The church of Holy Trinity, Lambley, is the featured church for December 2022. Lambley is located about 8 km (5 miles) north-east of Nottingham city centre.
The church consists of a west tower, aisleless nave, south porch, chancel with a 20th century north vestry. The vestry is built on the site of a 14th century chantry chapel.
It is one of the most complete Perpendicular churches in Nottinghamshire and Pevsner describes it as ‘mostly of a piece and of felicitous proportions, tall and upright, without being narrow.’
The west tower is the earliest part of the church and dates from the 12th-13th centuries. The tower arch has waterleaf capitals which date it to the late 12th century. The upper stage is from the late 14th/early 15th century.
Either side of the east window outside are two carved panels depicting Ralph Cromwell’s purse, representing his having the office of Lord Treasurer of England from 1433 to 1444. Cromwell was born in Lambley and became one of the wealthiest and most influential men in England. He ordered the rebuilding of the church in a codicil to his will dated 1454 but the work was delayed until the 1460s. The rebuilt church was dedicated in 1480.
The church has only one bell but the bell frame is important. It has been dendrochronologically dated to 1475.
The rood screen is from the late 14th century.
There are fragments of late medieval stained glass in the east window and other chancel windows.
Several fragments of cross slabs, including one with a ‘hammerhead’ cross motif that is possibly pre-Conquest, are to be found here. A badly damaged incised slab to Ralph Cromwell (the elder who died in 1398) lies beneath the chancel carpet.
Further information on this church is available from the Southwell & Nottingham Church History Project website.