I was just wondering about why the grave was broke, did a cow do it, did the Gipsy smash it, then I read there was a massive restorations of the church around the time of the parsons visit, I think so endways, anyway the grave could be broke for all those reasons but just read a bit of this,
this might explain the dates getting mixed up,
Southwell and Nottingham church history project
The low number attending the church and the absence of the vicar may go some way towards explaining why, during the 18th and 19th centuries, the church seems to have been neglected and falling into disrepair. The next three vicars were largely absent, but there was a long-serving curate in the parish. John Pepper’s name first appears in the parish registers in 1803. He continued to complete the registers and officiate at nearly all of the baptisms, marriages and burials which took place at St Helen’s until the beginning of 1836. The register chest installed in the church in 1815 bears the name of this curate, not the vicar’s name.
then the building work started, all over Dans gravestone,
At the end of the 1890s, the Rev C. Harrison turned his attention to the condition of St Helen’s, and saw the need for extensive repair, restoration and enlargement
On 3 July 1904, St Helen’s was closed, becoming a building site for almost a year.
The Rev C. Harrison lived long enough to see the beginning of the First World War, but he died in May 1916. Photographs show his grave covered with an enormous display of floral tributes, evidence of the high regard in which he was held
During the 1960s and 1970s only minor alterations were made inside St Helen’s. The exterior appearance was greatly altered by the removal of many gravestones from the oldest part of the churchyard in 1963-1964. Some of the stones were used to create paths,
25 June 1810
Joseph Dixie Churchill, vicar
Died 1836. Rector of Blicking-with-Empingham 1802-1810 and 1811-1836, Vicar of Cadesby 1810-1836, Vicar of Henstead 1811-1836.
25 Nov 1836
Fleetwood Churchill, vicar
Son of J Churchill, born at Empingham. Vicar of Roughton 1817-1855. Died Feb 1855
19 July 1855
George Frederick Williamson, vicar
Also chaplain to Duchess of Gordon 1847-1863, Vicar of Longnor 1856-1864 and other posts
11 Sept 1856
Robert John William Wright, vicar
On cession of G Williamson. Died 2 Aug 1887, buried in the churchyard.
26 Nov 1887
Charles Harrison, vicar
Died 28 April 1916, buried in churchyard
21 July 1916
Richard Dudley Weller, vicar
He went to Ruddington 1924
5 Nov 1924
Philip Hannington Hart, vicar
Served in RGA 1917-1920. Resigned 12 Aug 1929
23 Nov 1929
Palmer Allison Sharp, vicar
22 Apr 1937
Henry Wright Schofield, vicar
On cession of Sharp
22 Sept 1945
Edward Frederick Holwell Dunnicliffe, MA, vicar
On cession of Schofield
1 Dec 1949
Hugh Bickersteth Bidell, vicar
On cession of Dunnicliffe. Biddell resignation 1 Oct 1956
1956
Gerald Nettleton Pearce, BA, vicar
Sequestration (cession) 14 Sept 1961
1962
Hubert Victor Simmons
On cession of Pearce. Died 3 March 1978, buried in churchyard
then I read this
0ld churches of the mansfield deanery by h walkerdine and a s buxton 1907
The most interesting object in the church, undoubtedly, is the ancient Norman font, which the vicar has lately had restored to its proper place. About 150 years ago it was removed from the church, and a family of the name of Gill carried it to Blackwell. It was subsequently brought back to Selston, and for many years did duty as a trough under the pump at the village inn, the "Bull and Butcher." Some few years ago it was carried to a private house and was used as a flower stand. A rose tree planted in it, from all accounts, flourished. At the recent restoration of the church the vicar secured possession of it, and it now occupies a more fitting place than beneath the pump at the village inn. Many immersions, certainly not of a religious nature, have taken place within this interesting relic. The font is the only remaining trace of the Norman period. It is bucket shaped, with a band of cable molding round it. The top has been used apparently for generations by Selstonians as a whetstone, on which to put an edge on pocket, and, perhaps, other knives
then I read this
Derbyshire times 02 2007
Despite the precarious nature of the event, no accident has ever been recorded…except for one incumbent who never made it almost. When thirty years ago, the Rev Vic Simmons, was about to read his final tower sermon set his foot alight with weed killer (accidentally). He was determined to do it stating:
“It was the highlight of the church year. I didn’t want to miss it.”
So a chair was carried up and no doubt he made a slow and rather tender climb to the top.