St Benedict and Old Kate

St Benedict's Church in 1905

A Saxon church existed on the site of St Benedict's church at the time of the Norman conquest, although most of what we see today is of the 13th and 14th centuries. The church was once much grander and larger, a victim of the Civil War, the chancel and north aisle is all that remains, the church was repaired and the tower was reconstructed against the west side of the medieval chancel arch after the Restoration, in a position to the east of the original tower.

Prior to the Civil War St Benedict's was the Lincoln Civic church. Many of Lincoln's churches were damaged or destroyed during the Civil War, only three churches were able to conduct public worship: St Peter at Arches, St Mary le Wigford and St Peter at Gowts.
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The exterior gives little hint to the grandeur of the church prior to its partial demolition, at one time it was the church of the richest and most important people of the city; many affluent citizens of the parish have monuments within the church. It was rebuilt at a time when Lincoln was in decline and no longer had the benefit of the Wool Staple.

The parishioners of St Benedict's were transferred to the nearby St Peter at Arches church when St Benedict's church was retired as a parish church.

Old Kate
In 1585 the Company of Barber Surgeons gifted a curfew bell to the church, hung in the bell tower, it was rung at 6 a.m. to tell workmen it was time to go to their work and 7 p.m. to tell them to finish their days toil and later in the evening to extinguish their lamps and candles. The bell was known as "Old Kate". It was rung for many years by John Middlebrook, the parish clerk; he lived in a lean-to building attached to the north side of the tower. He died in December 1804 and his wife, Mary, succeeded him as parish clerk and took on the job of ringing Old Kate. It is said she brought the bell rope through belfry door and into her bedroom so that she could ring the bell when in bed. Mary died 7th November 1822 at age 72, old men and boys continued to ring the bell kneeling on her bed. The Corporation paid 6s 8d (33p) a year until 1837. The bell was later hung in the tower of St Marks, I understand it was returned to St Benedict's church in 1971, when St Mark's church was demolished

Potential Demolition
The church was closed in 1931 and demolition was proposed. However, following a public outcry, the church was saved as the result of an appeal led by the Lincoln Architectural and Archaeological Society and renovation work was undertaken. Sadly, the LAAS were not so forthcoming when the much grander St Peter at Arches church was demolished.

St Benedict's Church by Samuel Hieronymous Grimm, 1784

War Memorial

War memorial. 1922. By Montague Hall. Ashlar. Gothic Revival style. Moulded plinth with quatrefoil band. Octagonal base with crocketed gabled diagonal buttresses, with the faces inscribed with names. Panelled octagonal shaft with moulded stepped base, topped with a gabled tabernacle and crucifix.

(Buildings of England : Lincolnshire: Pevsner N: Lincolnshire: London: 1989-: 524).

The Foundation stone was laid by John Harris, J.P.  Dedicated by the Bishop of Lincoln, Edward Hicks, and unveiled by Field Marshal Sir William R Robertson Bart GCB GCMG KCVO DSO on  25th October 1922