My winner for most picturesque setting of the day, Wistow church was happily basking in the early evening sunlight as I approached via the leafy path from the main road (from which it is set well back and hidden away behind trees). Seeing this charming building emerge from the foliage ahead of me was a delight I won't forget. It is one I'd wanted to see for many years since first seeing images of it in a book decades ago (and was intrigued by the name 'Wistow' which for some reason back then I always felt should be spoken as a whisper). The church has the rare dedication to St Wistan (former King, of Mercia, died 840) which is clearly the root of the name 'Wistow'.

The simple but pretty exterior with its slender west tower at first sight suggests a complete medieval building (of the type with nave and chancel built as a single unit) but the large clear-glazed round-headed windows break this illusion and are the first hint of what awaits us inside.

The interior by contrast is entirely Baroque / Georgian in character, the result of a thorough remodelling in 1746 which happily the Victorians left well alone (aside from a font at the west end beneath the tower arch, which itself is the only medieval feature left visible inside). The result is an interior flooded with light from the bright, clear windows and the walls cream-washed under a flat white ceiling, all looking more like the private chapel of some stately home. The furnishings are also of this period, thus the box pews and plain reredos complete this vision of 18th century English worship. On the north side a single large mortuary chapel converted from the former transept contains memorials to the local Halford family, the most impressive being that to Richard Halford from the 1640s complete with reclining effigy (though alas it wasn't possible to get into this space for a closer look beyond its gates).

Wistow church is a delight and an unusual fusion of styles, happily normally open at weekends from April to September (the area is also popular with visitors to the nearby garden centre with quite a few people wandering over for a look or exploring nearby when I called).

www.leicestershirechurches.co.uk/wistow-church-st-wistans/

Tags:   Wistow church Leicestershire

© All Rights Reserved

My winner for most picturesque setting of the day, Wistow church was happily basking in the early evening sunlight as I approached via the leafy path from the main road (from which it is set well back and hidden away behind trees). Seeing this charming building emerge from the foliage ahead of me was a delight I won't forget. It is one I'd wanted to see for many years since first seeing images of it in a book decades ago (and was intrigued by the name 'Wistow' which for some reason back then I always felt should be spoken as a whisper). The church has the rare dedication to St Wistan (former King, of Mercia, died 840) which is clearly the root of the name 'Wistow'.

The simple but pretty exterior with its slender west tower at first sight suggests a complete medieval building (of the type with nave and chancel built as a single unit) but the large clear-glazed round-headed windows break this illusion and are the first hint of what awaits us inside.

The interior by contrast is entirely Baroque / Georgian in character, the result of a thorough remodelling in 1746 which happily the Victorians left well alone (aside from a font at the west end beneath the tower arch, which itself is the only medieval feature left visible inside). The result is an interior flooded with light from the bright, clear windows and the walls cream-washed under a flat white ceiling, all looking more like the private chapel of some stately home. The furnishings are also of this period, thus the box pews and plain reredos complete this vision of 18th century English worship. On the north side a single large mortuary chapel converted from the former transept contains memorials to the local Halford family, the most impressive being that to Richard Halford from the 1640s complete with reclining effigy (though alas it wasn't possible to get into this space for a closer look beyond its gates).

Wistow church is a delight and an unusual fusion of styles, happily normally open at weekends from April to September (the area is also popular with visitors to the nearby garden centre with quite a few people wandering over for a look or exploring nearby when I called).

www.leicestershirechurches.co.uk/wistow-church-st-wistans/

Tags:   Wistow church Leicestershire

© All Rights Reserved

My winner for most picturesque setting of the day, Wistow church was happily basking in the early evening sunlight as I approached via the leafy path from the main road (from which it is set well back and hidden away behind trees). Seeing this charming building emerge from the foliage ahead of me was a delight I won't forget. It is one I'd wanted to see for many years since first seeing images of it in a book decades ago (and was intrigued by the name 'Wistow' which for some reason back then I always felt should be spoken as a whisper). The church has the rare dedication to St Wistan (former King, of Mercia, died 840) which is clearly the root of the name 'Wistow'.

The simple but pretty exterior with its slender west tower at first sight suggests a complete medieval building (of the type with nave and chancel built as a single unit) but the large clear-glazed round-headed windows break this illusion and are the first hint of what awaits us inside.

The interior by contrast is entirely Baroque / Georgian in character, the result of a thorough remodelling in 1746 which happily the Victorians left well alone (aside from a font at the west end beneath the tower arch, which itself is the only medieval feature left visible inside). The result is an interior flooded with light from the bright, clear windows and the walls cream-washed under a flat white ceiling, all looking more like the private chapel of some stately home. The furnishings are also of this period, thus the box pews and plain reredos complete this vision of 18th century English worship. On the north side a single large mortuary chapel converted from the former transept contains memorials to the local Halford family, the most impressive being that to Richard Halford from the 1640s complete with reclining effigy (though alas it wasn't possible to get into this space for a closer look beyond its gates).

Wistow church is a delight and an unusual fusion of styles, happily normally open at weekends from April to September (the area is also popular with visitors to the nearby garden centre with quite a few people wandering over for a look or exploring nearby when I called).

www.leicestershirechurches.co.uk/wistow-church-st-wistans/

Tags:   Wistow church Leicestershire

© All Rights Reserved

My winner for most picturesque setting of the day, Wistow church was happily basking in the early evening sunlight as I approached via the leafy path from the main road (from which it is set well back and hidden away behind trees). Seeing this charming building emerge from the foliage ahead of me was a delight I won't forget. It is one I'd wanted to see for many years since first seeing images of it in a book decades ago (and was intrigued by the name 'Wistow' which for some reason back then I always felt should be spoken as a whisper). The church has the rare dedication to St Wistan (former King, of Mercia, died 840) which is clearly the root of the name 'Wistow'.

The simple but pretty exterior with its slender west tower at first sight suggests a complete medieval building (of the type with nave and chancel built as a single unit) but the large clear-glazed round-headed windows break this illusion and are the first hint of what awaits us inside.

The interior by contrast is entirely Baroque / Georgian in character, the result of a thorough remodelling in 1746 which happily the Victorians left well alone (aside from a font at the west end beneath the tower arch, which itself is the only medieval feature left visible inside). The result is an interior flooded with light from the bright, clear windows and the walls cream-washed under a flat white ceiling, all looking more like the private chapel of some stately home. The furnishings are also of this period, thus the box pews and plain reredos complete this vision of 18th century English worship. On the north side a single large mortuary chapel converted from the former transept contains memorials to the local Halford family, the most impressive being that to Richard Halford from the 1640s complete with reclining effigy (though alas it wasn't possible to get into this space for a closer look beyond its gates).

Wistow church is a delight and an unusual fusion of styles, happily normally open at weekends from April to September (the area is also popular with visitors to the nearby garden centre with quite a few people wandering over for a look or exploring nearby when I called).

www.leicestershirechurches.co.uk/wistow-church-st-wistans/

Tags:   Wistow church Leicestershire

© All Rights Reserved

My winner for most picturesque setting of the day, Wistow church was happily basking in the early evening sunlight as I approached via the leafy path from the main road (from which it is set well back and hidden away behind trees). Seeing this charming building emerge from the foliage ahead of me was a delight I won't forget. It is one I'd wanted to see for many years since first seeing images of it in a book decades ago (and was intrigued by the name 'Wistow' which for some reason back then I always felt should be spoken as a whisper). The church has the rare dedication to St Wistan (former King, of Mercia, died 840) which is clearly the root of the name 'Wistow'.

The simple but pretty exterior with its slender west tower at first sight suggests a complete medieval building (of the type with nave and chancel built as a single unit) but the large clear-glazed round-headed windows break this illusion and are the first hint of what awaits us inside.

The interior by contrast is entirely Baroque / Georgian in character, the result of a thorough remodelling in 1746 which happily the Victorians left well alone (aside from a font at the west end beneath the tower arch, which itself is the only medieval feature left visible inside). The result is an interior flooded with light from the bright, clear windows and the walls cream-washed under a flat white ceiling, all looking more like the private chapel of some stately home. The furnishings are also of this period, thus the box pews and plain reredos complete this vision of 18th century English worship. On the north side a single large mortuary chapel converted from the former transept contains memorials to the local Halford family, the most impressive being that to Richard Halford from the 1640s complete with reclining effigy (though alas it wasn't possible to get into this space for a closer look beyond its gates).

Wistow church is a delight and an unusual fusion of styles, happily normally open at weekends from April to September (the area is also popular with visitors to the nearby garden centre with quite a few people wandering over for a look or exploring nearby when I called).

www.leicestershirechurches.co.uk/wistow-church-st-wistans/

Tags:   Wistow church Leicestershire

© All Rights Reserved