St Peter & St Paul's Church

Set in the heart of the second largest village within the parish, the church contains some original medieval carved pew ends plus Victorian copies.

It has been nine years since we started in earnest to fund raise for the restoration of Osbournby church which was completed in 1320 on the site of a former Saxon church and recorded in the Domesday Book. We are now at the final hurdle awaiting the faculty (permission) from Lincoln Diocese to carry out the remedial work necessary to ensure the church remains standing for the next generation.

This includes installing drainage, which was removed in the 1960s and not replaced, the installation of cast iron guttering and downpipes replacing the existing disintegrating asbestos ones, stabilising the tower, repointing and resurfacing the north wall, repair and rehanging of the bells and reroofing of the porch and other vulnerable areas.

Unfortunately, due to the presence of bats work can only be undertaken during the months of April and September so as not to disturb them during the breeding and hibernation periods.

The estimated cost for the repairs and restoration is in excess of £300,000. With the help of the local community, we have raised in the region of £30,000 towards the costs. The next step is to seek funding. Other improvements in the church are being considered to make it more viable for wider use, including a servery, toilets, heating and lighting, and a digital archive of the history of the church and the village. With the help of the village school children it is planned to develop a wildflower and wildlife area in the churchyard next year.

Apart from some work on the tower and the north wall in 1965 to stabilise them with buttresses (there is a distinct unnerving lean towards the north), the last time major renovation was undertaken was in 1873, paid for by the vicar and the local community! It included raising the roof and the chancel arch (the roof has been raised and lowered on three occasions in its lifetime), replacing box pews with the existing ones and replacing the east window, it being half its current height prior to 1873.

An extract from a local newspaper recounting the work undertaken at the rededication of the church and the faculty applying for permission to undertake the work in 1873 is available here.

The Domesday Survey records a Church here in 1086 in the possession
of Gilbert of Ghent the wealthiest landowner on the county at that time. The Western end of the Nave dates from the 12th or early 13th century but much of the existing Church was constructed in 1320. At that time the Nave, South Aisle Chancel and Porch were rebuilt. A further extensive restoration was begun in 1873 When the roof was replaced and the East window and pews were installed (cost £1,460).

Our Church information leaflet provides further details of the Churches many historical features.

Details of the stained glass in the Church is available here.