Great Interpretations will work with people across the county to reveal the hidden heritage of these important local buildings.

Over 36 churches will benefit from National Lottery funding to transform their promotional resources for visitors from near and far.

Explore churches

The project will produce new professional films and photographs for church tourism website, Explore Churches.

Workshops for volunteers will provide training on tourism, publicity, photography and more. These sessions will be made available online, encouraging dedicated volunteers to record the history of their church as it happens.

[quote=Jonathan Platt, Head of HLF East Midlands]"We've invested over £850m to support & repair places of worship. I'm proud that we can continue this investment and help Lincolnshire churches."[/quote]

The National Lottery grant will also enable a series of guided walks and a coach trip to highlight the beauty of Lincolnshire’s churches.

Cherished spaces

Jonathan Platt, Head of HLF East Midlands, said: “Churches are among the UK’s oldest and most cherished historic buildings, and can reveal a wealth of information about their communities.

“Thanks to money raised by National Lottery players, we’ve invested over £850million to support and repair places of worship.

I’m proud that we can continue this investment with the Great Interpretations project and help this group of Lincolnshire churches to share their rich heritage more widely.”

Heritage treasures

The 36 churches are part of the Horncastle Churches Festival Group. Some of their treasures include:

• The oldest working Methodist chapel in the country at Raithby Methodist Chapel
• The Grade II* listed St Benedict’s Church, which dates back to the 13th century and was historically linked to the Dymoke ‘Champions to the Sovereign’ family
• St Lawrence’s church, Bardney, a Grade I listed 15th-century church built on the site of a Saxon abbey

Claire Walker, Chief Executive of the National Churches Trust, said: “Local people across Lincolnshire will be able to shout out with pride about their fascinating historic churches. The project will also inspire visitors from across the UK to come and discover the county’s fabulous heritage and help boost the local economy.”