About Us

Church information and history

St Michael’s Church stands on Coningsby High Street, opposite the White Bull, and has been at the heart of village life for many generations.

One of the first things visitors notice is the church’s remarkable one-handed clock. It was made that way deliberately and is believed to be one of the largest one-handed church clocks still in use anywhere in the world.

The church is also custodian of a Dutch flag with a moving wartime history. During the Second World War, the flag was used to cover the bodies of one British and two Allied aircrew who had been sheltered in a safe house after being shot down. Coba Pulskens, the brave Dutch woman who helped them, was arrested by the Germans and later murdered at Ravensbrück concentration camp. The flag remains a powerful reminder of courage, sacrifice and the cost of war.

Outside, on the south side of the church, visitors can see a simple sundial mark, sometimes known as a scratch dial or mass dial. A small stick would once have been placed in the hole so that its shadow could show the time.

On the roof of the south porch is a small stone carving of a monkey. This is linked by tradition to a tragic story involving the infant Viscount Coningsby, son of Margaret, Countess of Coningsby, and Sir Michael Newton. The child was born at Culverthorpe Hall on 16 October 1732 and died in infancy after reportedly being taken from his cradle by a pet monkey. A monument to the story can be found at Heydour, and it is possible that the stone monkey at Coningsby was carved at around the same time.

St Michael’s is a church full of unusual stories, local character and historic interest, and visitors are warmly encouraged to come in and look around.

Rector, Administrator and Churchwardens

Our Priest in Charge is the Rev. Sally Clifton. Sally is available to contact by telephone on 07949 556494, or email [email protected]

Our Parish Administrator is Debbie Knight. 

Our Churchwarden is Mr Peter Bass 01507 568734