St Mary's, Temple Balsall
Temple Balsall's early fourteenth century church is quite unlike any other in the county, having been built originally to serve a community of the Knight's Hospitallers, who resided here until the 1470s.
After that time it is unclear whether it was then taken over for parish use; what is known is that it was sold off by the Crown at the Reformation and left ruinous until restored as a parish church by Lady Anne Holbourne in the 1662.
The church was heavily restored by Sir George Gilbert Scott in 1849, though it is generally accepted that he followed the original design as closely as possible (the spirelet and most of the rich external carvings are of this time).
That the church was the chapel of a former complex is clear from the south entrance which shows the remains of a vaulted chamber around it, and the corbels jutting out above the off-centre west door, once sheltered by a corridor or cloister which, along with most of the rest of the buildings, has long since disappeared.
The interior is an impressively proportioned space, a single chamber with nave and chancel in one as one would expect in a chapel. There is glass by Powell's in the east window and earlier work at the west end and the roof is supported by a series of striking corbels carved with the busts of bearded Knights (they look convincingly medieval from a distance but all date from the Victorian restoration).
The church is happily normally open and welcoming to visitors.
St Mary's, Temple Balsall
Temple Balsall's early fourteenth century church is quite unlike any other in the county, having been built originally to serve a community of the Knight's Hospitallers, who resided here until the 1470s.
After that time it is unclear whether it was then taken over for parish use; what is known is that it was sold off by the Crown at the Reformation and left ruinous until restored as a parish church by Lady Anne Holbourne in the 1662.
The church was heavily restored by Sir George Gilbert Scott in 1849, though it is generally accepted that he followed the original design as closely as possible (the spirelet and most of the rich external carvings are of this time).
That the church was the chapel of a former complex is clear from the south entrance which shows the remains of a vaulted chamber around it, and the corbels jutting out above the off-centre west door, once sheltered by a corridor or cloister which, along with most of the rest of the buildings, has long since disappeared.
The interior is an impressively proportioned space, a single chamber with nave and chancel in one as one would expect in a chapel. There is glass by Powell's in the east window and earlier work at the west end and the roof is supported by a series of striking corbels carved with the busts of bearded Knights (they look convincingly medieval from a distance but all date from the Victorian restoration).
The church is happily normally open and welcoming to visitors.