The Church of St Wistan, Wistow

The Altar of guilt separated by handsome balustrades

In 1798 was written: ‘The church stands about 200 – 300 paces from Wistow Hall and is a light airy building. It consists of a tower in which are three bells, a nave and chancel, both of one pace, and an elegant North Chapel abutting against the north wall of the nave from which it is separated by handsome iron balustrades near the pulpit. The pulpit is of handsome paneled oak as are also the pews and the east end of the altar, which is guilt, and the Commandments neatly painted in black’.

It is thought that the box pews and reredos were added in the middle of the eighteenth century, together with the fine wrought iron altar rail and gate, which are probably the work of Robert Bakewell of Derby.

The churchyard was in use up until 1873, when burials ceased because of the danger of flooding. Records show that the church has been flooded three times to a depth of three feet in 1588, 1609 and 1618, and no doubt at intervals to this day to a lesser extent.

Up until recently, it was only possible to toll and not peal the three ancient bells in the tower due to the unsafe state of the old wooden bell frame. A grant from the Millennium Bell Fund, together with grants and fundraising, there is now a peal of six bells and a new bell-frame below the old bell frame. The three new bells were cast and installed by Taylors of Loughborough. The inscription reads: ‘2000 years of Christendom’ and ‘Allen, Bale and Gilbert families’.

The above information is taken from John Nichols ‘The History of Antiquities of the County of Leicester’ (published in 1798) and from the very informative booklet available at the church, with a full history of the church and the origins of the village and people of Wistow.