• Lincoln Cathedral – amazing place – you must go there! Stands high on a hill and can be seen for miles around.  John Ruskin famously said, “I have always held and proposed against all comers to maintain that the Cathedral of Lincoln is out and out the most precious piece of architecture in the British Isles”.  Bill Bryson describes his visit thus – “Lincoln’s relative obscurity is something of a small miracle.  It would be hard to think of a place of equal architectural majesty less known to outsiders…”
• Boston Stump – or more correctly, St Boltoph’s Church, Boston. Described by Pevsner as a ‘giant among English Parish churches’ Boston Stump has always been a landmark to both seafarers and people travelling across the flat fenland that surrounds the town. Another influential Bostonian as far as the founding of America is concerned, was the Rev John Cotton, appointed the vicar at the Stump in 1612. Cotton thrived at St. Botolph’s for nearly 20 years despite being a Puritan but was eventually forced to go into hiding before leaving on a ship for New England.

• Southwell Minster (in Nottinghamshire, but not too far away) The Minster is a gem, said by many to be the best kept secret among the 42 English cathedrals. It is just 6 miles from Newark, is full of history and tucked away in a quiet part of the country. A visit to the Minster and the Workhouse are a must.

• The Collegiate Holy Trinity church next door to Tattershall Castle is well-worth a visit. How many people know that Tattershall was the home of Tom Thumb?  Near the font is a plaque marking his grave.  He was just 47 cm tall and died in 1620 aged 101!  His tiny house can be seen on the roof of another larger house in the village.  Amazing!

• Jew’s Court – Grade I Listed 14^th Century building on Steep Hill, Lincoln, traditionally thought to be on the site of a Medieval Synagogue and now a local history bookshop.

• St John the Divine Church, Southrey – The little church of St John the Divine at Southrey in Lincolnshire is far from being a typical English country church – more like something that has been transported from New England. Built by the parishioners themselves in 1898, the neat little gabled and belfried timber building, painted inside in sky blue, the church now has a 5-paned stained glass window to commemorate World War 1 and the sacrifice made by the soldiers and airmen from the village. Memorials linked to World War 1 within the churchyard have also been restored to their original white marble. The church remains on a plinth incorporating stones from the nearby ruins of Bardney Abbey

• The Churches Conservation Trust churches are my favourite. Here’s just a few of churches worth having a look at;
• Church of St John the Baptist, Burringham, Nr Scunthorpe
• St Michael’s Church, Burwell
• St George’s Church, Goltho, Nr Wragby
• All Saints’ Church, Great Steeping
• St Benedicts Church, Haltham on Bain, Nr Horncastle
• St Lawrence’s Church, Snarford, Nr Market Rasen
• St Helen’s Church, Little Cawthorpe, Nr Louth
• And many more! See visitchurches.org.uk

 Plus – our own local churches are worth looking at –

• Holy Trinity Church, Martin – Built in 1874-6 by architect TH Wyatt.
• St Andrew’s Church, Timberland– Originally Norman with later additions.