Archive for the ‘Harborough District’ Category

St. Leonard - Misterton St. Leonard - Misterton

The parish church of St. Leonard is mostly a C14 building with a broached spire on the west tower.

South aisle window, St Leonard - Misterton South aisle window, St Leonard

South aisle window detail misterton 029

The early C14 south aisle window has Victorian stained glass and is dated 1878. The stained glass in the east window is Victorian.

C16 carved bench end Octagonal C19 font C16 carved bench end

The octagonal font is also C19 as are the pews, however some of the bench ends are reused C16.

Effigy of Sir Michael Poulteney Effigy of Sir Michael Poulteney

The chancel contains two alabaster chest tombs. Against the south wall is the C16 effigy of Sir Michael Poulteney (d1567) in armour with helmet, crowned with a saracen’s head, and lion at his feet.

Effigy of Sir Michael Poulteney Monument to John Poulteney

The tomb against the north chancel wall is a monument to to John Poulteney (d1637) has a plain black top and shields in strap work cartouches around the sides.

St. Nicholas - South Kilworth St. Nicholas - South Kilworth St. Nicholas - South Kilworth

The south Leicestershire parish church of St. Nicholas in South Kilworth. Is late 12th early 13th century. The tower with its effigy of St. Nicholas is 14th century, and the broached spire was added in the 15th century. The clock was installed in 1921 and is a memorial to those that died in the first world war.

Nave, St. Nicholas - South Kilwort South Aisle, St. Nicholas - South Kilworth Chancel, St. Nicholas - South Kilworth

North Aisle, St. Nicholas

Built in the late Norman period the church has been restored a number of times, and largely rebuilt in 1868-69, under the instructions of Rev. Assheton Pownall by G.F. Bodley. George Bodley was known as the chief exponent of 14th century English Gothic, and the leading ecclesiastical architect in England. He is regarded as the leader of the resurgence of interest in English and northern European late-medieval design.

East window south Aisle, St. Nicholas - South Kilworth East window chancel, St. Nicholas - South Kilworth West window, St. Nicholas - South Kilworth

The east window in the south aisle contains the Pownall motto “OFFICIUM PRAESTO”.

The chancel window left main panel depicts St. Mary the Virgin with the subscription “St. Mary” below which is shown the Annunciation. The centre main panel displays the Crucifixion subscribed “It is Finished” beneath which is the Nativity with the Holy Family in Bethlehem. The right main panel is inscribed “St. John” and illustrates St. John the Baptist; beneath is the Resurrection. The inscription at the window’s base reads “To the glory of God in memory of the Revd. Assheton Pownell M.A. Rector of this Parish and Archdeacon of Leicester. This Window was placed by his parishioners and friends June 1887”.

West window of nave. From top to bottom, the left panel contains a small medallion enclosing a cherub with blue wings above a seated Resurrection angel with red wings, beneath which is the Virgin Mary robed in blue and standing at the foot of a coffin. At the top of the central panel, facing forwards stands the resurrected Christ. Beneath him lies the central part of the coffin with Mary Magdalene kneeling, dressed in red. The right panel contains another cherub in a medallion, this time in brown with red wings, above a second seated resurrection angel with blue wings. Below at the head of the coffin stands St. John.

The window was commisioned by Catherine Countess Beauchamp from Messrs Hardman & Co of Birmingham. The actual artist is unknown.

Pulpit, St. Nicholas - South Kilworth Piscina, St. Nicholas - South Kilworth Font, St. Nicholas - South Kilworth

The carved pulpit was installed as a first world war memorial. The font is Norman from the late 12th early 13th century thought to have been constructed from the capital of a Norman column.

Altar tomb, St. Nicholas - South Kilworth Effigy, St. Nicholas - South Kilworth

The remnant of an altar tomb and the effigy are of a 15th century rector Richard Wythnale who died 1439. The reredos panel contains a rare iconic "Lily Crucifixion", of which there are only two other stone sculptures in the UK.

Details of church history supplied by Sam Lloyd.

8
Dec

Swinford – All Saints.

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All Saints - Swinford

Built in the early part of the 12th century, possibly on the site of an earlier Saxon church.

Nave & Chancel All Saints - Swinford Chancel All Saints - Swinford Roof beams All Saints

In the mid 12th century the aisles were added. The roof was replaced in the 16th century and a clerestory added. The church retains the original beams of the period with grotesque carvings. The chancel was rebuilt in the late 18th century and again in 1994 when it was extended and the roof raised.

North aisle window All Saints - Swinford North aisle window All Saints - Swinford North aisle window All Saints - Swinford

South aisle window All Saints - Swinford South aisle window All Saints - Swinford South aisle window All Saints - Swinford

Incarnation All Saints - Swinford East window All Saints - Swinford Resurrection All Saints - Swinford

All Saints - Swinford All Saints - Swinford

The stained glass windows are all early 20th century by Clayton and Bell of London, who also made the glass in Truro Cathedral. They were a gift of Richard Spencer and his family.

6
Dec

Catthorpe – St. Thomas.

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St. Thomas - Catthorpe

Addition of new vestry and organ chamber, rebuilding of porch, rebuilding of chancel arch and part of chancel south wall, with reseating and general repairs were undertaken in 1885/6.