Weight: 205 lbs Diameter: 21.38" Bell 1 of 2
Founded by Johannes de York
Dove Bell ID: 62777 Tower ID: 25048 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Cracked: No
Wyfordby: St Mary
Diocese of Leicester
Church, 619091
This church is on the Heritage at Risk Register (verified 2025-11-06)
View more information about this church on the Heritage at Risk website
Overview
Grid reference: SK 793 189
A church of Saxon origin, extended by the Normans, with a later north aisle. Restored in 1869 with further work in 1965 following several years of closure. The site is of considerable archaeological significance. The church is of landscape value and some architectural significance.
Visiting and facilities
Building is open for worship
Building
Ground Plan Description and Dimensions
Ground plan:
West tower. Clerestoried nave with lean-to north and south aisles. Chancel.
Dimensions:
[Approximate] Nave 10m (33ft) x 4½ m (15ft), aisled 3m (10ft) wide, chancel 7m (23ft)
Footprint of Church buildings: 195 m²
Description of Archaeology and History
The church leaflet explains that ‘Wyford’ suggests a temple and a ford, with ‘by’ added by the Vikings in the 8th-9th centuries. The settlement was recorded in the Domesday survey when there is likely to have been a Saxon church on the site.
A Manor House was built to the south-west after the Norman conquest, the residence of the Chevercourt family until c.1400. The remains of the former moated site are in the adjacent field. The site includes a moat, which survives well, and fishpond. The central mound is thought to retain significant evidence of the buildings which once occupied it. The site is protected by Scheduled Ancient Monument designation.
The present chancel and tower are likely to have been added to the original church and the south aisle built on by the Normans, hence the circular columns c.1200. The north aisle would have been a later addition. Over the course of development the chancel has been extended, the roof raised, the rood loft blocked. Windows were renewed in the 14th century, and some in the 19th century.
A restoration took place in 1869 when the pews were introduced and roof re-done. Then in 1959 the church closed, opening again after works in 1965. These involved the introduction of electricity and heaters into the building, bringing grave stones inside and laying them flat in the floor and the installation of the organ.
The archaeological potential of the site is considerable. There are no known designations relating to the ecology of the plot, though it contains mature trees. (In 2013) The church has bats.
Exterior Description
St Mary’s is an attractive Leicestershire church, whose stone glows in the summer sun. It is picturesquely located in the countryside and is the quintessential rural church.
There is a three-stage west tower with crenellated parapet, corner pinnacles and gargoyles (that in the south-west corner appears newly carved), a single lancet in the ground level on the west elevation, and two-light openings on each face at the top. To the east of the tower is the three-bay nave. Prominent stone copings with gabled kneelers punctuate either end of the nave and aisles. Stone cross finials surmount the gables. A continuous French drain runs around the base of the building. Continuous wooden eaves above.
Three sets of two-light ogee-headed clerestory windows within square-headed surrounds can be seen above the lean-to lead covered aisle roofs. The south aisle has two sets of two-light pointed windows with a pointed doorway between them (and above it the only section of guttering) and a three-light window at the east end. The north aisle has two-light windows beneath square-headed surrounds, another pointed doorway between them and a three-light pointed east window. Every window has a hoodmould with figurative stops. Much attractive, Decorated tracery.
The chancel has a lower, steeper roofline. New stones are evident around the windows on the south side. Two sets of two-light pointed windows in the north and south walls.
Building Materials
Collyweston Slate
12th Century
Collyweston Stone
Conglomerate
12th Century
Sandrock
Limestone
12th Century
Upper Lincolnshire Limestone
Interior
Interior Description
Although there are doors in the north and south aisles, that to the south is regularly used. Two steps descend into the nave (only a single step descent through the north door). The small narrow interior has a three-bay north and south arcade. Pillars to the south are circular whilst those to the north are octagonal, both in smooth stone. The coursed stone walls are all exposed but would perhaps once have been plastered.
At the west end of the nave, entry to the tower base is up one step. The small space is screened by a curtain and used for storage. A single light window in the west wall is set within a deep reveal. The first bay of the north aisle has since the 1960s been entirely taken up by the organ. The aisle floors are paved with stone slabs, interspersed with 18th and 19th century grave slabs laid into the floor at the west and to the east ends of both aisles, probably in the 1960s. Laid in the north-east corner is a floriate cross-slab. There is a small aumbry in the south wall of the north aisle. The south aisle has the font in the south-west corner. In the sill of the south-east window is a Nine Men’s Morris game inscribed in the stonework. A piscina is positioned within the south wall.
Above the nave is a 19th century principal rafter roof which rests on foliate corbels at the clerestory sill level. The floor is paved in red and black square tiles. A red carpet is laid along the aisles. Seating is provided by fixed pine pews, introduced in 1869, situated on raised boarded pew platforms. Underpew electric heaters are no longer in use. There is an accumulation of several garden benches in the church. Oil lamps, converted to electric in the 1960s, are suspended from the nave roof.
The pointed chancel arch has conical imposts. Beneath it a step rises into the space, whose roof is lower than the nave and composed of archbraced trusses with decorative open fretwork in the spandrels. The shapes appear to form the symbols of the Star of David as well as a wheel. A single row of choir stalls and frontals to either side. A suspended brass ring chandelier hangs from the roof above, with additional light from spotlights (also in the nave). The floor is of stone with decorative encaustic tiles to the raised sanctuary and altar steps. There is an aumbry in the north wall and piscina within the south wall.
Fixtures and fittings
Altar
20th Century Oak table, solid to front with cross, c.1965?
Pulpit
19th Century Octagonal oak pulpit with carved panels on stone base with stone steps, 1869.
Lectern
19th Century Fairly plain oak lectern, 1869.
Font (component)
14th Century Octagonal 14th century font on modern stone base.
Altar Rail
19th Century Wrought-iron scrolling uprights with oak rails, 1869.
Stained Glass (window)
19th Century to 20th Century
Plaque (object)
Many items in memory of individuals as recorded by plaques.
Organ (component)
20th Century Relocated from Sherard Street Chapel in Melton Mowbray and rebuilt here 1966-67 by WR Hill, churchwarden, as recorded by a plaque. However sloping stop jambs has suggested an attribution to Forster and Andrews, a good builder. Although not in working order could be repairable. Worth further investigation. Modern electric organ.
Bells
Weight: 253 lbs Diameter: 24.13" Bell 2 of 2
Founded by Seliok (generic)
Dove Bell ID: 62778 Tower ID: 25048 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Cracked: No
Portable Furnishings and Artworks
Registers: Records kept at Leicestershire County Council since 1557.
Churchyard
Grid reference: SK 793 189
Burial and War Grave Information
The church/building is consecrated.
The churchyard has been used for burial.
The churchyard is used for burial.
It is unknown whether the churchyard has war graves.
National Heritage record for England designations
There are no records of National Heritage assets within the curtilage of this site.
Environment
Ancient, Veteran & Notable Trees
Caring for God's Acre is a conservation charity working to support groups and individuals to investigate, care for, and enjoy the wildlife and heritage treasures found within churchyards and other burial grounds. Look on their website for information and advice and please contact their staff directly. They can help you manage this churchyard for people and wildlife.
To learn more about all the species recorded against this church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas. You can check the spread of records through the years, discovering what has been recorded and when, plus what discoveries might remain to be uncovered.
There are no records of Ancient, Veteran or Notable Trees within the curtilage of this site.
Renewables
| Renewable | Installed |
|---|---|
| Solar PV Panels | No |
| Solar Thermal Panels | No |
| Biomass | No |
| Wind Turbine | No |
| Air Source Heat Pump | No |
| Ground Source Heat Pump | No |
| Ev Charging | No |
Species summary
There are no records of species within the curtilage of this site.
Caring for God's Acre is a conservation charity working to support groups and individuals to investigate, care for, and enjoy the wildlife and heritage treasures found within churchyards and other burial grounds. Look on their website for information and advice and please contact their staff directly. They can help you manage this churchyard for people and wildlife.
To learn more about all the species recorded against this church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas. You can check the spread of records through the years, discovering what has been recorded and when, plus what discoveries might remain to be uncovered.
'Seek advice' Species
More information on species and action to be taken upon discovery.
Caring for God's Acre is a conservation charity working to support groups and individuals to investigate, care for, and enjoy the wildlife and heritage treasures found within churchyards and other burial grounds. Look on their website for information and advice and please contact their staff directly. They can help you manage this churchyard for people and wildlife.
To learn more about all the species recorded against this church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas. You can check the spread of records through the years, discovering what has been recorded and when, plus what discoveries might remain to be uncovered.
Further information
Sources
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