"Saints Alive" - All Saints Church, Beckingham, Lincolnshire

History of the Church

There has been a community living on the high land to the east of the river Witham at least since Saxon times and the existence of a rectory is mentioned in Domesday Book.

The present building dates from the 12th century and there is a fine Norman arch on the north door.  Some people suspect parts of the chancel may be Saxon.

The Aisles were built in the 14th century - and the Norman door moved to its present location.

Village tradition asserts that the lead from the church roof was stripped by Parliamentary forces during the civil war to make ammunition for the siege of Newark - a Royalist stronghold.

The church underwent extensive renovations in the 18th and 19th century.  The Victorian changes included the fitting of the current pews to allow for a larger congregation as the village grew.  Census returns show the population of Beckingham reached 450 in the middle of the 19th century - much higher than it is now.

In the 1990s a survey report revealed that the church was unsafe.  It remained closed for some 10 years before restoration work started.  The first service inside the revived church took place at Christmas 2005.

 The roof of the North Aisle
before restoration.