The service commemorating the Rev Francis Trigge, who was Mayor of Grantham and Rector at Welbourn in the 16th Century and died 400 years ago, was held at St Chad's Church, Welbourn, where he is buried.

He collected more than 300 books and donated them to St Wulfram's Church in 1598 to create the chained library, which still exists today and is named after its benefactor.

The Rev Alan Megahey, who conducted Sunday's service, said: "I came up with the idea when I was reading about Francis Trigge and realised the 400th anniversary of his death was coming up.

"We had about 50 people come along and the keeper of the library Erica South brought along a Bible that was produced in 1599.

"It was bought by Francis Trigge and is called the Breeches Bible, because when Adam and Eve discovered they were naked they sewed themselves breeches."

The only set of Lincolnshire pipes in existence was played by Annie Walker while a floral tribute was laid on Trigge's final resting place.

Rector of St Wulfram's Canon Christopher Andrews also attended the service.

Visitors to St Wulfram's can see the library, which is accessed by a spiral staircase and housed in a room above the south porch.

More than 80 of the books there today still have their original chains which were passed through the spines so they could not be stolen.

Mr Megahey plans to hold a commemorative service each May alternating between the two churches.