Re-evaluating the landscape of early ecclesiastical foundation in the Kingdom of Lindsey

Abstract

In 1993, David Stocker published a review of the evidence for the early church in Lincolnshire, proposing a series of models explaining the pattern behind the documented foundations of the 7th and 8th centuries. Over the last three decades, excavations at West Halton, Partney, Little Carlton and the long-awaited publication of those from Flixborough, in addition to new research at a range of other sites, make a re-evaluation of his arguments possible. By focusing on the historical Kingdom of Lindsey, this paper revisits some of Stocker’s propositions, and in particular the notion of the close pairing of ecclesiastical and secular settlements. Further attention is drawn to the close connection between newly established churches and pre-existing ritual features, as exemplified by the recently excavated pre-Christian shrine at West Halton.