Tomb of Sir George and Lady St Paul

Tomb of Sir George and Lady St Paul

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St Lawrence Church, Snarford, is a redundant church, tucked away on a quiet lane, far from the usual tourist track.

There's not even a village, just a few scattered houses and farms. Yet in this out of the way spot lies a small church, blessed with not one, not two, but three superb Elizabethan and Jacobean monuments.

The village of Snarford was mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086 when it had a population of 16 families.

The name probably comes from Snardesforde, meaning 'Snortr's ford'.

Snortr was likely one of the Vikings who settled in this area of Lincolnshire, during the 9th century.

The village grew in size during medieval times, but by the beginning of the Tudor period, there was little left.

In 1606 Sir George St Paul, began the building of Snarford Hall, which has now vanished.

The St Paul family left an indelible mark on this small church, however, in the form of the funerary monuments located in the chancel.

The alabaster tomb of George, stands against the north wall of the chancel.

George was the most successful of the St Paul clan; he served as Sheriff of Lincolnshire, magistrate, and MP.

He was knighted by James I in 1607.

His effigy is clad in armour and breeches, and lies propped up on an elbow above the effigy of his wife Frances.

Frances St Paul is dressed in a dark gown and the wide ruffed collar so common in the early Jacobean period.

At the base of the tomb, in a separate recess, is an effigy of the couple's only child, Mattathia.

Sir George was only 53 when he died in 1613, and he left his wife Frances an income of 1700 pounds per year, which made her a very wealthy heiress.

Frances later married Robert Rich, Earl of Warwick, and it is these two who are depicted in the third monument in the chancel.

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https://www.britainexpress.com/.../churches/Snarford.htm

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https://ko-fi.com/thetudorintruders

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Tomb of Sir George and Lady St Paul~St Lawrence church, Lincolnshire