St George's Church, Stamford

St George’s Church stands in Stamford, Lincolnshire, beside the River Welland. Built in the 13th century, it is a Grade I listed building with a tall tower partly rebuilt in the 17th century. The nave still shows its original columns, while later centuries added aisles and memorials. A benefactor, William Bruges, gave the chancel roof adorned with carved angels holding the ‘Signs of the Passion’. The church once held seven windows with portraits of Knights of the Garter, though only fragments remain today. The church is worth visiting for its links to the Order of the Garter and its notable figures. William Bruges, the first Garter King of Arms, is buried here and helped shape the chancel. Inside, tablets remember Sir Richard Cust, Blanche Lady Wake, and Tobie Norris, after whom a local pub is named. A stained glass window by Hugh Arnold commemorates architect John Charles Traylen. The Second World War memorial features a George and Dragon figure by Mahomet Thomas Phillips. Inside, visitors find a spacious nave with medieval columns and Victorian restorations. The chancel roof shows delicate angel carvings, and the north window holds garter panes from the original series. The south aisle contains the Arnold window, while memorial tablets line the walls. The tower rises above the town, offering views of Stamford’s stone buildings. The churchyard and nearby Rectory in St George’s Square complete the historic setting.