St John The Baptist Church
East Markham
All Saints' Church Rampton
St Helen's Church Grove
St John The Baptist Church
Treswell
St Nicholas' Church
Askham
St Peter's Church
East Drayton
St Peter's Church Headon
St Peters' Church Laneham
St Peters' Church Stokeham
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Welcome To The Rivers Retford Parish
Nine historic churches, one welcoming family of faith. The Rivers Retford Parish brings together nine remarkable churches across the Nottinghamshire countryside, each with its own story stretching back through centuries of worship and community. Whether you are looking for a place to worship, a piece of local history to explore, or simply a peaceful spot to visit, we are glad you have found us.
Who We Are
The Rivers Retford Parish is comprised of nine seperate churches belonging to the Deanery of Bassetlaw & Bawtry in the Diocese of Southwell and Nottingham. We welcome people of all ages to our varied services and events, and every one of our churches remains an active part of the community it has served for generations.
Our Nine Churches
Each of our churches has its own character, from soaring medieval towers to quiet village fonts that have stood for 900 years. Explore each one below to discover its history, architecture and treasures.
St John The Baptist Church East Markham
St John the Baptist Church, East Markham is one of Nottinghamshire's finest medieval parish churches and is widely regarded as the architectural landmark of the village. The church is a Grade I listed building, recognising it as a structure of exceptional historic and architectural importance.
Although a church has stood on the site since at least the time of the Domesday Book in 1086, the present building is largely a magnificent example of 15th-century Perpendicular Gothic architecture, with some surviving 14th-century features.
More Information News From This ChurchSt Helen's Church Grove
St Helen's Church is the parish church of the small village of Grove, just south of Retford in Nottinghamshire. It belongs to the Church of England and is a Grade II listed building, recognised for its special architectural and historic interest.
Although the present church dates from 1882, the site has a much longer history. A church and priest at Grove are recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086, suggesting that Christian worship has taken place here for almost a thousand years.
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All Saints' Church Rampton
All Saints Church is the ancient parish church of Rampton, near Retford in Nottinghamshire. It is one of the village's most significant historic buildings and is listed as Grade I, recognising it as a building of exceptional architectural and historic importance.
The church stands on a site where Christians have worshipped for over 1,000 years. Evidence of its Saxon origins includes carved grave slabs and fragments of an Anglo-Saxon cross built into the east wall. Although the current church is largely medieval, parts date back to the 12th century, with later additions made during the 13th, 14th and 15th centuries.
More Information News From This ChurchSt John The Baptist Church Treswell
St John the Baptist Church, Treswell is the historic parish church of the small Nottinghamshire village of Treswell, near Retford. It is a Grade I listed Church of England building, recognised as being of exceptional architectural and historic interest. The church has evolved over several centuries, with work dating from the 13th, 14th and 15th centuries, and later Victorian restoration.
Architecturally, the church is built of local stone and combines Early English, Decorated, and Perpendicular Gothic styles. Its plan consists of a chancel, nave, north aisle, south porch, and a sturdy west tower with diagonal buttresses and battlements containing three bells. The tower, nave, and porch are crowned with battlements, giving the church a distinctive medieval silhouette.
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St Nicholas' Church Askham
St Nicholas' Church, Askham is a small, historic Church of England parish church in the village of Askham, Nottinghamshire, around 6 miles (10 km) south-east of East Retford. It is a Grade II* listed building, recognised as being of more than special architectural and historic interest.
Inside, visitors find a simple village church with historic stonework, stained glass, memorials, and an atmosphere reflecting centuries of rural worship. Despite its modest size, it retains architectural features from several medieval periods, illustrating the gradual development of an English parish church.
More Information News From This ChurchSt Peter's Church East Drayton
St Peter's Church is the historic parish church of the village of East Drayton in Nottinghamshire. Officially dedicated to St Peter and St Paul, it is one of the county's finest medieval churches and is protected as a Grade I listed building, recognising its exceptional architectural and historic importance.
The church originated in the late 12th century, with major additions made during the 13th and 15th centuries. Although it has undergone careful restoration, notably to the chancel in 1857, the nave and aisles in 1873, and the roof in 1982, it retains an impressively complete medieval appearance.
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St Peter's Church Headon
St Peter's Church in Headon, near Retford, is one of Nottinghamshire's most historically significant village churches. Standing on the highest point of the village, it has been a place of worship for around 800 years and is a Grade I listed building, reflecting its exceptional architectural and historic importance.
The church originated in the early 13th century, although much of what visitors see today dates from the 13th and 14th centuries. It is built from dressed stone in the Early English Gothic style, with later Perpendicular additions. The broad west tower is particularly distinctive: historians believe it was originally intended to be taller, but work may have been halted by the Black Death in the mid-14th century.
More Information News From This ChurchSt Peter's Church Laneham
St Peter's Church in Church Laneham, Nottinghamshire, is one of the county's finest medieval parish churches and is designated a Grade I listed building, recognising its exceptional architectural and historic importance.
The church occupies a small rise overlooking the River Trent floodplain, making it a striking landmark in the historic settlement of Church Laneham. A church has stood on this site for over 900 years, with the present building developing between the 12th and 15th centuries. Although altered over time, it remains predominantly Norman in character, which is relatively unusual in Nottinghamshire.
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St Peter's Church Stokeham
St Peter's Church, Stokeham is a small medieval parish church in the village of Stokeham, Nottinghamshire. Despite its modest size, it preserves architectural features spanning more than 800 years and is one of the village's two listed historic structures.
The church is primarily a 13th-century building, consisting of a simple nave and chancel built of local stone. Its most distinctive external feature is the small western bellcote (a gabled bell turret) with two openings, although only one bell remains. The masonry and the characteristic narrow lancet windows are typical of Early English Gothic architecture.
More Information News From This ChurchNews & Events
Stay up to date with everything happening across our nine churches, from services and celebrations to restoration projects and community gatherings. Below you will find our latest news, so you never miss what is going on in The Rivers Retford Parish.
Safeguarding
The Rivers Retford Parish is committed to safeguarding children, young people and adults from harm. We follow the House of Bishops guidance and policies and have our own Parish Safeguarding Officer (PSO).