St Martin's Church, Bole

History

The church dates from the 13th century. It was restored in 1866 by Ewan Christian.

Bells

There are three bells at St Martin's Church.

The three bells are in a wooden frame for three bells with traditional fittings in a dilapidated state, making them unringable. The treble weighs 4 cwt, dated 1611 and cast by Henry II Oldfield, the second weighs 4.5 cwt, dated 1500+ and cast by John Seliok. The tenor weighs 5.5 cwt, dated 1611 and cast by Henry II Oldfield. The bells are rung from ground floor.

Clock

There is evidence of there once being a clock at St Martin's church. The room under the bells is where the clock would have been situated. There is a picture of the church that was given to a vicar in the Second World War, that showed a clock face on the south side of the tower.

Clays Group of Churches

North Wheatley has recently been called "Church in Wheatley" this consists the C of E church & North Wheatley's Methodist Chapel. South Wheatley has ruins of the church of St Helen.

Clergy

The Clays Group has the one Vicar, the Team Vicar, Rev M Cantrill who has the responsibility of all the above parishes. He is an ordained Church of England and Methodist Minister. He has the responsibility of Grove Street Methodist church, Retford. The Clays Group has a Lay Reader.

Vicars of Bole

Although a church at Bole was mentioned in Domesday Book, the names of most of its clergy before the late 14th century have been lost. Prior to 1864 the vicars had been non-resident in the parish for about two hundred years. Hence most of the routine work during this period would probably have been carried out by assistant curates.

Latterly Bole has become part of the Retford Team Ministry.

Assistant Curates have included:

The Vicarage

Bole has a former Vicarage dating to 1864, but not used as such since 1965. It is now known as "Bole House" and was sold once again in 2009.