Mostly built of red sandstone, this C14 church is in the decorated style, including the tower, nave and chancel. The remains of part of the north wall of the nave maybe C12 – C13.

Recently the old lead on the roof was discovered to have a number of inscribed footprints, numbered, initialed and dated 1782, and a old alphabet of 25 letters.

In the north wall of the chancel is a mid C14 effigy of a priest dressed in Mass vestment, with angels at his head, and a dog at his feet. Probably the rector at the time that the chancel was built.

The three light east window with cusped heads surmounted by trefoils. The stained glass in this window is by Burlison & Grylls the bottom left panel depicts St. Wilfred holding a model of the church.

The north west chancel window has fragments of early C14 glass figures, including that of a tonsured monk, and a lady.

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Tags: burliston, effigy, grylls, medieval, stained glass, tower

Built from Hornton stone in 1866 by C. Buckeridge with a west tower and broached spire. The present church of St. Peter replaces a small medieval church that was located at the other end of the village.

No records remain as to when the earlier church was built, it was certainly after 1086 as there is no record of it in the Doomsday Book. However, when it was demolished in 1865 a Norman piscina was discovered in its foundations.

A number of monuments and pieces of glass were moved from the old church to the new. Including the effigy of Captain Henry

Kingsmill, who was killed at Edgehill on Sunday, 23 October 1642. This was the first pitch battle of the English Civil War. The inscription is on an adjacent slate slab, noting that the monument was erected by his mother Lady Bridgett in 1670.

In the north wall of the chancel is an effigy a headless priest (c1450), wearing the vestments for saying mass, his feet resting on a dog.

The east window of the south aisle has four C17 Dutch panels two of which tell the story of the merciless servant (Matthew, chapter 18). The first panel shows him throttling the debtor that owed him 100 pence, the second panel shows him being carried off to prison.

Another panel depicts a king with his retainers and before him a bound, half-naked prisoner, the inscription ios of no help in deciphering this ‘Adam and Eva ware begiled off the serpent’.

The last panel is two archers, one shooting, the other receiving a cake from a serving man at the door of a kitchen in the background. The inscription here reads ‘The Samaritā set him on his hors and brought him to an inn’.

All of these panels are reputed to have come from a Dorset farm house and were given to Sanderson Miller who originally intended for them to be placed in the octagonal tower at the top of Edgehill.

The north aisle contains some contemporary stained glass work, one by William Nichol dedicated to Major Richard Corfield (2004). The other is an ‘Annunciation’ and dedicated to Victor Gibbins (1995). The south aisle has glass depicting the ‘sower’.

The east window has a representation of the ”Ascension’.

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Tags: baroque, effigy, spire, stained glass, tower, victorian

13th century parish church in the Perpendicular Gothic style.

The sedilia to south of chancel has nodding ogee arches, and was retained from earlier times when the chancel was remodeled in the C19. The alabaster effigy on the low tomb chest is decorated with quatrefoils in the perpendicular style. Its the monument to John Dycson, rector from 1439 to 1445.

The bench ends are probably C15 with Gothic tracery.

Perpendicular style decoration around north chancel window.

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Tags: effigy, monument, perpendicular, sedilla, stained glass, tomb, tower

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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Tags: effigy, font, G.F. Bodley, hardman, nicholas, spire, stained glass