The village of Barnwell has two churches. The parish church of St Andrews and the remains of All Saints. The latter was largely demolished in 1825 but its chancel was maintained as it had been the burial place of the Montagu family in the 16th and early 17th century. Indeed the Montagu Earls of Sandwich continued to be buried here into the 19th century.
What remains of the church stands on a grassy knoll at the far end of the village. Here you will encounter a series of monuments that are well worth exploring. The earliest is to Dame Lettice Montagu (d.1611). It’s a huge architectural tour de force with dragons, the Montagu crest, flanking an obelisk at it’s apex. Nearby is that to her son Henry who was drowned in the moat at Barnwell Castle when only three. Another obelisk but this time free standing with arcades and a succession of curious inscriptions. Opposite that to Dorothy Creed uniquely designed by her mother in law Elizabeth Creed, a relative of Samuel Pepys. The handsome early 18th century panelling which lines the chancel was installed by 2nd Duke of Montagu in 1740
Please refer to the Glossary for any terms in the text that you are unfamiliar with.
