Crowland is famous for its ancient abbey, said to have been founded by King Ethelbald in 716.  It was devastated by Vikings and plagued by misfortunes: in the eleventh and twelfth centuries two fires and an earthquake destroyed successive re-building.

Henry VIII dissolved Crowland Abbey in 1539 but the nave and aisles of the abbey church were retained for use by the parish.

The nave roof collapsed in 1720 and, shortly after, the south aisle was dismantled for stone to repair the north aisle - now Crowland's parish church.

The church and ruins with their graceful perpendicular columns and Norman arches are open to visitors.