St Helen's Church, Thorney

St Helen’s Church stands in Thorney, a village in Nottinghamshire’s flat fenland. The present building dates from 1850 and was designed by the Gothic Revival architect Lewis Nockalls Cottingham. It belongs to a group of nine nearby parishes that share similar 19th-century church architecture. The church is listed at Grade II*, recognising its special historic interest. Its exterior is faced in local brick with stone dressings. Inside, the nave and chancel are arranged in a simple rectangle. The church is worth the journey for lovers of Victorian church design. Cottingham’s work here shows his mastery of Early English style. The building replaced an earlier medieval church on the same site. The Grade II* listing places it among the county’s most significant places of worship. Its inclusion in the group of parishes highlights the scale of Cottingham’s influence across the area. Inside, the visitor finds a single space divided only by the chancel arch. The roof is of open timber, painted in deep crimson. Plain glass fills the lancet windows, letting in clear light. The font is a plain octagon of stone, set near the west door. The east window contains simple geometric tracery. Outside, the churchyard is bordered by low stone walls and mature lime trees.