October 21, 2013 1.45 pm This story is over 125 months old

Village church destroyed in fire

Church destroyed: Police and firefighters are investigation the cause of a fire that burnt down a church near Wragby, north-east of Lincoln.
The burnt down St George's Church in Goltho. Photo: Pauline Loven (@periodwardrobe)

Police and firefighters are investigating the cause of a fire that destroyed a church near Wragby, north-east of Lincoln.

The incident was called in just after 5am on October 21, after reports that St George’s Church in the Goltho village was on fire.

The church is situated in a field surrounded by a clump of trees, and can be approached only by footpaths. The nave of the church was built in about 1530.

It is situated beside one of Lincolnshire’s lost villages, an old Saxon settlement. The name ‘Goltho’ is said to be Saxon for ‘where the marigolds grow’.

Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue teams from Lincoln North and Market Rasen attended the blaze, which was extinguished using two main jets.

The main damage was in the roof of the disused church, but the fire also caused severe damage throughout the building.

The cause of the fire is now under investigation.

A number of local residents and the Churches Conservation Trust have commented that they are distraught that a local landmark is now a shell.

Exterior of St George's Church, Goltho, before the fire. Photo: Churches Conservation Trust

Exterior of St George’s Church, Goltho, before the fire. Photo: Churches Conservation Trust