Blyborough • St Alkmund

Blyborough - St Alkmund by  Ian S and
 licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.

St Alkmund Church is a Grade 1 Listed Building. A church at Blyborough is mentioned in the Domesday Book. St Alkmund’s is set in a delightful churchyard full of wild flowers, sloping down to the ornamental lake of Blyborough Hall. The Georgian tower is decorated with reused medieval gargoyles. One of them of an eagle with a woman’s face, looks straight at you as you walk up the churchyard path! Inside the church, much more is preserved of the ancient building, including a tall Early English three bay north arcade with circular piers, keeled responds, stiff leaf capitals and double chamfered arches.

Postcode: DN21 4HE, click here to find on Google Maps

Visit this church's page on the Explore Churches website here:

https://www.explorechurches.org/church/st-alkmund-blyborough

Open: 18th-19th May, Saturday 11am-4pm, Sunday 11am-4pm

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Willingham by Stow - St Helen

Willingham by Stow, St Helen - 

Image lincolnian on Flicker CC BY-SA 2.0 DEED

There will be displays in church from local craftspeople and a concert Saturday evening performed by local artists, 7pm start in the church. Lunches will not be served but sausage and bacon baps will be available in the morning and tea/coffee and cakes all day.

 Postcode: DN21 5JY, click here to find on Google Maps

Open: 18-19th May, Saturday 10am - 4pm • Sunday 11am - 4pm

Visit our page on ExploreChurches.org here:
https://www.explorechurches.org/church/st-helen-willingham-stow



Get Involved and Spread the Word!

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Scotter - St Peter

Scotter - St Peter (by Jonathan Billinger source)

Our beautiful church has parts dating back to the 11th century, and unique 17th century ‘Ringers Rhymes’. Bell ringers will give short demonstration and you can try your hand at bell ringing with the Lincoln Guild ringing simulator or, (suitable for 10 years upwards) a real bell. The able bodied can climb the tower to view the bells and our 1848 James Harrison clock in its original case with notation and graffiti (small fee). Our popular plant sale on Saturday.

Postcode: DN21 3RZ click here to find on Google Maps

Visit our page on ExploreChurches.org here
https://www.explorechurches.org/church/st-peter-scotter


Open: 18-19th May, Saturday 10am - 4pm • Sunday 11.30am - 4pm.

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Click these links to find us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.

Coates by Stow • St Edith

Photo: Ashley Taylor, Push Creativity*

The glory of St Edith’s is its medieval woodwork. Magnificent rood screen with its loft and oak boarded tympanum dominates the church. It is the only surviving example in Lincolnshire. Please come and see our wonderful church mice.

Photo: Ashley Taylor, Push Creativity*

Almost every century has made a distinctive contribution to the structure, a testimony to the many people whose spiritual home it has been. Amazingly it escaped the ravages of the Reformation and rebellion, aided, no doubt by the moated situation. 

The Church is an architectural gem, an oasis of peace and serenity located in the midst of a busy, working farm. 

It is a living place of worship with regular services.

The church's own website can be found here: http://www.stedithscoates.co.uk/

Postcode: LN1 2DW click here to find on Google Maps

Open: 18th-19th May, Saturday 11am - 6pm • Sunday 9am - 6pm

Get Involved and Spread the Word!

Visit us on ExploreChurches

https://www.explorechurches.org/church/st-edith-coates-stow

Click these links to find us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.

*Photo: Ashley Taylor, Push Creativity

Messingham - Holy Trinity

Holy Trinity - Messingham by Richard Croft (source)

A Grade II* listed church, greatly restored in the early 19th century, including the installation of an extensive collection of medieval stained glass by Revd. H.V. Bayley working in collaboration with architect Edward Willson. A special invitation this year to meet and be inspired by the work of crafters, photographers and artists from our local creative community. Please see our website for further details. www.holytrinitymessingham.co.uk

Postcode: DN17 3SF, click here to find on Google Maps

Visit our church on ExploreChurches here:
https://www.explorechurches.org/church/holy-trinity-messingham


Open: 18-19th May, Saturday 10am - 4pm • Sunday 12noon - 4pm

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Click these links to find us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.

Sudbrooke - St Edward

Sudbrooke - St Edward (photo J Thomas Creative Commons License

View this Grade II Iisted building by John Dobson of Newcastle with its unusual blue starred ceiling in the apse. The church was modelled on the Norman church of All Saints, Steetley in Derbyshire.

Postcode: LN2 2QH, click here to find on Google Maps

Open 18-19th May, Saturday 10am - 4pm • Sunday 12noon - 4pm

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Click these links to find us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.

Gainsborough United Reformed Church

Gainsborough United Reformed Church - Photo: Ashley Taylor, Push Creativity*

The church was built in 1897 as a memorial to John Robinson, pastor of the Mayflower Pilgrims. We hold a permanent Pilgrim exhibition in our Mayflower Room. The two manual pipe organ built in 1903 by Forster and Andrews is listed by the British Institute of Organ Studies as an instrument of national heritage importance.

The Mayflower Room - Photo: Ashley Taylor, Push Creativity*

The two manual pipe organ built in 1903 by Forster and Andrews -

 Photo: Ashley Taylor, Push Creativity*

The church has its own website which can be visited here: Gainsborough United Reformed Church.

Postcode: DN21 2JR, click here to find on Google Maps

Open: 18-19th May, Saturday 10am - 3pm • Sunday 1pm - 4pm

Get Involved and Spread the Word!

Visit us on exploreChurches:

https://www.explorechurches.org/church/gainsborough-urc-gainsborough

Click these links to find us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.

*Photo: Ashley Taylor, Push Creativity

Nettleham • All Saints

Nettleham All Saints - Copyright Churches Festival - Photo: Ashley Taylor, Push Creativity*

Dating from Saxon times we have many beautiful stained glass windows, including the Hayward East Window. Wall paintings and Bodley and Garner ceilings can be seen. Beside the beck, we are a living, thriving church with many and varied activities, central to village life and a place for quiet contemplation and prayer. Heritage and school input. Informal Concert 11am 13th May by Lincolnshire Branch of the Society of Recorder Players’.

Nettleham All Saints Interior - Copyright Churches Festival - Photo: Ashley Taylor, Push Creativity*

Resurrected Christ among fields and burning stubble, by John Hayward, 1971. -

There's more information available at http://www.nettleham-all-saints.org.uk/

Postcode: LN2 2PD, click here to find on Google Maps

Open: 18-19th May, Saturday 10am - 4.30pm • Sunday 12noon - 4pm.

Get Involved and Spread the Word!

Visit us on ExploreChurches
https://www.explorechurches.org/church/all-saints-nettleham

Click these links to find us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.

*Photo: Ashley Taylor, Push Creativity

Laughton • All Saints

Laughton • All Saints, image Richard Croft: Source

Warm and friendly old church Bodley restoration ceiling, chancel, rood screen, reredos (restored 2016). Large medieval knight for brass rubbing. War memorial book viewing. Choral music, Sunday - 2:30pm.

Details of the Evensong (additional to the brochure)

All Saints, Laughton, Sunday, 19 May 2023, 2.30 pm onwards

Music ancient and modern sung by the Trentcliffe Church Choir

Laughton’s resident Trentcliffe Church Choir and church organist will be performing an informal repertoire of music old and new at All Saints as part of this year’s West Lindsey Churches Festival, which takes place in May. 

Free and open to all, the festival is a great chance to take a look inside some of the most beautiful buildings in the district. The oldest building in Laughton, All Saints has been a part of village life since the twelfth century, marking milestones in the lives of many, many villagers, and its bell continues to chime the hours now as it did then, punctuating the days of the schoolchildren opposite and anyone waiting for the bus on the village green down the lane. 

The small local ensemble, who have been performing together for over a decade and often practise at Laughton on a Tuesday evening, sing at services, feast days and festivals throughout the church calendar year, as well as at weddings and funerals. Their patch is the Trentcliffe Group of parishes and occasionally Gainsborough; and the music they perform includes psalms and hymns, sung liturgy and modern church music. 

A warm welcome is extended to everyone to come and listen while soaking up the atmosphere of this Grade I listed medieval church with its striking Victorian painted chancel ceiling and tripych. Refreshments will be served during the weekend, and the event is informal so you can come and go as you like.

Postcode: DN21 3PP, click here to find on Google Maps

Open: 18-19th May, Saturday 11am - 4pm • Sunday 11am - 4pm.

Get Involved and Spread the Word!

Click these links to find us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.

Glentworth • St Michael

Glentworth St Michael (photo provided by the church)

St Michael’s church is a superb late 11th century church with a stained glass window by Charles Kempe in the Saxon tower. It has a fine marble tomb of Sir Christopher Wray, Chief Justice of England during Elizabeth I’s reign, with his wife and children and is an Elizabethan gem. Three of his children played leading roles in the spread of puritan ideas between 1600 and 1620 and were associated with the Mayflower Pilgrims that sailed to America from Boston.

Glentworth St Michael - Photo David Hitchborne Source

Postcode: DN21 5DG, click here to find on Google Maps

Get Involved and Spread the Word!

Visit us on Explorechurches
https://www.explorechurches.org/church/st-michael-glentworth

Open: 18-19th May, Saturday 10am - 4pm • Sunday 10am - 4pm

Click these links to find us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.

Gainsborough - St Thomas of Canterbury

Situated in Cross Street which is small and narrow, the church and the house were built in 1866. The church is decorated in Pugin style and is only a five minute walk from Marshall’s Yard retail centre. North Street and Roseway car parks are also nearby. There will be a costume and textile display as well as information about the WWI memorial. Additional information about the convent school. Refreshments will include tea, coffee and cake.

Parking in nearby Marshall’s Yard Retail Park.

Visit the church's own website here: St Thomas Gainsborough

Postcode: DN21 2AX, click here to find on Google Maps

Open: 18-19th May, Saturday 9am - 5pm • Sunday 10.30am - 5pm

Get Involved and Spread the Word!

Visit us on ExploreChurches:
https://www.explorechurches.org/church/st-thomas-canterbury-gainsborough

Click these links to find us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.

Willoughton • St Andrew

Willoughton • St Andrew
(photo by Richard Croft, Creative Commons Link)

Apologies, this church is no longer open for the 2024 festival. 

Please check our 'Changes' page for other changes to the brochure:

churchesfestival.info/brochure-changes

The church was partially rebuilt in 1794. A new West End Tower and Nave were built on to the 13th century Chancel. It was a typical George III church with a gallery at the West end and box pews. These have been swept away with the subsequent Victorian restoration in 1888, leaving behind the church seen today. 

The remains of the Nicholas Sutton Tomb in the Sanctuary and the blocked up medieval perpendicular two-light window in the South wall of the chancel are the only surviving evidence of the earlier church.

Postcode:  DN21 4BT, click here to find on Google Maps.

Open: 18-19th May,  Saturday 10am - 4pm • Sunday 10am - 4pm

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Click here to LIKE us on Facebook or click here to FOLLOW us on Twitter and help spread the word about the festival.

Welton • St Mary

Photo: Ashley Taylor, Push Creativity*

Lovely church with fine features including: Christ Hospital Window, Memorial Window (planes of WWI and submarines), two standards from Old Scampton RAF camp, stencilling on ceiling above chancel, (Orford monument), and alleged gravestone of Lincolnshire poacher in the churchyard.

Photo: Ashley Taylor, Push Creativity*

Photo: Ashley Taylor, Push Creativity*

Photo: Ashley Taylor, Push Creativity*

Photo: Ashley Taylor, Push Creativity*

Postcode: LN2 3HZ, click here to find on Google Maps.

Open: 18-19th May, Saturday 10am - 4pm • Sunday 12.30pm - 4pm

Get Involved and Spread the Word!

Visit us on ExploreChurches:
https://www.explorechurches.org/church/st-mary-welton

Click these links to find us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.

*Photo: Ashley Taylor, Push Creativity

Waddingham • St Mary & St Peter

Waddingham • St Mary & St Peter
(photo Richard Croft, Creative Commons Link)

Situation is east of main village on a high mound; a very peaceful location. Originally two churches stood here but now only this one remains. Stations of the Cross are mounted on the walls around the church. (History of the church leaflets available and graveyard plans also available). Plant stall selling a variety of locally grown items.

The church has its own website here: 

https://www.achurchnearyou.com/church/14904/

Postcode: DN21 4SU, click here to find on Google Maps.

Open: 18-19th May, Saturday 10am - 4pm • Sunday 10am - 4pm

Get Involved and Spread the Word!

Visit us on ExploreChurches: 
https://www.explorechurches.org/church/st-mary-st-peter-waddingham

Click these links to find us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.

Upton cum Kexby • All Saints

A jigsaw church of many periods from Anglo-Saxon to Victorian. There will be a display of kneelers. Please note car parking will not be available in the Rose and Crown car park but available in cemetery car park in Church Road.

Postcode: DN21 5NQ, click here to find on Google Maps 

Open: 18-19th May, Saturday 10.30am - 4pm • Sunday 11am - 4pm

Get Involved and Spread the Word!

Visit us on ExploreChurches:
https://www.explorechurches.org/church/all-saints-upton-kexby

Click these links to find us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.

Stow • St Mary

Photo: Ashley Taylor, Push Creativity*

This internationally renowned Anglo-Saxon Minster church dates to 975AD, with a Norman chancel completed c1150AD. Returned after decades in private hands our Saxon sundial, marking times for prayers for the 11th century College of Canons, will be on display between 10am to 4pm. Join our short times of prayer at either 9am, 12noon or 3pm. Otherwise, enjoy the Minster’s beauty, and peace, and reflect on the skills of our forebears. Visit stowminster.co.uk for more details.

 

Visit www.stowminster.co.uk for more details.

Postcode: LN1 2DE, click here to find on Google Maps 

Open: 18-19th May, Saturday 8.30am - 7pm • Sunday 8.30am - 7pm

Photo: Ashley Taylor, Push Creativity*

A 13th century font with no overtly Christian symbols (our Pagan mystery). Many 15th century pews with Victorian copies.

Photo: Ashley Taylor, Push Creativity*

Photo: Ashley Taylor, Push Creativity*

Photo: Ashley Taylor, Push Creativity*

Get Involved and Spread the Word!

Visit us on ExploreChurches:
https://www.explorechurches.org/church/st-mary-stow

Click these links to find us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.
*Photo: Ashley Taylor, Push Creativity

Spridlington • St Hilary

Spridlington • St Hilary
(Photo by Brian, Creative Commons Link)

Enclosed by tall horse chestnut trees, St Hilary’s is an unusual late Victorian church designed by James Fowler of Louth in 1873. Look for the high tower with saddleback roof, the stained glass windows (particularly the Nativity scenes in the West window) and the Victorian woodwork in the chancel. The beautiful restored Thomas Nicholson organ is a point of interest.

Pipes of the restored Thomas Nicholson Organ

Postcode: LN8 2DE, click here to find on Google Maps 

Open: 18-19th May, Saturday 11am - 4pm • Sunday 11am - 4pm

Get Involved and Spread the Word!

Visit us on ExploreChurches:
https://www.explorechurches.org/church/st-hilary-spridlington

Click these links to find us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.