Our church building - history and architecture

We're still working on this page - so please bear with us! The text is taken from a leaflet produced sometime between 1990 and 1996 - author unknown.

CHURCH PORCH: Over the porch may be seen the de Montfort coat of arms.  Simon de Montfort was at one time patron of the church.  Looking towards the doorway we can trace three periods of architecture.  Over the door is the 11th century Norman arch with its "dog-tooth" carving.  Cut into it is a canopied niche of the early Decorative style, in which presumably stood a pre-Reformation statue of the Virgin Mary, and under this is a Tudor arch, with the Tudor porch and holy water stoop. 

THE NORMAN TOWER: Our tower is one of the finest in South Warwickshire.  An ancient sundial may be seen on the south wall, and the remains of a reputed Saxon dial on the west wall.  Many years ago the tower was raised by 10 feet to make it possible for the bells to be heard in two distant hamlets, Stoke and Compton Scorpion (originally Scorfen).

THE BELFRY: In the belfry stands the effigy of a priest, reputed to be the first appointed to the parish. It was apparently removed from the chancel floor, possibly in 1846, and was later exposed in the churchyard , where it was broken, and has since been repaired. (It may possibly be on of the de Montfort family, four of whom were rectors). 

The old elm chest formerly contained the church plate and registers, the later dating back to 1558. The old registers are now preserved at Shire Hall, Warwick. The lid, a replica of the old one and with the original iron bands, was made during the restoration undertaken in the 1930's.

THE BELLS: We have a peal of six bells. Five of them were cast by Thomas Bagley at Chacombe, Northants, in A.D. 1641; a 6th, added as a "Victory and Peace" bell after the first World War, was made by Bond of Burford in 1921.

The first treble bell bears the inscription "Soli Deo Soli gloria", "To God alone be the glory alone", while on the waist are the arms of Charles I and the motto: " Honi soit qui mal y pense."

The tenor bell bears the inscription: "By my voice the people may know To come and hear the word of God."

Previous to this there is a record in 1551 of iiij Belles (ie, 4 bells), and iij little belles.

On the north wall of the belfry can be seen an old rhyme for ringers (painted by a former Captain of the ringers):

Ye ringers that do all come here

Give head and hand and heart;

The head for will,

The hand for skill,

The heart for worships's art.

We are rightly proud of our bells and our band of bell ringers, and the certificates on the wall of the ringing chamber testify to the skill of the Ilmington Ringers in competition with neighbouring churches. The bells have also been featured in the BBC Radio 4 programme 'Bells on Sunday'.

THE FONT: Our font, apart from the base, possibly dates from the 14th century. On the top lead casing may still be seen the marks of the staple by which the original cover was kept locked when the font was not in use. 

THE NAVE: Originally the two Norman windows on either side of the nave were the only side windows, the clerestory windows being added in the first half of the 14th century. As none of the windows, except two in the chancel, has stained glass, the church is well lit.