Rebuilt upon an earlier Norman church the current building dates from about 1225 and is constructed from the local Limestone in the Early English style. The east window is c1275 with six lights, six quatrefoiled circles, and a large octofoiled circle in the head. The broached spire was rebuilt in 1826 after having being struck by lightning.

The tower is Early English and on its north side there are figures of a fiddler, and pipe and tabor player, whilst on the tower’s south side there is a figure playing a harp.

Above the chancel arch is a C15 painting (c1420) with two angels carrying the instruments of the passion. The Virgin Mary and St. John the Evangelist are on either side of the cross which was once a sculpture of the Crucifixion that has been lost.

On wall of the north aisle is a series of painting dating from between 1420-1450. The western most one is a depiction of the Seven Deadly Sins. This painting has Pride at the gates of Hell being speared by Death, and around her are dragons spewing forth the other sins.

The eastern section of the north aisle has a painting (c1420-1450) of “The three living and the three dead”. This was a popular story from the end of the C13 which originated in France. The story tells of three kings who out hunting come across three corpses who tell the kings that they are their ancestors, and berate them for a life of pleasure. The earliest recording of the story in England comes from Shropshire.

Between the painting of Pride and the Kings is a painting also from the same date of St. Christopher carrying the Christ child. The west wall above the archway leading to the tower has a painted clock face (c1390-1430) donated by local landowners John and Sarah Catlyn. An inscriptions asks for for prayers for their souls.

The north and south aisles have three windows by Francis Skeat dated between 1954 and 1981.

The baptismal font is C13 with a protruding rams head. In the chancel are two 18 in C15 brass memorials one to John Tawyer (d1470) and wife, the other to a lady (c1500).

The east window already described above contains stained glass by Kempe (c1907).

Tags: brass, kempe, medieval, peter, skeat, spire, stained glass, wall painting

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’.

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

Built from coursed ironstone St. Botolph is mosty in the Decorated style with a C14 nave, chancel, porch and lower part of tower. However an earlier C12 building was once on the site as can be seen from the reused south doorway, and the chancel arch. The upper part of the tower is dated 1611.

The north transept was added in 1839, and replaced by the current north aisle by Sir G. G. Scott, who also added a bell chamber, spire, and carried out other restoration work. There are several sketches of the church showing its appearance before the later alterations.

The east window is by William Wailes and dated 1856. The font has C19 octagonal bowl and stem, but base-mould, and the chamfered step are 14th century. The pulpit alter, rails, pews, chancel stalls, and west tower screen are all from the 1875 restoration.

St. Botolph has a number of stained glass windows. In addition to the three light east window by William Wailes (1856), there is a fine “Annunciation” from 1936 (artist and studio unknown).

Tags: botolph, g.g. scott, spire, stained glass, wailes

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

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

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

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.

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.

Tags: elizabethan, font alabaster, jacobean, leonard, spire, stained glass, tomb