Reviews

Visitor Comments (2026)


Peter, Brigg: "The Booklet is excellent and well designed and our bible. My Niece and I managed 7 churches on the first sunday last year from Bottesford through to Hemswell incl. lunch at Grayingham. Later in the year we toured around Horncastle and had lunch in Hemingby Church. Keep up the good work and long may the event continue. Thanks go to all concerned for their fine efforts."

Liz, York: "My daughter and I love the West Lindsay Churches Festival & keenly anticipate it each year. This is the third year we'll have been. We live in York, and as in 2025 are staying for the weekend, so that we can see as many churches as possible. We've seen a variety of fascinating churches, many with long and intriguing histories and of great beauty in their landscapes. We've also met so many kind, friendly, interesting and hard-working parishioners welcoming us to their churches with chat, cake, and music. They add enormously to the the pleasure we get from the weekend."

Betty, Worksop: "Huge thanks to everyone for many years of pleasure visiting the festival."

Diane, Gainsborough: "Looking forward to visiting these beautiful churches again this year.  Always a delight to see them and speak to those who volunteer their time."

Peter, Grimsby: "Your volunteers are a credit to the festival, cheerful, informative and welcoming."

Andrew, Lincoln: "Really enjoyed seeing the churches that were added last year and am pleased there are even more added this year."

Karen, Scunthorpe: "A lovely way to find out about treasures on the doorstep. Always a warm welcome, often with a cuppa and a cake on offer waiting for visitors."

John, Wakefield: "We have enjoyed attending for many years now, we share it with friends, long may  it continue."

Karen, North Thoresby: "Love these Festivals.  I've been attending every year since my return home to Lincolnshire.  Wouldn't miss them."

Tim, Lincoln: "Massive fan of these weekends."

Val, Market Rasen: We always look forward to welcoming so many enthusiastic people to our Church and receiving so many compliments.   Congratulations to your team for organising an event that gives so many people such pleasure."

Anna, Scamblesby: "Look forward to these Church festivals. Some amazing history."

Patrick, Hull: "We always enjoy the Festival, travelling from the North Bank. We are both very much into Organs, my friend being a former professional organist & Schools music teacher."

Ronni, Hull: "During our visits to the Churches Festival over the last 17 years, we have met some welcoming volunteers  who have interesting information about the churches.  One comment I would like to make is that some churches are overpowered by sales stalls, both inside and outside. We realise it is a source of much needed finance, but it can detract from the architecture and ambiance of the buildings. perhaps more discreet positioning of these stalls would be better."

John, Hull: "Have very much enjoyed these visits to Lincolnshire Churches in the past."

Catherine, Market Rasen: "We absolutely love your Church Festivals! The volunteers are amazing and we have a wonderful time meandering across Lincolnshire and seeing the splendid buildings. Thank you for all your hard work - it’s really very much appreciated."

Anne, Peterborough: "Lovely volunteers,  very welcoming and friendly.  Knowledgeable and excellent refreshments everywhere."

Susan, Everton: "We look forward to this event every year and appreciate all the hard work that goes into it. Thank you to everyone."

Peter, York: "Although I live in York, I love to visit so many of your different churches and I always find so many friendly people giving a warm welcome and are always happy to share information about the church and surrounding area. Thank you to everyone for this event."

Chris, Sheffield: "Always a lovely festival."

Tony, Lincoln: "An excellent weekend we have enjoyed for many years."

Stacey, Nottingham: "Thank you for putting so much effort and imagination into this enterprise and maintaining the event for so long. We have much enjoyed taking part in perhaps a dozen years since 2000."

Alan, Spilsby: "Fabulous festival that is eagerly anticipated and cherished every year. Thank you."

Gill, Grimsby: "I really enjoy the Church festivals and finding more about the history." 

Martin, Newark: "I always enjoy your festival which is well organised.  It is helpful for details of the villages as well as their churches.  Perhaps this information could be left in the church."

Shirley, Scunthorpe: "You always do a wonderful job. Thankyou"

David, Chathill (Northumberland): "Please continue doing what you are doing - It works. Thank you to everyone who contributes to the success of the festival."

Judith, Lincoln: "I always look forward to these festivals. Thank you to all who work so hard for us." 

Jon, Lincoln: "Wonderful festival.  We attend as many churches as possible each year."

Dianne, Lincoln: "Really enjoy these weekends with volunteers always so welcoming."

Elizabeth, Searby: "We love this festival. A brilliant way to explore the county and get to some really interesting places.... and cake!!"

Chris, Lincoln: "Looking forward to another fab year of exploration. Never fails to amaze us."

Susan, Lincoln: "I look forward to visiting beautiful churches during the festival each year.Thank you for all your hard work."

Alice, Belper (Derbyshire): "We have been enjoying the festival for over 20 years and never fail to see and learn something new. The volunteers are so lovely and the tea and cakes are wonderful."

Justin, Torquay: "Thank you for your excellent endeavours…"

Sophine, Billinghay: "Have enjoyed visiting these churches in the past and look forward to seeing them all again."

Julian, Barton-upon-Humber: "My wife and I always look forward to these festival weekends."

Denise, Beverly: "So looking forward to this festival - thank you."

Clive, Kingston Upon Hull: "We do so appreciate all the kind volunteers who make these visits to Churches so enjoyable."

David, Cherry Willingham: "I have loved this event over many years and looking forward to new visits and reacquaintance with old friends."

Ruth: Leicester: "We are looking forward to attending this years' event."

Peter, Brigg: "An excellent publication which we use as our 'Bible' "

Visitor Comments (2025)


Lincoln-based Tracey Kidner explains how much the event means to her.“Always a highlight of my year: such a delight to explore our beautiful county and discover our shared history and heritage. Plus amazing cakes!”

Sally Vergette from Grimsby: "The very many different architectures of the churches amaze us. The volunteers are so enthusiastic and informative and the displays are imaginative. We love it."

Long-time visitor Lexie Brookes-Ashmore, from Caistor, says she enjoys the graveyards as well as the churches: “I have been visiting the churches festival since 2012, so this will be my 12th year! My best friend and I cancel all other plans for the festival (plus the September one) and always end the day with a picnic. We love the architecture and history as well as the many interesting graves.”

Beth Sliwinski from Sheffield: "If ever a reason is needed to visit beautiful Lincolnshire, this is it. Every church provides its own treats - interesting architecture, friendly volunteers, delicious refreshments, picturesque churchyards - even the drives from one church to the next are a pleasure."

Visitor Patrick Flynn explained how the opportunity to play many of the church organs was a highlight for him and his friend: "We travel from Hull and visit on one of the days each weekend. My friend is a professional organist and usually plays all the available instruments and we plan our route beforehand. We enjoy the festival very much indeed."

Sheffield visitor Cath Mirfin offered her recommendation to people considering taking part this year: “Whether you love visiting a new church, finding out about the building’s history or just admiring the architecture this is the festival for you. Everyone we met were very friendly and full of interesting info. And some churches have fabulous cakes! We put it in our diary every year and make it a long weekend at the East coast.”

Visitor Angela Mayne from Middle Rasen explains her reasons for taking part: “I love taking pictures in Churches, so during the festival makes my job a lot more interesting. People looking round the displays in the Churches makes for good photography.”

Sue Toogood from Lincoln told us: "We have our favourite churches but try to ‘bag’ a new one every year - getting more difficult now after so many seasons!"

Chris Gale, also from Sheffield, combines visiting her brother Andy (who lives in Lincolnshire) with church visits. "We always take time to visit the church festivals, last year we took the family’s Sealyham terrier Arthur who really enjoyed it, especially the ham sandwiches at Stainfield. This is an unusual Queen Anne-style church next to the Manor House in a tiny village that you would never know was there! The festival helps you discover some hidden gems in Lincolnshire."

Gillian Poucher (Wolds based author and URC minister) wrote: "May Churches Festival celebrates the rich variety of churches across our district, from ancient to modern, peaceful to vibrant, in hamlets, villages and market towns. The Festival offers something for everyone: opportunities for reflection in the Quiet Churches, enjoyment of organ and other music, fascinating heritage displays, and of course many cups of tea and mouth watering cakes!

Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)