Architectural Features
north transept has been removed possibly C17 or early C18.
The windows to the south of the chancel are C14 and have two lights with cusped ogee trefoil heads and hood moulds
The south wall of the transept has a pointed arched, C15 two-light window with trefoil heads to the lights and hood mould
the stained glass in the tracery at the top of the window is complete.
The floors are covered in a geometric pattern of C19 tiles.
The roof to the nave has a king post flanked by struts, and the C19 encased tie beams are supported by carved braces.
The C19 altar, pulpit and pews survive, as does a memorial on the west wall of the nave to John Wallis d. 1773, and most notably, the floor brass in the chancel to Sir John Skipwith, dated 1415.
Brass to Sir John Skipwith, 1351-1415. He married Alice Tilney and they had at least 2 sons and 2 daughters. He was MP and Sheriff for Lincolnshire. He committed several misdeeds while sheriff of Lincolnshire. During his term of office he and his henchmen appear to have inflicted a virtual reign of terror upon the county, and as a result of six separate petitions submitted to the chancellor by his victims he was summoned to appear before the justices of assize at Lincoln in August 1397 to face charges of robbery with violence, blackmail, extortion, false imprisonment and intimidation. All these allegations were found to be true, although the court’s verdict had little effect upon his career, and by November 1398 he was again serving as a royal commissioner. This was a turbulent period in Skipwith’s life, for in May 1397 he was bound over in securities of £100 to keep the peace towards John, Lord Welles. Info History of Parliament online.
In the south transept is the matrix for another small brass, and originally contained a knight with shields.
Both appear to be medieval rebuildings on an earlier plan, but there is evidence to suggest that St Bartholomew's is the earlier of the two and may have served as a pre-Conquest minster church.
the date of demolition is uncertain, but may have taken place in the late C17 or early C18.
The roof also seems to have been reconstructed at that date, re-using medieval timbers but lowering its pitch, and adding decorative bracing to the tie beams.
The bell frame, replaced in 1823, is housed in the central turret, reported in 1846 as 'slated not only on the top, but on its sides', and contains three bells dating from c1500 - 1632.
The Lincoln Diocesan Architectural Society's list of church restorations in 1864 stated that the church had been 'repaired and re-seated, but -- the architects ---- repudiated the responsibility of these works, with much reason, because they only supplied the designs, which were partially carried out.' The work undertaken by the Restoration Committee included the replacement of the west window, the construction of the brick chancel arch, encasing the medieval timbers of the roof and laying the decorative glazed floor tiles.
C20 work was limited to the stained glass of the east window and the introduction of chancel furniture and a new altar.
Unpublished report, REASON FOR DESIGNATION: St Bartholomew's, Covenham, a medieval church altered and restored in the C17, C18 and C19, is designated at Grade II* for the following principal reasons: * Survival: It is of particular importance and more than special interest for the substantial survival of its medieval fabric and plan, despite later repair and renovation. * Alterations: many of the alterations and repairs are of additional historical interest, particularly those undertaken in the C17 and C18. * History: It is of more than special interest for its probable early-medieval date, and particularly for its possible role as a pre-Conquest minster church.