---
title: "St Mary, Thoresway"
description: "Located in Thoresway, Lincolnshire. Built 12th and 13th century; mostly rebuilt 1879–86. Diocese of Lincoln. Grade II. Victorian Gothic, reusing Norman work style."
category: "Church"
tags: ["Church","Church of England","Lincolnshire","Thoresway","Grade II","James Fowler","Norman"]
canonical: "https://thebritishgazette.com/post/st-mary-thoresway"
pubDate: "2026-09-06T02:53:39.698Z"
dateModified: "2026-09-07T20:33:08.407Z"
location: "Thoresway, Lincolnshire"
country: "England"
county: "Lincolnshire"
town: "Thoresway"
address: "St Mary, Thoresway, Lincolnshire, LN8 3UY"
postcode: "LN8 3UY"
built: "12th and 13th century; mostly rebuilt 1879–86"
architect: "James Fowler"
denomination: "Church of England"
dedications: ["Mary"]
diocese: "Lincoln"
grade: "II"
style: "Victorian Gothic, reusing Norman work"
materials: "Coursed ironstone rubble with limestone ashlar dressings; slate roofs with decorative ridge tiles"
openingHours: "Sorry, there are no regular opening times for this church."
parish: "Thoresway"
listEntryUrl: "https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1165474"
gridReference: "TF 166 966"
---

# St Mary, Thoresway

St Mary’s is a Grade II parish church in Thoresway, West Lindsey, Lincolnshire, in the Diocese of Lincoln, rebuilt from ruin by James Fowler while retaining Norman masonry.

## Overview

Historic England records a parish church with twelfth- and thirteenth-century features, mostly rebuilt in 1879–86 by James Fowler, in coursed ironstone rubble with limestone ashlar dressings and slate roofs with decorative ridge tiles and a wooden west bell turret. The plan is nave with north and south aisles, north porch, rectangular chancel and north vestry. The nineteenth-century west front reuses part of a twelfth-century tower arch as a central round-headed composition with inserted lights and an oculus. Lincolnshire Heritage Explorer notes that the church was rebuilt from a ruinous condition in 1879–80; the former western tower was taken down before 1879 for safety, and its east arch remains inside.

The Corpus of Romanesque Sculpture records late-thirteenth-century nave arcades and Romanesque features in the north nave doorway and the reused west tower arch. The north porch has a round-headed doorway with grooved imposts. The east window is a pointed three-light opening. Four floor-stones, three with floriated crosses, are older than the Victorian rebuild. There is no regular published opening time.

## Further Information

- [Historic England list entry 1165474](https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1165474)
- [Lincolnshire Heritage Explorer MLI51683](https://heritage-explorer.lincolnshire.gov.uk/Monument/MLI51683)
- [CRSBI: St Mary, Thoresway](https://www.crsbi.ac.uk/view-item?i=624)