St Helen
Burgh on Bain, Lincolnshire
St Helen’s sits proud in the centre of this modest Lincolnshire village but in the nearby hills and fields lies a wealth of history including bronze age barrows and Roman roads.
In the Domesday Book, Gayton le Wold is written as ‘Gedtune’ or ‘Gettune’. Before the Norman Conquest the lordship was held by Queen Edith, and after by King William who also became Tenant in Chief.
This pretty grade II listed church is dedicated to St Peter. It was completely rebuilt in red brick in 1775 and then underwent a full restoration 1888/9. It is small and charming, consisting only of a chancel and nave.
The main remnant of antiquity is what is believed to be the upper part of the medieval churchyard cross. Beside the porch on the south side lie two fragments of this 10th Anglo Saxon sculpture, a low relief cross with double outline and cable moulded rectangular frame.
The wide chancel arch has a painted metal text above the east window there is also a pretty 19th century font which is a small circular bowl on octagonal shafts.
Every February the church transforms with the staging the annual Snowdrop Festival.