Coates is a deserted medieval village in the West Lindsey district, 8.5 mile N of Lincoln. The church stands in farmland and the nearest village is Stow, 1.6 miles to the W. It is a small church with nave and bellcote and chancel. The nave is mostly of the 13thc, and the chancel was restored in 1883-84 by J. L. Pearson. A S porch shown in a drawing of 1793 was removed by Pearson. The S nave door is late 12thc or early 13thc.

In 1086, six Tenabts in Chief were recorded here, none of whom held more than half a carucate. Three of the holdings were waste and only 2 had any villagers. These were Odo of Bayeux who held 0.5 carucates, home to 5 villagers, and whose Lord of the Manor was Ibert of Lacy and; and the Bishop of Lincoln, who also held 0.5 carucates, with Erchenbold as his Lord of the Manor but apparently had no tenants.

The S doorway probably dates around c. 1200. Pevsner characterises it as transitional; reasonable in view of the chamfered order and the dogtooth.