Located in the small village of Beeby in Leicestershire, England, the All Saints Church is a beautiful and historic building that has been preserved by the Churches Conservation Trust. While Beeby was once a larger settlement, today it is home to only a handful of houses, making it no surprise that the church has become redundant over time. However, it is still open to visitors thanks to the Trust, and is a lovely attraction to explore.
The most impressive aspect of the church is its late medieval west tower, which is uniquely crowned with the ‘sawn off’ stump of a planned spire that was never finished. The rest of the building is primarily from the 14th century, with later additions such as a clerestory. The chancel, however, is an early 19th century brick rebuild that is slightly undersized for the rest of the grand building.
Visitors to All Saints Church can enjoy a mix of woodwork that includes Georgian box pews on the south side of the nave, as well as a 14th century wooden rood screen that has been partially restored but still boasts fine tracery forms. A charming font from the 13th century with a later bowl and cover can also be seen in the church, as well as a variety of quirky carvings that were added during a major restoration in the early 19th century.
Despite its small size and occasional sense of sparseness, the All Saints Church in Beeby is definitely worth a visit. Thanks to the Churches Conservation Trust, it is kept open for visitors during the day, allowing everyone to explore and appreciate its historic significance.
Posted by Aidan McRae Thomson on 2022-11-16 22:40:59
