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St Mary

St Mary

Bitteswell

Leicestershire

C13, altered in C14

Architectural Features

C15.

Large two-centred arched belfry openings in top stage, with Y-tracery, smaller 2-light windows of C14 on second stage and lancet windows towards ground on lower stage.

Nave with crenellated parapet and five-bay clerestorey, C14 three-light windows with central light rising into apex of each arch.

Irregular fenestration with four windows to north and five to south, C19 restorations of C14 curvilinear decorated windows.

Two C14 windows in chancel flanking C13 lancet with hoodmould.

C15 east window, restored by Scott, with round blank window in gable above.

Four-bay arcades with double-chamfered arches on tall slender octagonal piers, C14.

C14 tie-beam aisle roofs.

Nave roof, also C14, with brattished tiebeams, arcaded in the spandrels of the braces, which stand on corbelled colonnettes, and to either side of the king-posts.

Fittings: C13 piscina.

C15 wooden pulpit, tall with blank traceried panels.

Font: octagonal, stone, C19.

C16, wood, on lion supports.

SP5484 : Stained glass behind the altar

Stained glass

SP5484 : Stained glass behind the altar

© Malcolm Neal

Wycliffe is justly famous as the translator of the bible from Latin into English that the common man could understand. He was rector here from 1374 until 1384.

Wycliffe Memorial, (east end of south aisle), white marble relief by Richard Westmacott, Junior.

Wycliffe is justly famous as the translator of the bible from Latin into English that the common man could understand. He was rector here from 1374 until 1384.

© Malcolm Neal

Late-C14 painting over north aisle doorway of three figures, possibly the Three Kings, possibly the 'three living and three dead' allegory.

Monuments

early C15 alabaster tomb chest in north aisle with two recumbent effigies.

Against the tomb chest are angels with shields under flat canopies.

Depressed arch to tomb recess with demi-figure of an angel holding a soul in a napkin at the apex.

Two brasses, to John Field, d 1403, and his wife, d 1418, in the north aisle, and brasses to a civilian and his wife, c 1470, in the nave.

Large Doom over the chancel arch, with figures rising out of tombs and large seated Christ in majesty surrounded by angels over.

John Wycliffe was Rector of Lutterworth from 1374 to 1384.