ST HELEN, KNEETON
Kneeton, or "Kneveton", is a small village and parish, occupying a commanding situation upon a lofty precipitous cliff on the south side of the River Trent, 8 miles (13 km) southwest of Newark.
A great part of the manor was given to Welbeck Abbey, but in the reign of Edward VI it was held of the king in capite by Sir Edward Molyneux, whose descendants resided here for many generations. The family mansion, however, was taken down in 1781, when their estates passed with their sole heiress to the late Lord Howard, whose daughter, the Hon. Henrietta Howard Molyneux, was married in 1830 to Lord Porchester.
The views in the vicinity are beautiful and extensive, including a considerable portion of the picturesque vales of the Trent and Belvoir.
Positioned high above the River Trent, just to the north-east of East Bridgford, the church is recorded in Domesday as a moiety (half a church) in the lands of Count Alan; there was also a priest. In 1235 a third part of the church was owned by the canons of Newbo Abbey in Lincolnshire, and it is likely that another third was held by Welbeck Abbey.
In 1293 there was a minor scandal when the rector was accused of money-lending, but he was evidently let off!
By 1346 the monks of Newbo still held the advowson and it seems probable that this continued up to the Reformation when it was passed to the Molyneux family.
During much of the 17th century the church was, in various ways, out of repair, and it seems unlikely that things improved over the next two hundred years. Between 1879-90 there was a major rebuilding by the architect Ewan Christian which involved the entire chancel and parts of the nave side walls; a new south porch was added at the same time.
Today the building comprises a nave with south porch, chancel with north vestry, and a west tower. The tower is of the 15th century and, although restored, retains much medieval fabric. The lower part of the north and much of the south walls of the nave are also medieval, of indeterminate date but probably 15th century; there are traces of a former aisle arcade in the south wall. The remainder of the building dates from 1879-90. The medieval font, probably of the 13th century, is the only substantial pre-Victorian fitting to remain. There are some 18th century monuments to the Story family.
The churchyard contains some fine Swithland slate grave-markers, and is of considerable interest in that it is near-circular in form, implying a possible early foundation date for the church.
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