Shenton: St John the Evangelist

About St John the Evangelist.

St John the Evangelist, was completed in 1861 on the site of a much older and more modest building, described as two aisles with a house roof. The current church was designed by the Rev H J Wollaston, whose family contributed substantially to the construction. The architect was W H Knight from Cheltenham.

The stone used is mainly Sydnope stone from Derbyshire dressed with Bath stone, although stone from the old church was used in the internal walls. The oak comes from Chedworth Wood in Gloucestershire and the slates from Colyweston in Northamptonshire. All the stonework and building was done by Haddons of Atherstone whilst the woodwork is the work of James William Sands, the Shenton estate carpenter.

The organ was donated by Mrs A Wollaston in 1887 to replace the harmonium. Repair work was required in 1875 whilst in 1879 the west wall of the tower was removed and rebuilt. Admiral Arburthnot, who was present at the Battle of Trafalgar and who married one of the Wollaston family’s daughters, is buried in the grounds.

There are occasional services including Easter; Harvest; Remembrance and Christmas.

For general enquiries please contact the Benefice Administrator on [email protected]

Please see 'Services and events' for services across the benefice.

Ratcliffe Culey: All Saints

About All Saints

All Saints church has a 2* listing, dating from early 14th century, although a church is first mentioned in 1220 Metriculous of Bishop Hugh of Wells. The church today is largely as it would have originally appeared. William Pevsner’s ‘Buildings of England’ states that it is very unusual, being “a church of one build”, the only major addition being the raising of the rooflines in 1720’s by 60 cm Medleys of medieval stained glass fragments area located in the north and south chancel side windows and the east window is by Kempe, 1901.

There are 14th century sedilia in the chancel and a piscina in the nave south wall, evidence of a former chapel in this area. More recently George III royal coat of arms has been conserved and hung in the nave. A wall text with biblical passage from the period of the William Tyndale translation of the New Testament, 1534, has also been exposed and conserved.

There is normally a monthly Communion service and other occasional services. There are kitchen and toilet facilities.

For upcoming services please see 'Services and events'.

For general enquiries please contact the Benefice Administrator on [email protected]

Sheepy: All Saints

About All Saints

The present church in Sheepy Magna was rebuilt in 1778 and stands on the site of a much earlier building. There is documentary evidence to suggest that the earlier church probably predated 1150. The memorials in the church today are dominated by the Fell family who presided over the rectory virtually uninterrupted from 1768 till 1888. Other memorials relate to the Lowe family who held the manor in the 19th century and were the owners of nearby Sheepy Parva mill, the Wollaston family from Shenton Hall who owned Sheepy Lodge again in the 19th century.

The fine east window is dedicated to Catherine Wollaston who married into the Hanmer family of Grendon and the beautiful Reredos of alabaster and caen stone is dedicated to her mother Josette Wollaston who came to live at Sheepy Lodge after her husband died in 1879 and her son inherited Shenton Hall. The fine east window in the north aisle is dedicated to her daughter. When the church was rebuilt it appears that the outline plan was close to the original building. The North aisle and a porch were added in 1859. The tower contains a a very fine peal of six bells. Amongst the treasures of All Saints; the jewels must be the Burne-Jones and Kempe stained glass windows.

All are very welcome to any of our services here at All Saints Sheepy Magna, and you will be offered a warm welcome. There are weekly services including midweek Communion services (Thursdays 9am) and the first and third Sunday Communions and other occasional services. For services across the benefice, please see 'Services and events'.

We are an Intergenerational congregation, and offer prayer and worship for all ages.

There are kitchen and toilet facilities.

The parish of Sheepy w Ratcliffe Culey, Sibson, Orton-on-the-Hill, Twycross & Shenton is committed to the safeguarding of children, young people and adults. Please see our safeguarding page for more information.

For general enquiries please contact the Benefice Administrator on [email protected]

Sibson: St Botolph

About St Botolph

Sibson church is in the centre of the village, and dates from the 13th century at least. The nave is more recent having been rebuilt in the 18th century after the spire fell. The interior is light and airy, and contains some interesting tombs and brasses. (There is also a Victorian wheelchair and wheeled bier.)

The tower contains a peal of 6 bells, having recently been augmented from 4, and attracts ringers from many areas. The east end has recently been underpinned to protect the structure from serious subsidence.

Further information about the church can be found in the porch. The church is usually open during daylight hours in the summer months.

There are occasional services.

For upcoming services across the benefice, please see 'Services and events'.

For general enquiries please contact the Benefice Administrator on [email protected]

Orton-on-the-Hill: St Edith of Polesworth

About St Edith's

St Edith’s Church, Orton on the Hill is situated 2 miles west of the A444 at Twycross. It is a magnificent Grade 1 medieval church with original box pews and triple decker pulpit. It has many restored features including text boards, alabaster carving, Bevington organ and a full peal of 6 bells.

The church is regularly open (except during building work) on Saturdays and Sundays from April to October and by arrangements with a key holder during winter months.

There is a monthly Communion service and other occasional services. There are kitchen and toilet facilities.

For services across the benefice, please see 'Services and events'.

For general enquiries please contact the Benefice Administrator on [email protected]

Twycross: St James

About St James

St James the greater church Parish church. Early C14 with C15 west tower and clerestorey; was restored in 1840 and presented with a number of stained glass panels that had originally come from Sainte-Chapelle in Paris, Saint-Denis near Paris, Le Mans cathedral, and Saint-Julien-du-Sault in Burgundy.

The church was restored in the 1840s and contains architectural memorials to Lord Howe, who sponsored the restoration, and early Victorian armourial stained glass by Thomas Willement, showing the arms of Queen Adelaide with the 21 German States. On the south side is a large window with the arms of the Curzon family as a central piece.

We hold a monthly Holy Communion Service on the third Sunday of the month at 9.30am and other occasional services. Please see our 'Services and events' page for the latest information. There are kitchen and toilet facilities and the Church can be opened by arrangement with a key holder.