The Domeday Book of 1086 records that a church existed in Langar although the existing building is in the Early English style of circa 1200. In Saxon times, Langar was a place of pilgrimage, where, as Vatican archives reveal, "great multitudes resort" to seek release from their sins. There was a previous church in Langar dedicated to St Ethelburga which was probably a late Saxon priory which served a wide area and was supplanted by the churches of Langar and Granby. Archaeological excavations, approximately one mile south of the existing church have revealed traces of a medieval building which was probably the site of the original church.
For seven centuries, four families owned Langar, since Richard I granted Gerard de Rodes the Lordship of the Manor in the 12th Century. The de Rodes were soldiers in the service of King John, a visitor to Langar in 1215. The estate then passed to the Tibetots, who went on crusades with Edward III. In 1373 Margaret Tibetot married Roger Le Scrope, 2nd Lord Scrope of Bolton. Langar's last Lord Scrope, Emanuel, was created Earl of Sunderland by Charles I, but as a Royalist his properties were sequestered during the Civil War. The estate was inherited by his illegitimate daughter Annabella who married Gloucestershire politician, John Howe, in 1677.
The most famous of the Howe descendants was Richard 1st Earl Howe, Commander of the Channel Fleet and noted for the "Glorious First of June" victory".
Admiral Lord Nelson called Admiral Lord Richard Howe "our great master in tactics and bravery. Officially he was Admiral Lord Richard Howe of Langar Hall - but to the sailors of the English fleet he was Black Dick. The courageous captain earned that dubious nickname because he was said never to smile unless a battle was about to begin.And although he was born in landlocked Notts, his mastery of combat on the high seas meant he rarely lost a battle.Richard Howe was born in 1726, the fourth Viscount Howe, and joined the Navy when he was only 14. By 20, he had risen to captain and he was credited with firing the first shots of the Seven Years War.It was during this conflict that he earned his first battle honours, leading the English fleet to victory over the French at Quiberon Bay in Brittany in 1759.Throughout his long and illustrious career, Howe would prove to be the curse of the French, scoring triumph after triumph over their sea forces.He commanded the British sea forces during the American War of Independence - while his brother, Sir William Howe, commanded the land forces. During this campaign, he successfully resisted a superior French force led by D'Estaing and forced the passage of the Delaware.He next won fame in 1782 when he came to the rescue of Gibraltar, which had been held under a long siege by a combined French-Spanish fleet. Despite superior odds, Howe's tactical brilliance routed the enemy and relieved the garrison.His reward for this triumph was the post of Lord of the Admiralty, but he had one more glorious page of history to write.It came in 1794 in the battle now known as the Glorious First of June, when Howe's fleet clashed with a similar-sized French force off the coast of France. Howe's ships captured six of the enemy and sent two more to the bottom of the sea, without incurring a single loss. Admiral Lord Howe was by now 68 years old.
A trophy from the battle - an Italian altar cloth of silk and gold embroidery taken from a French galleon - now rests in Langar church. The English fleet returned in triumph to Portsmouth to be greeted by King George III, who asked Admiral Howe to name his reward, suggesting a dukedom might be appropriate. Howe asked instead to be made a Knight of the Garter. But the order was traditionally for royalty and members of the military. It had never before been given for purely naval services. But, because Howe was his favourite admiral, the king agreed. It was to be another three years before Richard Howe could take his place in the order. There is a fixed membership and he had to wait for a vacancy. It duly arrived on June 1, 1797, exactly three years after his victory. No one else achieved that distinction until 1983 when Admiral Sir Terence Lewin - now Admiral of the Fleet Lord Lewin - became the second naval Knight of the Garter. "It's hardly ever awarded for naval services alone," says the naval historian Stephen Howarth. Stephen is chairman of the 1805 Club, a worldwide organisation set up to restore and maintain Nelsonian graves and monuments. "Admiral Lord Nelson called Howe 'our great master in tactics and bravery'," he explained. "I visited Langar to see if the 1805 could help with maintaining Admiral Howe's grave, but everything there is very well looked after. "However, the approaching bicentenary of Howe's KG was too important to miss." A commemorative dinner was held at Langar Hall on Saturday, May 31, and a special service of matins was held in the village church on Sunday, June 1.Admiral Lord Lewin and the present Earl and Countess Howe were guests of honour, while Cdr Judith Swann, CO of HMS Sherwood, represented the RNR and Lt Ian Dickinson led a company of Sea Cadets. "Surprisingly," adds Stephen, "there's another grave of a Garter Knight in Bingham - where Sir Thomas Rempstone is buried. He was made KG by Henry IV way back in 1400, but that was for political services - he helped overthrow King Richard II." Notts can be proud of its naval heritage, and especially of Admiral Lord Howe, one of the most distinguished sons of the county.
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This photograph was taken around 1918 and presented as a memento of a wedding conducted by Revd D Wright. |
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Adjacent to the church you will find Langar Hall, now a fine country hotel and restaurant. This was once the home of Earl Howe. The present Hall was constructed by John Marriott in 1837. The Hall was later bought by Annie Bayley and has remained in the family ever since. One descendant, Geoffrey Huskinson, replanted the garden in the valley below the house. Huskinson was a former Notts. County Cricket Club President and during Test Matches, cricketers often stayed at the Hall as his guests. Geoffrey Huskinson's daughter, Imogen Skirving, now runs the hotel and restaurant.
The roof of the North Transept was restored and releaded during 1997, with the generous support of English Heritage, the Historic Churches Preservation Trust, the Alexander and Caroline Simmons Trust, Nottinghamshire County Council, the Nottinghamshire Historic Churches Trust and the Manifold Trust, the balance of the cost being found by the Parishioners.
The roof of the Chancel was releaded during 1998 with support from English Heritage, the balance being found by the Parishioners.
The porch is late 14th Century with the original door having an unusual wicket door in its centre. The hinges show the name of the village blacksmith, William Gretton.
The Nave was formerly filled with pews. The lofty arcades are from the late 13th Century and slightly earlier columns and arches support the tower. The roof was raised in the 15th Century and a clerestory inserted to give more light. The present roof presumably dates from the mid 18th Century as one of the beams is inscribed:
Church Wardens William Wells, Henry Wright
Sept 29 1750
Carpenters Richard Wright, Henry Wright
The West End was formerly panelled with woodwork removed from the chancel screen, but now only the royal coat-of-arms of Queen Victoria remains, which was placed over the panelling by Butler.
On the north clerestory wall are four panels reading:
Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth.
Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled.
Matthew 5.5,6
Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
Matthew 5.7,8
Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet,
and show my people their transgressions and the house of Jacob their sins.
Isaiah 58.1
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God.
Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness sake, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven..
Matthew 5.9,10
Other monuments in the Nave
A panel records a charitable bequest of the Revd Edward Gregory in 1824.A tablet to the Revd Marcus Osmaston, Rector from 1915 until his death in 1926.At the front of the north aisle a wall tablet bears a shield with a cinquefoil motif, the arms of the Flower family. It originally had an inscription to Henry Flower, who died in 1600.
North Transept
A later memorial lozenge is on the wall: one to Caroline Ann, eldest daughter of Henry Sherbrooke of Oxton Hall and wife of John Chaworth Muster of Annesly Park and Wiverton Hall, b.1841, d. 1912.
Beneath the floor is a vault containing one upright lead coffin, which has been vandalised, presumably to steal the jewellery from the body.
This Transept is the least altered part of the church as it was not restored by Butler and contains a perpendicular window of the late 15th Century, but some of the timbers in the roof were renewed and the lead replaced during the restoration in 1997.
The South Transept
The South Transept contains a 17th century monument to Thomas Lord Scrope and his wife with their son Emanuel kneeling at their feet. There are also monuments to the Howe's, the most famous of whom, Admiral Howe, lies in the family vault, a raised platform in the south aisle of the church.
Prayer Corner
The prayer corner allows a quiet space for reflection and prayer. Prayers may be left in a special bowl and are included in the next Sunday service. A small selection of cards is available for sale.
The Millennium Room
The new Millennium Room was dedicated on Sunday 7th October 2001 by Bishop George Cassidy. This room serves as a small meeting room and well-equipped kitchen. There is also a toilet suitable for disabled access.