To spot St Peter in Eastgate, just look for a long, honey-colored stone building with six tall, elegant arched windows and a heavy wooden door set beneath a pointed arch-all glowing warmly in the sunlight.
Now, as you’re standing here, let’s take a little leap back in time. Imagine the year is 1070. Horses clop just behind you on the old cobbled road, and the gentle ring of hammers echoes out as the first stones of St Peter’s original church are set carefully in place. This spot you’re on has watched Lincoln’s story unfold for almost a thousand years, and my, what stories it could tell! In the 1640s, things turned rather dramatic-the English Civil War raged and, during the siege of 1643, sections of the church were badly damaged. Picture smoke curling above the rooftops and anxious townsfolk ducking inside for safety!
But this is no place for gloom: by 1781, a new church stands strong and proud-though it wouldn’t be the final version. With the Victorian age came more townsfolk and a need for something even grander. In 1870, Sir Arthur Blomfield, quite the architect in his day, brought visions of sweeping arches and piercing windows, the very ones you see before you. And not to be outdone, George Frederick Bodley came along and splashed the chancel with breathtaking color in 1884.
And just when you thought it couldn’t get more extravagant-surprise! In 1914, Temple Lushington Moore stitched on a whole new south aisle, funded by Alfred Shuttleworth. They even threw in a glittering Rood Screen for good measure. Stand still for a moment and imagine the hum of choir voices drifting from the grand organ, first built in 1836-a sound blown through pipes tinkered by some of the country’s best organ builders. Oh, and don’t forget Harry Smith Trevitt, who played it for decades-he probably had the liveliest fingers in Lincoln.
Today, the church is every bit as warm and welcoming as its sunny walls. These days, St Peter in Eastgate is famed for its follow-the-fun community spirit-with a fresh outreach program, worship in a pub, and a parish as lively and friendly as ever. It just goes to show: some stones hold stories, and others, it seems, hold a whole city’s heart!
