Horncastle churches lead the way

Horncastle area churches have been chosen to spearhead a new project which if successful could '¨roll out nationwide.
Church support officer Linda Patrick, left, and church tourism manager Sara Crossland outside Revesby Church EMN-180626-081504001Church support officer Linda Patrick, left, and church tourism manager Sara Crossland outside Revesby Church EMN-180626-081504001
Church support officer Linda Patrick, left, and church tourism manager Sara Crossland outside Revesby Church EMN-180626-081504001

The National Churches Trust (NCT) picked the Horncastle Deanery to benefit from the Heritage Lottery funded project following the success of last year’s churches festival.

The project is looking to boost church tourism and part of the funding is being used to employ a church support officer and that role has 
gone to Horncastle resident Linda Patrick.

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Having organised the churches festival, and also being part of the West Lindsey Churches Festival team, Linda has a wealth of knowledge to pass on to the church teams taking part in the project.

Benniworth Church EMN-180626-082518001Benniworth Church EMN-180626-082518001
Benniworth Church EMN-180626-082518001

She said: “Every church has a story to tell and I am challenging every church to uncover that story.

“We will be offering workshops and support for putting those stories together.

“We have employed a professional photographer to get our visuals off to a good start.

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“We need people to look at what makes their church unique and then let people know about it.”

Fulletby Church EMN-180626-082531001Fulletby Church EMN-180626-082531001
Fulletby Church EMN-180626-082531001

The project is open to churches, chapels and meeting rooms across the Horncastle Deanery.

Linda is also working in partnership with east Lindsey District Council and the Lincolnshire Wolds Countryside Agency to help tourism through the Love Lincolnshire Wolds site.

Linda added: “These are very exciting times and there is so much we can do to help boost church tourism.

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“We are encouraging churches to be open and 
for visitors to step inside and have a look.

Belchford Church EMN-180626-082503001Belchford Church EMN-180626-082503001
Belchford Church EMN-180626-082503001

“If the project works - and I am certain it will - it will be great to think we are at the start of something that 
will be so big.”

The NCT website has an Explore Churches section which details churches nationwide.

Visit www.nationalchurchestrust.org to find out more.