St Vincent's Church, Caythorpe
Rarely can a village church have become such a shrine to Airborne Forces as St Vincent’s Church in Caythorpe.
Nestled amidst former bustling wartime airfields and under Lincolnshire skies once echoing to the sound of Allied aircraft, the Church has a poignant range of memorial plaques, artefacts, displays, two stunning stained glass windows and the Arnhem Aisle.
They illustrate the strong and enduring bonds between the village and Airborne signallers of 216 (Parachute) Signals Squadron, Royal Signals, the descendant unit of the 1st Airborne Divisional signallers based in Caythorpe in 1944.
The Arnhem Aisle carpet was commissioned by the Squadron with a bespoke weave.
In 1994, on the 50th Anniversary of the Arnhem mission, the Squadron donated the first stained glass window to the Church in memory of Airborne Signallers.
A second window was dedicated on 9 September 2012 to Airborne Signallers who had lost their lives on operations since 1994.
Other artefacts include a copy of 'The Last Battle Order' posted on the church door at Oosterbeck, Arnhem from the dying days of Operation MARKET GARDEN.
The Church is open for visitors – and reflection – every day.
Airborne Memorial window, Caythorpe Church.
Woven into airborne forces history; the Arnhem aisle in St Vincent's Church
Members of 216 Signals Sqn line the entry to Caythorpe Church during the Squadron's 2024 Annual Reunion Service. (Blow-by-Blow Productions)