St John the Baptist
High Toynton, Lincolnshire
High Toynton is a ‘doubly thankful’ village, it is one of only 14 churches in the UK where all the men came back from both World Wars.
The church is a 12th century Grade II* listed building, that is in regular use by the community and used as the only public meeting place in the village. A public footpath passes through the churchyard as part of a Lincolnshire Wolds Walk.
All that remains of the medieval building is the chancel, the rest of the church is Georgian. There was a rebuilding in 1780 and further work was undertaken in 1804. The unevenness of the exterior masonry, a mix of greenstone, ironstone and brick, has been relieved with a coat of lime wash, which is now quite worn. Inside the church are charming Georgian furnishings, a double decker pulpit and box pews all painted blue, contrasting with a contemporary floor of red brick.
It is a simple elegant church that is currently undergoing restoration, whilst still in regular use.
The church and churchyard are used by walkers, birdwatchers, bug hunters, along with families researching genealogy. We get regular visitors who come to picnic on our benches or just wish to ponder the quiet and solitude, as birds soar above.
