Parish Church of St James, Louth

Welcome to the Parish Church of St James.

Visit this special place – stand and wonder in this house of prayer and home of saints. This has been a place of prayer and worship for well over a millennium. The current building dates from 1170 and the church was finished in 1515 with the completion of its crowning glory – the tallest mediaeval parish church spire in England.

An earlier church here was home of Saint Aethelheard (an eighth century abbot, who went on to become Archbishop of Canterbury) and Saint Herefrith, (a Bishop of Lindsey who was buried here after being martyred by the invading Vikings).  The oldest visible reminder of our heritage is an Anglo-Saxon Louth Cross which dates from the mid tenth century.

We are currently open for private prayer between 10am and 4pm six days a week Monday-Saturday. Our Coffee Shop ‘Under the Spire’ – serves hot and cold drinks and light bites from 10:30am until 2pm Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays from Easter to Christmas. Climbs of the tower are available on Wednesdays and Saturdays by prior booking. Please email or telephone to enquire.