Church Of St Helen

The Church of St. Helen is a parish church dating back to the early 14th century, with significant additions and alterations in the late 14th and early 15th centuries, and further work in 1846 and 1880 by James Fowler of Louth. It is constructed of squared coursed greenstone rubble with limestone ashlar, some red brick patching, and slate and lead roofs. The church comprises a western tower, a clerestoried nave with aisles, a chancel, and a south porch.

The three-stage western tower has a bell moulded plinth and two moulded, chamfered string courses. The parapet features octagonal angle finials. Stepped set-back buttresses, partly in brick, are present, with a "toothache" carving on the southwest angle. The tower has tall, 2-light transomed belfry windows with panel tracery, moulded surrounds, and shafted reveals. A single lancet is also present on the south side. The west window is a 3-light window of the 15th century with flowing tracery and mouchettes. Above it is a niche with a nodding ogee head containing a figure of a bishop, followed by an ogee headed light and a lozenge-shaped clock face. The north aisle has a lead roof and a chamfered eaves cornice. The west window is 15th century, 3 lights with panel tracery. To the north are five 14th century 3-light, cusped, ogee-headed windows in rectangular surrounds, and a moulded, pointed doorway. The 14th century clerestory has five paired lights, cusped on both sides. A semi-circular headed window is blocked at the east end. The 19th century chancel east window is a 3-light window with panel tracery and a moulded surround. The south wall has two late 14th century 3-light windows with pointed heads, moulded surrounds, and cusped, flowing tracery with rectilinear central panels. The south aisle has a single 3-light 15th century east and west window, and four 3-light windows matching those on the north side. A gabled 15th century porch has a moulded outer arch and clustered, filleted, shafted reveals. The inner doorway is continuously hollow moulded and pointed.

Inside, five bay 14th century nave arcades have octagonal piers and capitals, with double chamfered arches. The 14th century tower arch is double chamfered, dying into the reveals, and matches the arcade. The chancel arch also matches the arcade. An early 14th century double chamfered arch is found in the north wall of the chancel, leading to a north chapel, with sunk wave shafted reveals. Adjacent is a probably repositioned 14th century double chamfered arch with octagonal responds and capitals. The chancel contains 20th century stained glass commemorating an association between Willoughby in America. A window in the south aisle records the baptism of John Smith, the founder of Virginia in 1580. Fittings include 19th century features such as a panelled ashlar pulpit, decorated deal benches, and a 15th century octagonal font with a bell moulded base, a plain stem, shields to the sides of the bowl, and an angel. A probably late medieval ladder provides access to the bell chamber within the tower.