St Nicholas
Thistleton, Rutland
A chapel of ease and lovely example of a rural Victorian church in the tiny rural village of Thistleton in north Rutland.
St Nicholas church was begun in 1087 and is believed to be the oldest church in Rutland.
Stretton, Rutland
This was at the time that Countess Judith, niece of William the Conqueror lived in the village. After several owners, including the Knights Templar and Hospitallers and the Horsman family, at the time of the Civil War, the church fell into disrepair. In 1881 it underwent a major refurbishment, thanks the vicar who wrote under the name of to 'Cuthbert Bede' and plans are now afoot to open it up to the wider community whilst refurbishing and retaining its charm and beauty as a pace of worship.
There is no mention in the Domesday Books of 1066 and 1086 of a church in Stretton, but building commenced in the decades following, as by 1185 the church had been granted to the Knights Templar. At the time of its major refurbishment in 1881 remains of an Anglo-Saxon settlement on this site were also discovered. The original church was greatly extended in the 1200s with the chancel being doubled in size. The north aisle and a new north wall were constructed along with the double 'Rutland' bellcote.
The church was extensively restored in 1881-2 by James Fowler of Louth, who rebuilt the west wall and bellcote as well as adding lancets to the west and north nave walls. They also rebuilt and widened the north aisle and installed the 'modern' pine pews in the main body of the church. The church is constructed of local Oolitic Limestone in block form. All internal walls are plastered with strategic block work exposed. The roof is of clay tiles (1881-2 renovation) with the exception of the south entrance porch which has Collyweston slates, which were saved from the original roof prior to the 1881 restoration.
Thistleton, Rutland
A chapel of ease and lovely example of a rural Victorian church in the tiny rural village of Thistleton in north Rutland.
Castle Bytham, Lincolnshire
Exton, Rutland
The Noel family of Exton Park, Earls of Gainsborough, have held the manor here since the 17th century, the church has some of the finest church monuments in any parish church in the country.