And what a glorious celebration is on offer as we come together after two years absence due to the pandemic.
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We are delighted that over 90 churches are opening their doors over the second and third weekend in May to offer a warm welcome to all. 2022 is the Queen’s platinum anniversary and in celebration, four churches in week 1 are holding exhibitions in honour of this wonderful achievement.
Holy Trinity, Swallow will include personal reminiscences and souvenirs of the Queen’s seventy years reign and at St John’s, Southrey, which was built by the villagers during Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee year, a celebration of Queen Elizabeth’s Platinum Jubilee with a red, white and blue themed flower display. At Middle Rasen, the theme of St Peter & St Paul’s is ‘The Queen - Service before Self’ and Nettleton St John the Baptist have chosen ‘Anniversaries’ as the theme with flowers and exhibits on view.
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| Stow Minster |
Holy Trinity, Swallow will include personal reminiscences and souvenirs of the Queen’s seventy years reign and at St John’s, Southrey, which was built by the villagers during Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee year, a celebration of Queen Elizabeth’s Platinum Jubilee with a red, white and blue themed flower display. At Middle Rasen, the theme of St Peter & St Paul’s is ‘The Queen - Service before Self’ and Nettleton St John the Baptist have chosen ‘Anniversaries’ as the theme with flowers and exhibits on view.
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| St Lawrence Church Bardney |
Other exhibitions to take note of during both weekends are: St Andrew’s, Apley, which is celebrating 25 years of this West Lindsey Open Churches Festival with a special flower display. Stainfield, St Andrew have a theme of ‘Consider the works of our hands’, celebrating local craftspeople and their skills and St Peter & St Paul, Owmby by Spital have a similar display. Reepham St Peter & St Paul focus on ‘Past, present and future’ with archive of the village as will All Saints, Upton cum Kexby. A new stained glass window commemorating all who have served at RAF Scampton over the last 100 years takes pride of place in the church’s ‘Allies in the Air’ exhibition.
The history of some of our churches spans back to those first Christian saints. Why not discover more and follow in the footsteps of St Oswald from Rand, via Stainfield with its connections with the Benedictine nunnery, to St Lawrence church, Bardney. Here you can explore the connection between Venerable Bede, St Oswald and Bardney Abbey.
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| St Peter & St Paul, Cherry Willingham |
The history of some of our churches spans back to those first Christian saints. Why not discover more and follow in the footsteps of St Oswald from Rand, via Stainfield with its connections with the Benedictine nunnery, to St Lawrence church, Bardney. Here you can explore the connection between Venerable Bede, St Oswald and Bardney Abbey.
There really is 1400 years of English history in this one building! Every one of our churches is waiting to share its story with you. And we promise there really is a different story in each! Try and find out the importance of Henry Dudding of St Edmunds at Riby, or Anne Ayscough of St Mary & St Nicholas at South Kelsey! Whichever church you visit, you will be guaranteed a warm welcome, each one is waiting to greet you, for the last two years have been most difficult.
Together with refreshments and lunches being served at many of our churches, you will not go hungry!
Churches have been closed for long periods of time and unable to raise income from their many activities, including normal collections and the hiring out of buildings. So please join in and celebrate this festival and support as many churches and chapels as you can. Not only will you be supporting our church heritage, you will also be supporting many of our small villages, helping to ensure that the lovely community spirit that binds these rural Lincolnshire towns and villages together stays forever.
Together with refreshments and lunches being served at many of our churches, you will not go hungry!
Churches have been closed for long periods of time and unable to raise income from their many activities, including normal collections and the hiring out of buildings. So please join in and celebrate this festival and support as many churches and chapels as you can. Not only will you be supporting our church heritage, you will also be supporting many of our small villages, helping to ensure that the lovely community spirit that binds these rural Lincolnshire towns and villages together stays forever.
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