St Swithin
Lincoln, Lincolnshire
Rebuilt on the site of the medieval church, which was destroyed by a bomb on the night of 8th/9th May 1941, St Michael’s is built of concrete with Ancaster stone facings outside.
Waddington, Lincolnshire
The tall windows allow the building to be filled with light. Unusually, there is no east window.
The bomb destroyed the church in only a few seconds and over 100 homes were damaged. The rubble of the church formed a cross shape. Eleven people died from the airbase and one person, Eva Hall, aged 21, died from the village.
Those that had always looked at the church clock were shocked to find it gone. The only items that survived were five bells, the hands of the clock, a paten and a ewer. Further bombs fell on the nearby RAF Waddington.
Fundraising for the new building was intensive as, although the War Damage Commission gave a grant of just over £16,000, the total cost was £27,581 13s. The War Damage Commission also gave a length of blue carpet, from the carpeting installed at Westminster Abbey for the Coronation in 1953.
The bells, that survived the blast, were rehung in the new tower and were augmented by another bell; the six bells are still rung.
There is a large carved capital from the former church in the churchyard as a reminder of what happened. Some of the stones from the old Waddington church were used as hardcore at RAF Swinderby.
The church combines a traditional shape with a light and modern appearance.
Lincoln, Lincolnshire
Lincoln, Lincolnshire
Lincoln Cathedral punctuates the city skyline and can be seen for many miles, it was once the tallest building in the world (before the central spire fell down in 1548).
Lincoln, Lincolnshire