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The Lincolnshire Rising was a brief rebellion by Roman Catholics against the establishment of the Church of England by Henry VIII, and the dissolution of the monasteries. It began at St. James Church, Louth, after evensong on October 1, 1536, shortly following the closure of Louth Abbey, and quickly gained support in Horncastle, Caistor and other nearby towns. With support from local gentry, the rebels marched on Lincoln and by October 6 had occupied Lincoln Cathedral, demanding the freedom to continue as practising Catholics and protection for the treasures of Lincolnshire churchs.
The rebellion was effectively ended on October 10 when King Henry sent word for the occupiers to disperse or face the forces of the Duke of Suffolk, which had already been mobilised. By October 14, few remained in Lincoln. Following the Rising, Thomas Kendall, the vicar of Louth and its spiritual leader, was captured and executed, as were most of the other local ringleaders over the next twelve months. However, Lincolnshire Rising would inspire shortly the more widespread Pilgrimage of Grace.
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