Our six churches
Every church in our benefice has its own story. Here’s a little about each one, and when you can visit.
Aslackby
The largely 14th century Church of St James the Great stands in the centre of Aslackby and is very much a focal point of the village — bright, airy, and welcoming, with flexible seating that allows the church to be used in a variety of ways. It has an historic connection with the Knights Templar and Knights Hospitaller: the remains of a Knights Templar Preceptory, founded around 1154, stand opposite the church. The 1856 chancel blends well with the mediaeval parts, and the east window contains three emblems telling much of the village’s history — the red Maltese cross of the Knights Templar, the black-and-white cross of the Knights of St John, and the scallop shell of St James’ pilgrims. There have never been pews here, giving the church a real sense of space.
Open 10am–5pm, Monday to FridayBillingborough
Situated in the centre of the village, St Andrew’s recessed spire soars to 150 feet — one of the tallest churches on the edge of the fens — and looks picturesque when floodlit each evening. It is a Grade I listed building, mostly early 14th century with traces of earlier work. The nave, with its arches and fourteen-windowed clerestory, is bright, light and spacious. The great West window (15th century) portrays the Resurrection and the East window the Crucifixion, alongside three further stained glass windows. The organ, a two-manual instrument, was completely rebuilt in 2000, and the church has a peal of eight bells.
Open dailyDowsby
Dowsby is the southernmost and smallest of our villages. Its church sits in a pretty churchyard in open countryside, on ground rising gently to the west from the B1177. Basically mediaeval, though inevitably restored in Victorian times, everything blends happily together to produce a delightful example of a smaller parish church. It is Grade II listed, and was saved from dereliction by the last vicar, who ensured the roof, windows and wiring were all mended or replaced.
Horbling
Horbling sits on the edge of the fens just north of Billingborough, in a parish still rooted in farming. St Andrew’s dates from the 13th century — its first recorded vicar, Joscius de Billingburgh, served from 1222–1240 — and is a fine Grade I listed building, notable for the varying angles of its tower and pillars (largely corrected around a century ago). A magnificent stained glass west window remembers Benjamin Smith (d. 1859), a respected local solicitor and clerk to the Black Sluice Drainage Trust, whose trust continues to support the church’s upkeep. The peal of six bells is considered very fine and is in regular use by local and visiting campanologists. In the early 1900s, Michael Ramsey — later Archbishop of Canterbury — was baptised here.
Open daily, 10am–4pmPointon
Known locally as “The Mission”, Christchurch was built in 1893 to serve the village of Pointon, which until then had only the fen church of St Andrew’s at Sempringham. A Boulton & Paul “flat-pack” structure of wood with corrugated iron cladding, both aisles have been completely rebuilt in the last decade so that this originally “temporary” building can continue to serve village life.
Open Sundays, 10am–4pmSempringham
St Andrew’s stands in isolation on undulating ground overlooking the fen to the east. Sempringham was a thriving mediaeval village, but the church is all that remains — modern Sempringham is a hamlet leading to the fen. Around 300 yards south of the church lies the site of the Gilbertine Priory; incomplete excavations in 1938–9 revealed that the original 12th century priory church extended to 325 feet in length and 93 feet in width. Sempringham is best known as the birthplace of St Gilbert, founder of the Gilbertine Order — the only monastic order ever founded in England — who was ordained priest by Alexander, Bishop of Lincoln, whom he served as chaplain.
Please note: Sempringham church is closed between Harvest and Easter due to the cold and damp.