Dorothy Markham 1495, the daughter of Sir John Markham, (The Upright Judge), Chief Justice of the King's Bench on her incised slab in Sedgebrook Church. Permission to use this picture kindly granted from the Monumental Brass Society. "Monumental Brass Society Website"
A List of the Vicars of Sedgebrook
1688 - John Jenison M.A.
1714 - Anthony J Brasalay L.L. B.
London Chronicle Thursday May 6th 1762
A dispensation has passed the seal for the Rev. Thomas Twells, B.D. of St. John's College, Cambridge, to hold the rectory or one mediety of the parish church of Sedgebrook in the county and diocese of Lincoln and also the rectory or other mediety of the said church worth upwards of £250 per annum. Note: Thomas Twells born c.1721- Aug 1790 is buried in the church
General Evening Post Thursday May 31st 1792
The Lord Chancellor has been pleased to present the Rev George Gordon, Chaplain of the Marquis of Bath to the valuable rectory of Sedgebrook with Allington in the county of Lincoln. A Digest of Parochial Returns 1819
Sedgebrook, Population 201
Rector Geo Gordon
1841 Census Dr Geo. Gordon, Dean of Lincoln died 2nd August 1845 Papers of Sir Joseph Banks – State Library New South Wales – Mitchell Library Brabourne Collection - In 1807, under the direction of the Dean of Lincoln Cathedral, Dr George Gordon, the spires of Lincoln Cathedral were removed and other alterations carried out to the Cathedral. These actions were considered by Sir Joseph Banks and others to be grossly irresponsible.
1845 - Thomas Parry M.A.
1851 Census Thomas Parry, Rector
Rev Alfred Wilson must have been at Sedgebrook some time after 1861 census and April 1864.
1851 - Alfred William Wilson M.A.
1861 Census John Whately, Official Minister in Charge of the Parish of East Allington
The Times Newspaper 20th April 1864
The Lord Chancellor has presented the Rev William Drake to the living of Sedgebrook and East Allington in exchange with the Rev Alfred William Wilson, presented to the vicarage of Holy Trinity, Coventry.
1871 Census William Drake, Rector of Sedgebrook The Times Newspaper October 2nd 1872
The Chapel Royal, St James - The following have been appointed the preachers at the 12 o' clock service in the Chapel Royal, St James' on Sundays, during the present month. Sunday October 13th the Rev. William Drake M.A. Rector of Sedgebrook, Lincolnshire & Honorary Canon of Worcester Cathedral. [other names omitted]
1881 Census William Drake Rector of Sedgebrook & Canon of Worcester
East and West Allington both had parish churches. West Allington was the ecclesiastical parish and East Allington was a chapelry to Sedgebrook parish. East Allington was then removed from the parish of Sedgebrook in 1872 and united with West Allington.
John Bull Saturday June 6th 1885 pg 370.
Ecclesiastical Appointments:
Rev. H.C.B. Field, Senior Curate of Holy Trinity, Brompton to Curacy in Sole Charge of Sedgebrook, Grantham, Lincs.
1891 Census Henry.C.B. Field
The Leeds Mercury Monday December 7th 1896
The Lord Chancellor has presented the living of Sedgebrook in the Diocese of Lincoln, vacant by the death of Canon Drake, to the Rev T.C. Ewbank B.A. Curate-in-charge of the parish.
1901 Census Thomas C Ewbank
Wisden Obituaries in 1926
EWBANK, THE REV. THOMAS CRANMER, born at Richmond, in Surrey, on October 17, 1847, died on July 16 1926, aged 78. He was educated in Brighton and, being a useful wicket-keeper, appeared for the Gentlemen of Sussex. For thirty years he was Rector of Sedgebrook, Grantham. Contempory Biographies of Lincolnshire Clergy 1907 Rev Thomas Cranmer EWBANK, M.A., The Rectory, Sedgbrook, Grantham; son of the Rev. George EWBANK, M.A.,
Fellow Commoner of Caius College, Cambridge, formerly Lieutenant Royal Navy; born at Richmond, Surrey,
October 17th, 1847; educated at Brighton, and Christ's College, Cambridge; M.A., M.C.P., F.Sc. Hon.
Secretary, Sedgbrook School of Science, and Manual Instructor in Woodwork, etc.; Secretary and
Correspondent, Elementary School; Governor of the Thorold School Trust. Ordained Deacon, June, 1871,
Priest, 1872, by the Bishop of Chester; Curate of Christ Church, Sefton Park, Liverpool, 1871-74; Curate
in sole charge of Colne, Hunts, 1874-78; Curate of Annesley, Notts, 1878-82; Diocesan Inspector of
Schools, 1880; Senior Curate of Newark Parish Church, 1882; Headmaster of Hatton House School, Newark,
1882-94; Dean and Rector of Sedgbrook since 1896. Married Emma, eldest daughter of William SALT, of
Rolleston.
1926 - Hugh Selwyn Taggart M.A.
The Times Newspaper March 23rd 1935
Ecclesiastical News
1935 - The Lord Chancellor has presented the Rev J.E.E. Davies, curate of St Martin's, West Acton, to the rectory of Sedgebrook, Diocese of Lincoln.
The Times Newspaper November 11th 1947
Ecclesiastical News - Church Appointments
The Rev. W.C. Spreadbury, vicar of St Barnabas, Shacklewell, to be Rector of West Allington with East Allington and Sedgebrook, Lincs in an exchange of beneficies with the Rev A.F.Royston.
The Times Newspaper April 13th 1956
Ecclesiastical News, Church Appointments
The Rev R.J. Edmondson, vicar of Bassenthwaite, diocese of Carlisle, to be Rector of West Allington with East Allington and Sedgebrook, diocese of Lincoln.
The Times Newspaper December 3rd 1965
Ecclesiastical News
The Rev A.G.B. Parsons, rector of West Allington with East Allington with Sedgebrook and Rector of Woolsthorpe with Stainwith, diocese of Lincoln, to be Perpetual Curate of St Anne, Grantham, same diocese.
The Times Newspaper February 3rd 1966 -
Church News
The following appointments announced the Rev J.M. Ashley, rector of Anderby with Cumberworth & vicar of Huttoft, diocese of Lincoln to be rector of West Allington with East Allington with Sedgebrook & Woolsthorpe, same diocese.
The following list of Churchwardens is taken from "The History of Sedgebrook & Its Parish Church of St. Lawrence" written by The Rev. Hugh Selwyn Taggart, M.A. Rector and published in 1928.
From the year 1714 the following names appear in the list of those who held the office of Warden:
Thomas Warren, Richard Hollingworth, William Turney, Robert Warron, Thomas Hollingworth, William Leeson, John Turney, William Newcomb, William Bean, William Bayne, Edward Leeson, Robert Burton, William Dunsmore, Richard Hough, John Hutchinson, John Robinson, Thomas Farmer, John Jackson, Joseph Ward, John Clark, Richard Lee, William Lee, William Wing, William Shipman, Joseph Scrimshaw, James Wing, Edmund Brewster, Richard Hubbard, John Wing, John Lee, John Robinson (1845-1854), George Robinson 1855-1870 & 1873 - 1875, & 1884-1885, Richard Robinson (1871-72 and 1876-1883); William Bull (1886-1895), George Kemp (1887-1897), Thomas Fisher (1897), Frank Upton (1897-1902 and 1905-1918), Charles R Bell (1898), J.H.Grist (1900-1906), William Baker (1903), Joe W.Bee (1907-1910), Richard Jackson (1911-to present time), S. Yarrad (1919-1926), T.H. Bowman (1927), William Bullock (at present time).
White's Directory 1872 for Lincolnshire
The Church, St. Lawrence is an ancient structure, in the perpendicular style, with lofty arches, a fine oak screen, nave, north and south aisles, and a western tower, containing three bells, and has recently been repaired. The staircase and gallery which led to the rood loft still remain, and also the ancient piscina and sedilia. Outside both the south and the north porch is a plain stoup. Sir John Markham, the upright judge of the reign of Edward IV, lies interred in this church. The rectory, with that of East Allington annexed, is in two consolidated medieties, valued in K.B. one at £7.18s.61/2 and the other at £7.4s.7d. The united benificies are now valued at £800, in the patronage of the Lord Chancellor, and incumbancy of the Rev. William Drake, M.A. who is Hon. Canon of Worcester and chaplain in ordinary to the Queen,and has a good residence and 60 acres of glebe.
The Times Newspaper June 13th 1933
"The Upright Judge's" Church, To the Editor of the Times.
Sir - All are agreed that the ancient parish churches in England, with their history and architecture, are among the most priceless possessions of our common heritage as Englishmen. Their preservation, therefore, can hardly be regarded as a purely local responsibility, particularly when they are to be found in the midst of a small village of few inhabitants, nearly all of whom are labourers and cottagers.
The village of Sedgebrook is a case in point. In its midst is the beautiful old parish church of St Lawrence, dating from 1200 to 1468, when it was completed by the Lord of the Manor, Sir John Markham, who was made Lord Chief Justice of the King's Bench by Edward IV, but lost the Royal favour through the character of a charge delivered by him to a jury when trying Sir Thomas Coke, Lord Mayor of London, whereby the life of the Mayor was spared, which the King desired to take through Coke's imputed treason. Judge Markham was for this case removed from his office, but "therebye gained for himself a better title, that of "The Upright Judge" with which he retired into private life" [Fuller].
To preserve the walls of the church the few parishioners have by repeated efforts raised the sum of £300 within the past 6 years, but are now faced with the formidable task, of repairing its 15th century roof.
A short time ago the falling of a great beam which was found to be eaten through by the grub of the death watch beatle, necessitated the examination of the whole roof. This was carried out by Mr William Wear, architect, consulting with the Society for the protection of Ancient Buildings, who advised the immediate erection of poles in different parts of the church to support the affected timber and the repair of the whole roof at the earliest possible opportunity at a cost of £1.100. With the utmost unity and good will the villagers are at a loss to know how they can possibly accomplish a task of this magnitude and urgency. When it is remembered that the adult parishioners number about 140 and that they are almost entirely composed of employees on the land, it will be seen that without help from outside the village the work cannot be done.
If there are amongst those of your readers who do value these ancient and beautiful houses of God in the land and would like to help us in our task, I would be happy to receive their contributions and to send them, in ackowledgement of their kindly help, a copy of "The History of Sedgebrook and its Parish Church".
I am your obedient servant,
H.S.Taggart, Rector, St Lawrence's Rectory, Sedgebrook, Grantham
