Boyville Brass, Stockerston
Brass to Lord of Stockerston John de Boyville (d.1467) and his wife Isabella Cheney. Formerly on the floor of a chantry in the south aisle but now wall-mounted at the west end of the nave.
Stockerston church lies some distance to the west of the village, approached by a long lane and situated on high ground next to the privately owned Hall. It is a handsome late medieval building, having reached its present form in the 15th and early 16th centuries.The church consists of chancel and nave flanked by aisles (both being a bay shorter than the nave itself) and a west tower with generously sized belfry windows, all finished in local ironstone that has grown attractively silvery with lichen.
The light interior has much of interest, it has not been too heavily restored and retains many antique features with various monuments and memorials (including a pair of fine brasses now displayed at the west end) and remains of ancient woodwork (though the original screen has gone, however there is an unusual stair-turret that once led to its loft in the south aisle). The outstanding survivals here however are in glass, with isolated panels of 15th century stained glass surviving in several windows, the most complete being the St Christopher at the west end, and a sainted bishop and scene from Christ's passion in the north aisle. Usually one is lucky to find mere fragments of the lost medieval glazing, but here at least those fragments are substantial with several complete panels and images.
Stockerston church was easily my favourite of our day exploring Leicestershire (18 churches visited of which we found 11 open) and is one I thoroughly recommend. Sadly visiting isn't normally so easy as it is generally kept locked outside of service times and I'm not sure if there is a keyholder so it may be necessary to make prior arrangements to visit the interior.
For more on this gem of a church see its entry on the Leicestershire Churches site below:-
www.leicestershirechurches.co.uk/stockerston-church-st-pe...
Boyville Brass, Stockerston
Brass to Lord of Stockerston John de Boyville (d.1467) and his wife Isabella Cheney. Formerly on the floor of a chantry in the south aisle but now wall-mounted at the west end of the nave.
Stockerston church lies some distance to the west of the village, approached by a long lane and situated on high ground next to the privately owned Hall. It is a handsome late medieval building, having reached its present form in the 15th and early 16th centuries.The church consists of chancel and nave flanked by aisles (both being a bay shorter than the nave itself) and a west tower with generously sized belfry windows, all finished in local ironstone that has grown attractively silvery with lichen.
The light interior has much of interest, it has not been too heavily restored and retains many antique features with various monuments and memorials (including a pair of fine brasses now displayed at the west end) and remains of ancient woodwork (though the original screen has gone, however there is an unusual stair-turret that once led to its loft in the south aisle). The outstanding survivals here however are in glass, with isolated panels of 15th century stained glass surviving in several windows, the most complete being the St Christopher at the west end, and a sainted bishop and scene from Christ's passion in the north aisle. Usually one is lucky to find mere fragments of the lost medieval glazing, but here at least those fragments are substantial with several complete panels and images.
Stockerston church was easily my favourite of our day exploring Leicestershire (18 churches visited of which we found 11 open) and is one I thoroughly recommend. Sadly visiting isn't normally so easy as it is generally kept locked outside of service times and I'm not sure if there is a keyholder so it may be necessary to make prior arrangements to visit the interior.
For more on this gem of a church see its entry on the Leicestershire Churches site below:-
www.leicestershirechurches.co.uk/stockerston-church-st-pe...