Old and A Little Vulnerable.

This dear little church in Stragglethorpe St Michael's. is where my two daughter's were christened. We used to live in the village at the time. A tiny hamlet, with about 40 people in those days.

Just before my first daughter was christened they threatened to close the church, and maybe knock it down, or turn it into grain store. It needed extensive repair.
We got the Friend's of Stragglethorpe Church started up and raised enough, through anything from: a rabbit show (during a fete), raffle evenings, Christmas cards and so on. And a grant from The Church to match what we raised.
Prince Charles had visited St Michale's whilst at RAF Cranwell nearby. This fact and that he made a generous donation helped a lot, with the bodies who thought it didn't count as a building.

I went back to the village to stay with friends last night, and gathered that history had repeated it's self.
The Prince had been back to see it, a few weeks ago. Just turned up in his Aston, with two men along. No fuss. Just a visit for his own pleasure.

This was good news, but not that they are after the church again. Yes, they are making noises that it might not be up to spec, and could yet be deconsecrated and left to do what? Fall down?

I hope word gets to it's fans and it keeps going for some more decades. I believe it is older than Lincoln Cathedral.
it is tiny, but important.

A service by candle light, in those old pine pews is not easily forgotten.