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St Nicholas shares a chalk hilltop with the ruins of the castle; both were built soon after the Norman Conquest by William de Braose, a close associate of William the Conqueror.

The parish church was built in the 13th century of local limestone, but most of what we can see today is the result of a comprehensive rebuilding in 1865 by architect James Fowler of Louth. Fowler retained much of the medieval stonework, especially the south doorway and north arcade.

It is difficult to believe that this beautiful and well cared for church was neglected for many years. Now, fully repaired and restored, it is considered to be one of the finest small churches in England.

St Nicholas church is a Grade II* listed building. It was the first church designed by the architect Nugent Francis Cachemaille Day. In 1931, the foundation stone was laid and the ‘old' hall was built and used for services. In 1932 the building was completed at a cost of £11,600. From 1963/64 an extension was added to create choir stalls to the rear of the building.

This quant parish church of St Nicholas holds a wonderful story within its walls. For inside are memorials to two Spanish citizens of the Guevera family who came to England with Katherine of Aragon.

Some of the earliest evidence of habitation here comes from fragments of Roman settlements. Discoveries from archaeological digs have revealed the remains of a large Roman Villa decorated with well preserved mosaic on the playing grounds of St Laurence School.

St Nicholas Cathedral is an early Baroque Orthodox cathedral. The present church, which probably dates from 1650-1660, was built on the site of an earlier wooden church at the expense of Ivan and Vasyl Zolotarenko. The Baroque cathedral became an architectural model for other churches of the same style throughout Ukraine. From 1920 to 1939, the cathedral was used as a warehouse. After 1946, until 1990, it housed a local cultural centre.

The chapel of St. Nicholas (Agios Nikolaos) is located north of the village of Anopoli (province of Heraklion). It used to belong to the Monastery of Saint John the Theologian.

St Nicholas Church was part of a Dominican Abbey established in Visby in the 13th century. It is possible that the church was even older than the abbey. Today, the church is one of the many ruins that can be visited in Visby.

St Nicholas church is located in the small rural village of Brandiston, two miles south of Cawston. It is in the care of the Churches Conservation Trust.