St Matthew
Normanton, Leicestershire
Fairy tale church almost lost forever under the waves of Rutland Water.
The long history of St Mary's opened a new chapter during the construction of Rutland Water when it became linked with the neighbouring church of St Matthew.
Edith Weston, Rutland
Now jutting into the lake close to Edith Weston, Normanton church was deconsecrated and would have been submerged when the reservoir was filled in 1979, but the upper part was saved. A commemorative plaque in names 22 people whose remains were exhumed from Normanton churchyard and cremated.
Also remembered here is Sir Gilbert Heathcote of Normanton Park, who was Lord Mayor of London in 1711 and governor of the Bank of England. His 18th century wall memorial, with an inscription full of praise for his noble character, is among those brought here from Normanton, along with the medieval altar stone in the north aisle.
A modern stained glass window shows Jesus and the disciples in a fishing boat, with Normanton church in the background.
Normanton, Leicestershire
Fairy tale church almost lost forever under the waves of Rutland Water.
Hambleton, Rutland
The hilltop setting of St Andrew's ensured its preservation when much of its parish disappeared beneath Rutland Water in the 1970s.
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.