St Peter

This tiny church, in a tiny parish, has been unchanged over the centuries. But it does have a story to tell, far more powerful and shocking than its rural setting belies.

Our tiny church was home to the Beechey family in late Victorian times, Revd Beechey was our Vicar, who lived here. His wife, Amy, gave birth to 14 children, and all 8 sons went to War, but only three returned, representing one of the most enormous single sacrifices in this country. We are proud to honour their memory with a stained glass window, that was financed by their living relatives, a stone cross that was fashioned from the same oolithic limestone that Lincoln Cathedral is built from. Only six of these were made and a BBC Radio Lincolnshire reporter made the epic journey around the world, leaving a stone cross on each of the last known places of the Beechey boys, the sixth cross has come to Friesthorpe.

Our memorials also tell the stories of others from the village who fought and died. Three other soldiers died from here, and two are remembered. But despite these horrors, this church remains in a peaceful haven of rural Lincolnshire, and is well worth a visit. 

Come and listen to our Audiotour, which tells the tale of the Beechey family, and imagine what it must have been like for Mrs Amy Beechey, and her daughters to dread the telegrams that arrived.    

But also, come along and enjoy the tranquility of our setting, sit in the churchyard amongst its memories and take time to contemplate.