St Botolph's Church, Ratcliffe on the Wreake

St Botolph's Church, Ratcliffe on the Wreake
Coordinates: 52°43′29.2367″N 1°4′4.592″W / 52.724787972°N 1.06794222°W / 52.724787972; -1.06794222
Location	Ratcliffe on the Wreake
Country	England
Denomination	Church of England
History
Dedication	St Botolph
Architecture
Heritage designation	Grade II* listed
Administration
Parish	Ratcliffe on the Wreake
Deanery	Goscote
Diocese	Diocese of Leicester
Province	Canterbury

St Botolph's Church is a Grade II* listed Church of England church in the village of Ratcliffe on the Wreake, Leicestershire, England.^[1][2]

Architecture[]

The church dates from the 14th century and was restored in 1876. Since then it hasn't undergone any major structural work / development and retains many original features.^[1][2][3]

Spire[]

The Spire dates from the 14th century, and was rebuilt in 1812. It is made from granite rubble stone, with Swithland slate roof tiles and has a north facing clock face.

Nave[]

The nave is the oldest part of the church, it dates from the early 14th century and was originally wider, with a North aisle. The North aisle was removed between 1791 and 1795, the four octagonal piers can still be seen internally. On the North wall, adjacent to the Chancel is a memorial to a Victorian schoolboy killed when he fell from his Pony, the memorial is in the form of an angel praying.

Chancel[]

The chancel itself dates from the 14th Century, however the roof is a newer addition, dating from the 19th Century. The Chancel is separated from the Nave by a double chamfered arch on polygonal responds, and is also two steps lower than the main body of the church.

Sanctuary[]

On the northern wall is a recess with a double chamfered arch and an effigy of a priest from the 14th Century.

Windows[]

The majority of the church windows are clear glass, with very little stained glass. Exceptions to this are:

• The West (tower) window dating from the 19th Century.
• The East window which contains a depiction of the Baptism of Christ, flanked by Saint John to his left, and Noah to his right. The window dates from 1878.
• There are three windows to the South of the Chancel all with Geometric tracery, the middle of these contains fragments of medieval glass.

• 

  East window

• 

  Medieval glass in the South Chancel window

Furniture[]

The round font located to the West of the (main) South door dates from the 12th / 13th century and stands on an octagonal base, probably from the 19th Century. The remainder of the furniture is from 1869 and by RJ & J Goodacre.^[3]

Ministry[]

St Botolph's is part of the in the Diocese of Leicester,^[4] it has services on three Sunday evenings per month.^[5] The other churches in the team are:

• St Mary's Church, Barkby
• St Hilda's Church, East Goscote
• St Mary's Church, Queniborough
• St Michael and All Angels' Church, Rearsby
• St Peter & St Paul, Syston
• Holy Trinity Church, Thrussington
• St Michael and All Angels' Church, Thurmaston

Notable parishioners[]

• Richard Kilby (1560 - 1620) - Professor of Hebrew at Oxford University, credited with translating the later part of the Old Testament for the King James Version of the bible.^[6]

References[]

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