Lincolnshire | The Northern Vicar Blog

May 27, 2023

Kirton in Lindsey, Lincolnshire – St Andrew’s

Last time we went to St Andrew’s church, Kirton in Lindsey, was when I was at Lincoln Theological College in about 1992 – I remember the kids having a lovely play at a flower festival. Sunday 14 May 2023 we finally went back – visiting as part of the West Lindsey Churches Festival – www.churchfestival.info. The church is in the middle of the town at SK934985, but good luck navigating the one-way system! They have an excellent website at https://www.standrewsunitedchurch.org.uk/, which comments that “when the roads were laid out by the Vikings or Saxons or Romans they gave no...

Lincolnshire/Railway History Comment: 1

May 26, 2023

Blyborough, Lincolnshire – St Alkmund

In recent years there has been a West Lindsey Churches Festival in Lincolnshire – www.churchfestival.info. It is spread over two weekends, and I had had plans to do it properly as part of my sabbatical. They produce a nice brochure, so we had a look to see where we could get to. On Sunday 14 May 2023 somehow we went from Sandtoft Transport Museum to St Alkmund’s church Blyborough – SK934945. It is a grade 1 listed church, first mentioned in the Domesday Book (1086), rebuilt in 1876/7 by James Fowler of Louth. Wild churchyard, and nice figures on...

Lincolnshire Comments: 0

December 23, 2022

Lincoln Cathedral (again)

I did a reasonable blog in 2014 – here – and we revisited what is still my second-favourite Cathedral on 22 July 2022. It’s always bitter-sweet going to Lincoln, as we lived there with three young children and there are many things that remind us of Gareth. It’s bitter-sweet as the Theological College is closed, sold off and rebuilt as luxury flats. The chapel in which I worshipped daily is now a very nice apartment, behind big security gates and a sign that says “beware of the dog.” The welcoming, homely college, place of students and families, of a...

Lincolnshire/Personal Comments: 3

April 19, 2021

Normanton-on-Cliffe, Lincolnshire – St Nicholas

After a day at Belton House, lovely National Trust property, but the church was locked, we drove to Ancaster, where the church was locked. Then we headed up the A607 and in Normanton-on-Cliffe there was a CCT sign beside the road saying “church open” – SK 048463. Lovely to be able to enter a church (that isn’t my own), just somewhat ironic it is a closed parish church that is open! St Nicholas church – https://www.visitchurches.org.uk/visit/church-listing/st-nicholas-normanton.html. Apparently there are 24 CCT churches in Lincolnshire, that should keep me quiet. It’s a medieval church with C11 origins. Changes were made...

Churches Conservation Trust/Lincolnshire/World War 1 Comments: 0

March 17, 2020

northernvicarwalks (and has train rides) – February 2020

This is the month that a Barham makes it into Railway Magazine. It’s not me, it’s Hannah – in a feature on the problems of disability access to trains. This was her first ride on an LNER Azuma (and I haven’t been on one yet). We had a series of wet weekends, and on Monday 6 February the Derwent was very high. I walked six miles round Darley Park. In the afternoon we had a snow shower (Sarah photed St Matthew’s Darley Abbey). It lasted just long enough to photo St Edmund’s Allestree looking lovely. The only snow of...

1,000 mile walking/Lincolnshire/Personal/Railway History/Wales Comments: 0

October 12, 2018

Sempringham, Lincolnshire – St Andrew, Sempringham Abbey

A cross Fen drive to the next Heritage Open Day. St Andrew’s church, Sempringham, Sempringham Abbey. The parish has a website, and the benefice has one too – here. You can even fly over the church – here. It is approached via a track, and I remembered coming here with the kids when we were at Lincoln Theological College, 25 years ago. There was a Saxon church here, then Jocelin, a Norman knight, built a new church in 1100. The central Norman tower was replaced in 1350-70 by the current one. The south doorway is good Norman work. The...

Lincolnshire Comments: 7

October 6, 2018

Silk Willoughby, Lincolnshire – St Denis

15 September 2018. Off to Norfolk for a week’s holiday. We had a couple of Heritage Open Days to enjoy en route. First stop was St Denis church, Silk Willoughby. The deanery has a website, but it doesn’t mention this weekend’s activities. There is another selection of photos here. The church is just off the old A15 – TF 057430 Silk Willoughby was anciently two manors. Willgebi (from old English ‘welig’ and old Scandinavian ‘byr’ meaning ‘the place among willows’) and Silkebi (Norse ‘selki’ meaning ‘young seal’). Makes you wonder why there are seals, and whether a seal was...

Lincolnshire Comments: 6

July 8, 2018

Heckington, Lincolnshire – Mill

Having been to the stunning church, we went to Heckington windmill – a unique eight-sail windmill beside the station, signal box and level crossing (though I still think the new H&S-complaint signal is hideous). The ‘box is 1876 Great Northern Railway, and Grade II listed – photos here. We had visited the mill in the early 90s – while at Lincoln Theological College we purchased a Lincoln Mills Passport and visited them all. I believe my family were the first to get their silver Dusty Miller badge. I can’t find a photo of it, and I must have lost...

Lincolnshire/Personal/Railway History Comments: 0

July 8, 2018

Heckington, Lincolnshire – St Andrew (again)

Last time we visited Heckington church was 4 years ago – read my blog. When we called in then there was a good bookstall, so my wife was happy. This time (Saturday 7 July 2018) Julie stayed in the car while I went to check – but they were preparing for a concert, so the books were packed away. I had a quick visit round the church – didn’t spend too long (one should not leave pets (or wives) in hot cars). Last I time I commented they needed a new guidebook – they have a new guidebook. Rather...

Lincolnshire/World War 1 Comments: 0

August 19, 2016

Lincoln, Lincolnshire – St Benedict

St Benedict’s church is the Mothers’ Union church in the centre of Lincoln – SK974711. It is run by the Lincoln Mothers’ Union, and they have a website, but it doesn’t tell me when the church is open. On Wednesday 10 August we had had lunch in the nice Italian – Bar Unico – across the road, then Julie went shopping and I explored with my camera. They had a welcoming poster outside, and rather lovely flowers inside. The church is just a bit of a church. There was a probably a Saxon church on the site, but the...

Cathedrals/Lincolnshire/World War 1 Comments: 0

Category: Lincolnshire