ST. PETER'S CHURCH
The story of Horninghold's parish church.
ST. PETER'S CHURCH
The story of Horninghold's parish church.
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The story of Horninghold's parish church.
EARLY HISTORY
The early years up to the 13th century.
EARLY HISTORY
The early years up to the 13th century.
Early church.
Early church.
An AI generated image of how St Peter's Church may have looked around 1100, with a simple nave, chancel and bellcote. It is built of local stone with a thatched roof. No church is mentioned in Domesday and it is possible that the current church was founded by Robert de Todeni, who was given the estate after the Conquest.
No church is mentioned at Horninghold in the Domesday survey of 1086. This doesn't mean to say that one didn't exist, but it seems unlikely, given the small size of Horninghold and the fact that it was part of a series of manors under multiple ownership from distant owners. The increase in value of the settlement from 1066 to 1086 may suggest that the new owner Robert de Todeni founded a church for his tenants in this period.
We only get concrete evidence of a church from surviving fabric of a stone building dating from the first half of the 12th century. This consists of courses of lower stonework in the tower, along with a re-positioned carved arched doorway, now located in the south aisle, and some fabric now incorporated into the chancel arch and north arcade walls.
It is likely that this church had a simple rectangular plan, with a short tower, nave and chancel, topped with a thatched roof. It is possible that the work was commissioned after 1130 by Robert de Todeni's successor, William d'Aubigny, who probably granted the living of the church to Belvoir Priory. Certainly that date is suggested by Leicester architect Albert Herbert, who worked extensively on the building in the mid 20th century, and by Dr. W. G. Hoskins in his The Heritage of Leicestershire (1946).
12th century south door.
12th century south door.
Drawing of the re-sited 12th century doorway from John Harwood Hill's The History of Market Harborough published in 1875. The pictures on the inside are of the carvings on the capitals, depicting a dog, cross, griffin and lamb of God. They are all protectors against evil.
The capitals of the re-located south door have carvings of creatures to protect the church from evil. It is possible that this was once the north door and main entrance to the church from the village. North was always associated with the devil, being opposite to the light of the sun, and that is why you get fewer burials on the north sides of churches.
Above the action is an arch made up of chip-carved stars, perhaps representing the night sky. On the left capital we see a big dog and a cross symbol. The dog is a symbol of loyality and here it protects the entrance from paganism, represented in the form of the Greek/Roman anthemion, or honeysuckle.
On the right the threat is more sinister, for we have a group of three imp-like demons - they look almost like modern representations of aliens. Around the corner, protecting the church, are a griffin, a symbol of courage, strength and vigilance, together with the Lamb of God, which represents Jesus.
So this doorway features a tableau which endlessly plays out the battle of good against evil.
Protecting the church from evil.
Protecting the church from evil.
The capitals on the south door are carved with beasts which are protecting the doorway from the arrival of demons, including some which have been immortalised in stone (top image). The animals are a dog, a griffin and the lamb of God, which all have a protective function.
ENLARGMENT
The development of the church in the 13th century.
ENLARGMENT
The development of the church in the 13th century.
Like many other medieval settlements Horninghold grew in the 13th century and this is reflected in the need to increase the size of the church. The first expansion was the addition of a south aisle. This has an arcade of three bays with round arches of two chamfered orders, octagonal piers, and moulded capitals. Near the east end is a small recess with a contemporary piscina, probably for a former chantry chapel. This may have been for the de Blaston family, for we know that Walter and Thomas de Blaston were chaplains here in 1297. At the west end of the aisle is a plain 13th century octagonal font supported on four pillars. The north aisle, with pointed arches to the arcade, was added next, probably starting from the east end where there are remains of some 12th-century fabric.
The final stage of this phase of work was the construction of a four stage west tower. This was probably built on the base of an earlier tower and was finished with a belfry stage and ashlar broach spire. The latter features a curious mooning man which is almost impossible to see from ground level. The humorous figure exposes his genitals and bottom presumably in an act to dissuade evil spirits from approaching.
Enlargement in the 13th century.
Enlargement in the 13th century.
Like many villages in the East Midlands, Horninghold grew in the 13th century. An increase in population required a bigger church and aisles were added ro the nave, along with a west tower and broach spire. The spire features a mooning man, a humorous grotesque to frighten away evil spirits.
LATE MEDIEVAL
The last years of monastic ownership.
LATE MEDIEVAL
The last years of monastic ownership.
The final phase in the medieval development of the church was the replacement of the nave roof with a new clerestory and shallow-pitched leaded roof sometime in the 15th century. The angle of the old roof can still be seen inside above the tower arch - this may have had Collyweston stone slates, or possibly a thatch.
The ceiling timbers of the nave have a series of carved wooden bosses. Two are of stylised foliage designs, but the one nearest the chancel has a roundel with seven faces peering down. Some are smiling, one is frowning, while another is sticking its tongue out! It is possible that they represent the seven angels, each of which had a function, such as protector, messenger and healer.
Also from this late medieval period are the bench ends at the back of the nave. These feature foliated poppyheads, large fleur de lys and what looks like a defaced animal, perhaps a horse. The north porch was probably also added at this time.
The era of monastic ownership came to an end in 1539 when the Abbey of St Alban's and the associated Priory of Belvoir where closed as part of the Dissolution. The living of the church subsequently passed to the lords of the manor.
Nave roof & benchends.
Nave roof & benchends.
In the 15th century the old nave roof was replaced with a clerestory and a shallow pitch roof. The ceiling timbers have carved wooden bosses. One of these features seven faces with a mix of expressions. They may represent the seven angels.
At the rear of the nave, the pew benchends have contemporary foliated poppyheads, fleur de lys and an animal that could be a horse.
MODERN ERA
The years from the Reformation.
MODERN ERA
The years from the Reformation.
18th century engraving.
18th century engraving.
This engraving from John Nichol's History & Antiquaries of Leicestershire of 1795 shows the church from the north east, in the direction you approach from the village. The form is fundamentally what can be seen today, except for the east window of the chancel. Here it is shown as a pointed gothic window. A set of railings cordons off the area east of the south aisle. Behind the church can be seen what looks like a thatched barn of the Manor House.
The church has seen relatively little change since the Reformation. The most significant work was the rebuilding of the chancel, which was perhaps done under the lordship of the Turpins in the early 17th century. They were also responsible for two of the three bells in the tower - the second and the tenor were both cast in 1628 by Hugh Watts II of Leicester.
Later absentee landlords meant there was little investment. Archdeacons’ reports in the 17th and 18th enturies recommended routine repairs for defective roofs and fittings and damp floors. By 1794 cracks were reported in the walls of the tower, which needed underpinning.
In 1836 the chancel roof was replaced with Collyweston slate, mined from the village of that name near Stamford. This in turn was replaced in the restoration completed in 2026.
The nave pews were replaced and twin pulpits added in a refurbishment completed at the dawn of the Victorian age. What remains is a rare survival of late Regency era woodwork.
A new treble bell was cast in 1888 by John Taylor & Co. of Loughborough, probably from the patronage of Thomas Hardcastle. New windows were inserted into the chancel in 1904-6 under the lordship of Thomas Augustus Hardcastle - the engraving above shows the former east window. One can assume that Henry Langton Goddard of Leicester was the architect. Further repairs were done to the nave roof in 1936 and to the south aisle in 1951, both under the supervision of Albert Herbert. In the latter works a late 12th/early 13th-century cross slab grave cover, now displayed inside near the tower arch, was unearthed.
The church is surprising unadorned. There is no stained glass surviving and almost no memorials.
The chancel and porch roofs were restored in 2025-26 after the church had been placed on the Heritage at Risk register. The work was partially funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and was undertkaen by Richard McCrone of Laxton, Northamptonshire.
Parish Vicars.
Parish Vicars.
This list of vicars is displayed in the church. Some of the medieval clerics are described as chaplains and this may suggest they are being hired by the Priory of Belvoir to serve the church. The distinctions of priest and chaplain ends at the Dissolution.
One early chaplain is Thomas de Blaston, who held a lordship in that village. It is more than likely that Walter, who preceded him was from the same family. Given their high status, they would probably have assigned parish duties to a curate.
The current Rectory near the church was acquired in 1703 for Humphrey Michel, as the previous building had long been unfit for purpose.
Cross slab grave cover.
Cross slab grave cover.
This late 12th/early 13th century cross slab grave cover was discovered during repairs to the south aisle wall in 1951. These were superintended by Leicester architect and historian, Albert Herbert.
These type of memorials were once very common in English churches and were commissioned by wealthy individuals. It would originally have lain horizontally over a grave in the churchyard.
The owner of this one is unknown. At the time of its finding it was attributed by local historian, Frank Strongman, to be for a cross bearer of the Knights Templar. However, a local contender is either Walter or Thomas de Blaston, who were chaplains here in the 13th century and who held a lordship at Blaston.
Pews.
Pews.
The pews in the nave and aisles are a rare survivor of pre-Victorian church restoration, being installed after 1833. They retain poles for candelabra. This shows the pews in the east corner of the north aisle.
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