West Torrington churchyard cross was restored in 1862 (a new upper shaft and head) and turned into a memorial to T W Mossman and family in 1892.
Parish/DistrictWest Torrington/East Lindsey
Locationin the churchyard of St Mary’s Church c.3m south east of the south porch. 
CategoryChurchyard cross (restored)
National Grid RefTF 13500 82036
DesignationScheduled / Listed II
Stone TypeLimestone
RefsAP Survey 10 March 19094; Davies, D S, 1915, Lincs Notes and Queries, Vol XIII No.8, p.225;
 
VisitsAP: 10 March 1994 | DS/HH: NV

West Torrington has an intriguing churchyard cross. When Archdeacon Bonney visited St Mary’s on 11 October 1847, he noted ‘There is the stump of a cross on S. side of ye ch. yard.’ By  the time David Davies surveyed it c.1915, it had been successively restored and memorialised.

The medieval portion of shaft has the date(?) 1700 inscribed just below its top. If this is a date, it is a mystery as standing crosses were rarely restored or repaired at that time, it being far more likely that they would, instead, be dismantled and used for building materials. Thus this date is puzzling and no explanation for it can be given.

In 1860-1862, West Torrington church underwent a complete rebuild, designed by architect R J Withers and funded by the incumbent, Thomas Wimberley Mossman. It seems highly likely that the churchyard cross was restored with a new shaft and head as part of that campaign.

Thomas Wimberley Mossman was an important and controversial figure in the Oxford Movement, a correspondent of Cardinal Newman, founder of a Brotherhood training poor men for the priesthood, a noted historian, an active Liberal politician and a crucial figure in the early Order of Corporate Reunion and Oecumenical movement. He died in 1885 and his gravestone is in the churchyard. His wife, Mary, died in  April 1892, and their friends and supporters created a memorial to the Mossmans by mounting the churchyard cross on two steps (or possibly by renewing pre-exiting steps. An inscription on the western face of the upper step reads: THE STEPS OF THIS CROSS WERE RESTORED BY FRIENDS / IN EVER LOVING MEMORY OF THE REV. THOMAS WIMBERLEY MOSSMAN / AND MARY HIS WIFE; ALSO OF THOMAS VERNON THEIR SECOND SON / WHO DIED AT PAYSANDU, SOUTH AMERICA, FEBRUARY 8, 1890 / A.D. 1892

The steps are approximately square in plan (c.1.7m and 1.13m square respectively) and constructed of large rectangular blocks. They are plain except for the inscription recording the provision (or restoration) of the steps in 1892.

The socket stone stands on the upper step. It is a plain, rectangular limestone block with lightly chamfered upper corners. The top of the stone slopes upwards to the socket, into which the shaft is set with lead. The socket stone is believed to be medieval in date.

The shaft is rectangular in section at the base with chamfered corners tapering upwards in irregular octagonal section. The lower part of the shaft is 1.07m high and is inscribed on the western side with the number (date?) 1700. The upper part of the shaft is integral with the knop and head and is thought to date to the 1862 restoration.  The cross-head takes the form of a gabled cross carved with the figures of the Virgin and Child on the east side and a Crucifixion on the west. The full height of the cross is approximately 3.6m.

St Mary’s church was declared redundant in 2011 and has recently (2024) been acquired by the local community for conversion to a multi-use community space. In recent years, the churchyard cross has become the focus for annual Remembrance ceremonies.

West Torrington cross in the snow – the restored portion of shaft is clearly visible in this photograph.
West Torrington – the medieval socket stone and shaft fragment – the painted stones are part of recent Remembrance ceremonies
West Torrington churchyard cross -(photo Jean Howard)
West Torrington

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