Angel Window, Knighton
Angel window in the north aisle by Christopher Whall, c1922.
St Mary Magdalene's at Knighton serves one of the former villages on Leicester's outer fringes that are now more or less incorporated into the suburban sprawl whilst still retaining some of its separate identity. It is set back from the streets in a quiet corner surrounded by greenery, its tall, slender spire announcing its presence above the roofs and trees.
On closer inspection it's immediately clear that this church is a bit more unusual, the medieval building consisted of just nave and chancel with the slim and elegant west tower and spire (which has a medieval statue of its patron saint, in a curiously off-centre niche high up on the eastern face) but had a south aisle added in the Victorian period. Then in the mid 20th century came a rather more dramatic transformation when a new nave was built, between the old church and the Victorian aisle, which necessitated dismantling the latter and rebuilding it further to the south so that the modern nave sits inbetween, largely unnoticed from outside, but very much apparent within. Entry is via the west porch which forms part of this modern enlargement.
Once inside one is confronted by the light and spacious modern nave, culminating in a plain-glazed oriel window at the east end. The south arcade is also modern and separates the short Victorian south aisle that was reassembled here. The nortn arcade however is medieval and divides the old part of the church from the new, the present north aisle having been the nave and chancel of the original church. There is much Victorian glass here, but the really significant piece is the beautiful Arts & Crafts window at the west end with two glorious angels in blue and red. The ancient font also stands close by.
The church isn't normally open outside of services, it had been a familiar sight to me for a few years having lectured the Leicester Stained Glass Appreciation Society (that meet in the parish rooms over the road) on many occasions. On all my visits I'd never found it open so on one occasion one of the group members kindly arranged for someone to come and open the church up for me, but sadly despite their best efforts whoever this keyholder was never showed up. An opening for a previous Ride & Stride day also failed to materialise, but happily this year it was open and a thriving space (people were gathering at the west end and there was a condolence book out in memroy of the Queen who'd died two days earlier). I'm glad to be able to say it was worth the wait to see inside at last.
Angel Window, Knighton
Angel window in the north aisle by Christopher Whall, c1922.
St Mary Magdalene's at Knighton serves one of the former villages on Leicester's outer fringes that are now more or less incorporated into the suburban sprawl whilst still retaining some of its separate identity. It is set back from the streets in a quiet corner surrounded by greenery, its tall, slender spire announcing its presence above the roofs and trees.
On closer inspection it's immediately clear that this church is a bit more unusual, the medieval building consisted of just nave and chancel with the slim and elegant west tower and spire (which has a medieval statue of its patron saint, in a curiously off-centre niche high up on the eastern face) but had a south aisle added in the Victorian period. Then in the mid 20th century came a rather more dramatic transformation when a new nave was built, between the old church and the Victorian aisle, which necessitated dismantling the latter and rebuilding it further to the south so that the modern nave sits inbetween, largely unnoticed from outside, but very much apparent within. Entry is via the west porch which forms part of this modern enlargement.
Once inside one is confronted by the light and spacious modern nave, culminating in a plain-glazed oriel window at the east end. The south arcade is also modern and separates the short Victorian south aisle that was reassembled here. The nortn arcade however is medieval and divides the old part of the church from the new, the present north aisle having been the nave and chancel of the original church. There is much Victorian glass here, but the really significant piece is the beautiful Arts & Crafts window at the west end with two glorious angels in blue and red. The ancient font also stands close by.
The church isn't normally open outside of services, it had been a familiar sight to me for a few years having lectured the Leicester Stained Glass Appreciation Society (that meet in the parish rooms over the road) on many occasions. On all my visits I'd never found it open so on one occasion one of the group members kindly arranged for someone to come and open the church up for me, but sadly despite their best efforts whoever this keyholder was never showed up. An opening for a previous Ride & Stride day also failed to materialise, but happily this year it was open and a thriving space (people were gathering at the west end and there was a condolence book out in memroy of the Queen who'd died two days earlier). I'm glad to be able to say it was worth the wait to see inside at last.