the finest that I have ever eaten!
Belton can be found on the A607, around four miles north of Grantham, with the village, along with neighbouring Manthorpe recording a population of 508 at the time of the census of 2021. Belton is dominated by Belton House, a Grade I Listed country house which was built between 1685 and 1687 by John Brownlow, 3rd Baronet.
The Roman town of Ancaster is a few miles away across the fields to the north east and Ermine Street, a major Roman road some two miles away to the east. There was a church here at the time of the Domesday Survey in 1086, but nothing remains of that early structure.
Belton has an interesting history; there was a battle fought to the south of Belton Park during the English Civil War in 1643, with the church register recording that three soldiers were buried in the church grounds here after that battle.
Troops were stationed at the house and park in both world wars. In October 1915 the Machine Gun Corps used Belton House as its home depot and training ground; with Time Team visiting here; filming an episode called ‘The Forgotten Gunners of WWI’. RAF Belton Park was founded in the grounds here in 1942 and by November 1944 1,850 personnel were based here. A LincsOnline article from 2015 records that an archaeological dig at the Machine Gun Corps site, within the grounds, also unearthed some Roman pottery.
The Browmlow’s and their heir the Cust family owned the house for more than 300 years, but financial difficulties led to the house being transferred in to the hands of the National Trust in 1984, where it remains to this day; with the church to be found to the north of the grounds, fairly close to the main road which runs through the village.
The church that we see today consists of west tower, nave with north aisle, north and south clerestories, south porch, north memorial chapel, north vestry and chancel. The main bulk of the structure that we see today dates from between 1200 and 1400. The chancel was rebuilt in 1721 with further restoration during the 19th early 19th century. The south porch was built in 1775 and a north memorial chapel was added in 1818. The north vestry was added late in the 19th century; with further restoration at that time.
There are five bells in the ring here. Prior to 1872 there were three in the ring with two being added by the Brownlow family at that time. When Thomas North’s study of the church bells in Lincolnshire was published in 1882 these were listed as follows.
The first and fifth of the ring were each cast by Mears and Stainbank of London with the name Adelaide Brownlow on the first and Adelbert Brownlow on the fifth. Adelbert of Belton House was 3rd Earl Brownlow and had married Lady Adelaide Chetwynd-Talbot in 1868.
The second of the ring was cast by Henry I Oldfield from his foundry in Nottingham around 1540 with this being inscribed ‘IHS Maria’. The third reads ‘God Save the church’ and dates from around 1590; again from Oldfield’s Nottingham foundry, with Henry II Oldfield casting this one.
The oldest of the ring is the fourth, again cast in Nottingham but this time by Mellours and dated around 1500. This would have been Richard Mellours who was active between 1470 and 1507. This bell is inscribed ‘PERSONET HET CELIS DULCISSIAA VOX GABRIELLIS’ which is translated, with probably a little inaccuracy as ‘The Heavens resound with the sweet voice of the angels’.
We headed in through the main gate and walked round to our left; heading back towards the main road; reluctantly avoiding the tea room as we were on a tight schedule; the church of St Peter & St Paul providing a wonderful backdrop to the fabulously maintained gardens of Belton House. An initial look from distance from the south showed the eastern half of the church hidden by trees, but what we could see was a three stage tower, battlemented and pinnacled, with nave also battlemented with clerestory and steeply pitched tile roof.
Moving closer, the visitor enters from the south through impressive gates. The tower is of three stages, with the lower stage dating from the 13th century. The upper stage has a date stamp of 1638. The 18th century gabled south porch is battlemented with pinnacles to west and east.
Moving around, the east wall of the chancel is plain except for the three light window; contrasting to the north chapel which is ornate, battlemented and pinnacled. The church was open to visitors and it was good to see several people inside looking around.
The north arcade dates from around 1200 and is of three bays, with very large central pier which has inscribed lozenge design with scallop capital. An initial impression of the interior is that there are monuments of the highest quality everywhere!
Taking a look at some of the larger monuments, we move in to the chancel. Against the north wall we see a memorial to Sir John Cust 3rd Baronet of Stamford who was the Speaker of the House of Commons, who passed away in 1770. This was carved by William Tyler who was an English sculptor who was one of three founding members of the Royal Academy. As with several of the monuments here we see a central female character of fidelity. Here she gestures towards an open book which records Cust’s re-election as Speaker in 1768. Also depicted on this monument are the Speaker’s throne and mace.
Against the south wall of the chancel we see a monument to Sir John Brownlow, 5th Baronet who died in 1754; and who sat in the House of Commons from 1713 until 1741. This was carved by Henry Cheere, and English sculptor whose work can be seen in Westminster Abbey. Here we see another female figure of fidelity, who holds on to an anchor; a symbol of Christian faith, with a depiction of the deceased alongside.
Alongside we see a monument to Brownlow Lord Brownlow, who died in 1807. This was carved by Richard Westmacott who is another whose work can be seen in Westminster Abbey, along with work at Buckingham Palace Gardens, Hyde Par and St Paul’s Cathedral. Here we see another female figure; exquisitely carved, who leans in mourning against a column. Her left hand holds a book with one finger holding the book open at a specific page. The epitaph notes that he died in 1807 aged 64 years, leaving six sons and five daughters.
Monument to John Cust 3rd Baronet of Stamford d1770.
Monument to John Brownlow 5th Baronet d1754
Monument to Brownlow Lord Brownlow d1807
The east window has stained glass which records the three times that Jesus is recorded as having raised someone from the dead. From left to right we have the raising of the widow of Nain’s son, the raising of Jairus’ daughter and the raising of Lazarus. Lazarus looks particularly taken aback as to the turn of events, as do his sisters Mary and Martha with one of the sisters looks up at Jesus and points towards her brother. We can’t tell which of the sisters this is as we can’t see their hair fully. Mary of Bethany is portrayed with long hair in reference to her anointing the feet of Jesus and wiping them with her hair shortly before the crucifixion.
In the tracery at the top of this window, angels blow trumpets, an often used symbol of the resurrections whilst others hold banners which read ‘the trumpet shall sound the dead shall be raised’. This is part of I Corinthians Chapter 15 verse 52 in the old King James Version.
Close up detail from monument to Brownlow Lord Brownlow
The north mortuary chapel was built for the 1st Earl Brownlow to house a fine monument to his wife Sophia Hume, Countess Brownlow, who died in 1814 at the age of 26 years. Carved by Antonio Canova, the foremost European sculptor of the day; we see a veiled female figure in a long flowing gown, pointing upwards, with a depiction of the deceased on top of a half column.
In front of this we see the memorial to her husband John Crust, 1sr Earl Brownlow who died in 1853, who lays recumbent crowned with hands raised in prayer.
Among further monuments at the east end of the north mortuary chapel we see one to Caroline, Countess Brownlow, the wife of John Ear Brownlow, who died in 1824 at the age of 30 years. Caroline left three daughters, with a fourth Elizabeth Augusta, her first child passing away in infancy. The epitaph on this reads that she ‘now rests beside her in the grave’. A depiction of Caroline is watched over by four angels. This work is another from Richard Westmacott.
Monuments to Sophia Hume Countess Brownlow d1814 and John Crust 1st Earl Brownlow d1853
Memorial to Caroline Countess Brownlow d1824
At the east end of the north aisle we see a very formal monument to John Brownlow and his wife Alice. John inherited the manor of Belton that his father had purchased and was twice selected as High Sheriff of Lincolnshire. He passed away in 1679 aged 89 years with his wife Alice who died three years before him. Their very formal memorial shows the couple shaking hands; he wears an impressive powdered wig, a symbol of status whilst she holds a prayer book in her left hand. This carving shows the top halves of the couple only and was carved by William Stanton whose work can also be seen in Westminster Abbey as well as Norwich Cathedral.
Alongside this is a monument to Richard Brownlow, a prominent Elizabethan lawyer who founded the Brownlow family fortunes. He died in 1638 in his 86th year. This was carved by Joshua Marshall around 1660. Marshall was the Kings Master Mason at the time of the Great Fire of London in 1666 and was responsible for several of the subsequent rebuilding projects; including several of the churches designed by Christopher Wren.
Here we see Richard looking out proudly, with Elizabethan ruffs on around collar and cuffs. He holds a scroll in one hand with the other pressing down on a human skull. Two further skulls, each wearing a laurel wreath, can be seen higher up. As we shall see when looking around the church grounds, the human skull was often used as a symbol of the mortality of Man. Here though, as well as being Memento Mori images, the skulls have a different symbolic meaning.
The skulls wearing the laurel wreaths symbolise victory, with the laurel wreath being a symbol of victory; with winners in the Pythian Games in ancient Greece being awarded laurel wreaths. The hand pressing down on the skull is interesting. We often see downward pressure forced down upon a skull; this symbolises victory as well with the victory in both cases being over death itself, with the deceased having lived a good life with their soul going to Heaven as their prize.
One final monument to mention here can be found at the west end of the north aisle. This is to Henry John Cocayne Cust who died in 1917. He lays peacefully, with book open on his chest and foot resting comfortably against a sleeping dog.
There are other memorials here, with many wall mounted plaques; which are of the very highest quality. Before heading back outside, we will just a take a quick look at the font. This looks to be Norman in date and is suggested to have been restored (or over restored according to some) during the 19th century.
Monument to John Brownlow d1679 and wife Alice d1676
Monument to Richard Brownlow d1638
Monument to Richard Brownlow d1638
Monument to Henry John Cockayne Cust d1917
There are some finely carved gravestones in the church grounds here, with many showing angels, which symbolised the safe escorting of the soul to Heaven. Several have memento mori symbols, reminding the onlooker that Man is mortal and will died. These include carvings of human skulls, crossed bones, with one having the epitaph contained within a heart shaped outline which is pierced with arrows. The message is the same now as it was on the day that they were carved; live a good Christian life, trust in God and do not be caught lacking when your own time comes. And it those days of low life expectancy, it might be later than you think!
Several gravestones and tombs in the church grounds here have their own Grade II Listing, including a chest tomb dated 1927 to Adelbert Cust, whose name appears on one of the bells which were cast in 1972. The churchyard gates and boundary wall each are also listed.
It was good to see the church here again and good to see so many people looking around it. Open and welcoming; the church here is well worth a visit if you are in the area as is Belton House and gardens obviously. It was time to head off; making the short journey north to neighbouring Syston, which was open to visitors and the first time that I had been inside this one. From then it was a revisit to Ancaster approaching the village from the south on the site of the ancient Roman road, King Street. A beautiful and historic area! Our Lincolnshire churchcrawl continued.