Claybrooke Parva
St Peters - A Guide
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Introduction
In 1936 Revd A.T. Reed became Vicar of Claybrooke. During his incumbency, a period that spanned the Second World War, he wrote his Notes on The Church and Parish of Claybrooke, penned as he put it “to the sound of planes and bombs in times when so many of our national treasures are being cruelly destroyed”. Copies of his Notes are still available.
The Church building remains as it was in Reed’s day: but the world has changed immensely!
It seemed timely therefore to offer a revised and more contemporary guide to the church building that has been a place of Christian worship and witness, and has been part of villagers lives since before the reign of Henry III (1216-1272)
Revd Ian P. Brennand BA. PG Dip.
St Peter Claybrooke cum Wibtoft
The Church of St. Peter Claybrooke cum Wibtoft is the parish church of Claybrooke Parva, Claybrooke Magna, and Ullesthorpe in the county of Leicestershire.
The hamlet of Wibtoft is in the county of Warwickshire but, by a quirk of ecclesiastical boundaries, also part of the Parish. Wibtoft has its own chapel of ease: The Assumption of Our Lady.
It is believed that the first recorded incumbent of Claybrooke dates from circa 1220. It seems reasonable therefore to assume that a church building of some sort had already been constructed or was established soon after this date.
Architectural Periods
It will be obvious to the most casual observer that St. Peter’s Claybrooke, like many other ancient churches, is an amalgam of various architectural ‘styles’. Six identifiable periods are indicated on the floor plan.
Norman 1001 - 1200
13th century 1201 - 1300
14th century 1301 - 1400
15th century 1401 - 1500
17th century 1601 - 1700
19th century 1801 - 1900
The oldest part of the building is likely to be the internal walls of the Tower which probably incorporate the remains of the earliest stone church on the site.
The external walls of the Tower are clearly much later. They were ‘restored’ or more likely re-built during the 17th century. The date of 1614 is clearly displayed on the external south side of the tower.
The North and South Aisles plus the South Porch are thought to date from the 13th century.
The present Nave is likely to be a 15th century rebuild that incorporated the addition of eight clerestory windows. The roof-line of the original 13th century nave is clearly visible on the east wall of the tower.
The 14th century Chancel is a spacious and well-proportioned space; its six side windows allowing the light to flood in. The east window dates from 1878 when a restoration took place.
MAIN INTERNAL FEATURES
Rood Screen
A common feature in medieval churches was the rood screen; a stone or timber structure that separated the chancel from the nave. The word ‘rood’ is from the Old English rod meaning ‘cross’. An ecclesiastical rood comprised a carved image of Christ crucified, often flanked by the figures of the Virgin Mary and St John the Evangelist, placed above the rood screen. During Lent the rood itself would be covered. Access to the rood was via a rood loft, a walkway above the rood screen that was accessed via the rood stairs.
An example of a complete Rood Screen
Unfortunately all that remains of the Claybrooke rood screen are a couple of vertical and horizontal timbers that now carry 'modern’ timber faces at dado height.
Access to the narrow spiral Rood Stairs is through a small opening in the north aisle adjacent to the pulpit.
The blocked exit point to the original rood loft is clearly visible above the pulpit.
CHANCEL
Priest Door & Vestry Door
On the North side of the chancel are two low doorways. It is thought that one doorway gave direct priestly access to the chancel whilst the second doorway opened into a vestry of some sort that no longer exists. (A low apex roof-line is still clearly visible on the external north wall).
Internally the left-hand doorway (recessed and screened by a curtain) is plain and with a flat lintel. Externally however the doorway is arched with a fluted surround. In contrast, the internal design of the right-hand doorway doorway s arched and emphasised; whilst external it is plain and nondescript.
Chancel Recesses
Next to the doorways are two recesses. It is speculated that the larger may have housed a “founders tomb”. The smaller recess adjacent to the east wall may have been the original aumbry.
Fenestella
On the south side of the chancel is a ‘modern’ Fenestella (i.e. canopied niches) comprising Sedilia (three seats) and a Credence (shelf upon which the elements of the Eucharist were placed before consecration).
Low-side Window
On the south side of the Chancel by the priest’s stall is a small ‘two section’ window. The angle of the internal recesses makes it impossible to view the altar from the outside so it is unlikely – though not impossible - to have been a squint. An alternative option is that it was a originally a ‘Chancel Ventilator’. The original window opening may have been fitted with a grill and shutters to provide location specific ventilation in the chancel (and relief for the priest) when the air became overpoweringly heavy with incense and candle smoke.
Chancel Windows
Several of the 14th century windows contain of elements coloured glass.
One of the windows contains Victorian glass depicting St Paulus, St Petrus and, unusually, Dorcas (see Acts 9:36–42)
The Chancel viewed from the ringing platform in the bell tower.
Nave
The timber nave roof, its supports and bosses contain fascinating examples of medieval carving in all its grotesque vulgarity!
Binoculars are essential to appreciate the craftsmanship and the mind-set of the period.
There are a number of stone carved heads at the intersections of the nave arches: not all 15th century!
North Aisle
A huge medieval timber chest is located next to the rood stair doorway. Church chests have quite a history.
In 1166 Henry II required a chest to be placed in every parish church for the collection of money for the crusades.
In 1206 Pope Innocent II exhorted the faithful to place alms in ’a hollow truck’.
South Aisle
On the south wall close to the side altar is a small exposed area of stone with a recessed arched central section and two smaller recesses in the top right and left-hand corners. The image in the central section appears to be that of a person with the suggestion of wings. The image itself has clearly been defaced and the stonework scored: a likely victim of reformation iconoclasm.
The substantial stepped octagonal stone font with carved features is modern addition.
The Synod of Exeter 1287 ordered that a chest be provided in every church for the safe keeping of books and vestments.
Likewise, in 1538 Thomas Cromwell required a ‘secure coffer’ for the safe keeping of parish registers and other documents.
The carved wooden reredos, the work of former parishioner and Reader, Mr David Mountford was presented to the church by him in
An oil painting of St Peter and Cornelius (Acts 10) by Mr T.C. Barfield was presented to the church in 1919 by Mr Barfield senior a former Churchwarden.
MAIN EXTERNAL FEATURES
Chancel
The Niches on each of the six chancel buttresses would originally have held statues of saints. It is likely that they too were targeted by iconoclasts during the Puritan period.
South side
An eroded Sun or Mass Dial can be seen on the buttress adjacent to the low-side window.
The stonework flanking the Low-side Window is deeply scored. It is likely this was the result of soldiers sharpening arrow heads or spear points.
North side
The two contrasting Door Ways (Priest and Vestry) and former Vestry Roof-line
The North Porch was added during the incumbency of Revd R.H. Johnson(1817- c 1870) and the carved stone heads are believed to be of Johnson and his Churchwarden, Mr Bird.
War memorial
A Celtic cross of granite commemorates the local fallen of the parish who gave their lives in the two World Wars
The Peal of Eight Bells were re-hung and augmented in 1929 thanks to the generosity of Mrs H. Seal of Ullesthorpe. According to the notes of 1936 three of the bells are dated 1618, 1626 and 1672. The bells are rung regularly throughout the year for service and attract many visiting ringing bands.
The Churchyard ‘closed’ in 1859.
In the latter part of the 20th century the headstones were relocated to the perimeter allowing the creation of a pleasant ‘green’. The blooming of flowering cherry trees is an arboreal spring highlight.
The single dial north facing Clock dates from 1837: it requires weekly winding.
(Maintenance of ‘closed’ church yard is the responsibility of the Local Authority i.e. Harborough District Council).
Although St Peter's Church is an ancient building it is not a museum.
It has been a place of Christian worship for around 800 years and continues to be so.
Service times for all the benefice churches are here.
Friend of St Peter's
Details of how to join the 'friends' whose financial support helps to maintain the fabric of this ancient building for future generations are here.
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