St Firmin’s Church, Thirlby

St Firmin’s Church at Thirlby in south Lincolnshire was sadly locked when I called, but the building’s externals were suitably interesting for me not to have thought my time entirely wasted. Firmin I had never heard of; he was a Spaniard from the early church who was martyred under Roman paganism. Quite why the founders of Thirlby church thought Firmin an appropriate dedication, one cannot say. Pleasingly, this occurred 1100 years ago, the church, if not the building, dating back to the year 925.

The building, though more recent than its Saxon foundation, contains a range of styles. Just one stretch of wall included five different window designs from the twelfth to the sixteenth centuries. They all admit light one way or another; it is worth recalling that when we experience different expressions of Christianity, some admit more light than others. Much as I prefer large windows with maximum illumination, even those churches which strike me as unbiblical, and are theologically dull, may admit some of God’s truth.

The third notable feature is the Georgian coat of arms. As the Church of England has been the state church since Tudor times, royal crests have been mandated for churches. This particular one with the little white horse of Hanover, would have been a demonstration of loyalty to the Protestant King Georges rather than the Catholic, Stuart ‘Pretenders’. Quite why it should be found outside, in the porch, I cannot say. Patriotic though I am, and one for whom loyalty to the Crown is important, my inner dissenter has never been comfortable with overt symbols of royal government and national identity being positioned in places of Christian worship. Much as we are called to obey the state and honour the ruler, our worship is directed to God alone through Christ alone. Let the government rule the land, but may Christ alone rule His Church.

Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king. 1 Peter 2:17