St Peter's, Leire
St Peter's at Leire is one of those churches that beckons you towards it with its medieval steeple only to reveal that's this tower and spire are the only part of the ancient building left since the Victorians decided on a fresh start for the rest! This did occur at quite a few of the south Leicestershire churches (and of course many others elsewhere besides), and it is better to have kept the most prominent part visually than retain nothing of the medieval building at all!
The sturdy tower dates back to the 14th century whilst the remainder (chancel, nave and north aisle) were rebuilt in 1867-8 by William Smith (who around the same time similarly transformed churches nearby at Gilmorton and Shawell).
Inside the church is is of course a complete Victorian piece aside from the tower-base at the west end (which has 18th century memorial tablets flanking its arch). It is a fairly standard affair with several examples of glass of the period (that in the east window however is unusually purely non-figurative). The font is quite a pretty example of the period with carved panels in relief.
Leire church is usually kept locked outside of services. This was my second visit, both being on Heritage weekends in September (the best day for churchcrawling in this area!).
For more information see its entry on the Leicestershire Churches site below:-
www.leicestershirechurches.co.uk/leire-church-st-peter/
St Peter's, Leire
St Peter's at Leire is one of those churches that beckons you towards it with its medieval steeple only to reveal that's this tower and spire are the only part of the ancient building left since the Victorians decided on a fresh start for the rest! This did occur at quite a few of the south Leicestershire churches (and of course many others elsewhere besides), and it is better to have kept the most prominent part visually than retain nothing of the medieval building at all!
The sturdy tower dates back to the 14th century whilst the remainder (chancel, nave and north aisle) were rebuilt in 1867-8 by William Smith (who around the same time similarly transformed churches nearby at Gilmorton and Shawell).
Inside the church is is of course a complete Victorian piece aside from the tower-base at the west end (which has 18th century memorial tablets flanking its arch). It is a fairly standard affair with several examples of glass of the period (that in the east window however is unusually purely non-figurative). The font is quite a pretty example of the period with carved panels in relief.
Leire church is usually kept locked outside of services. This was my second visit, both being on Heritage weekends in September (the best day for churchcrawling in this area!).
For more information see its entry on the Leicestershire Churches site below:-
www.leicestershirechurches.co.uk/leire-church-st-peter/