St Peter and St Paul's Courteenhall
The patronage of the Benefice was given to
the Priory of Lenton by William Peveril and remained in
their hands until the dissolution of the Priory in 1538 when
it passed to the Crown. In 1868 the Patronage was purchased
by the trustees of the Courteenhall Estate and so, after an
interval of 330 years the patronage and lordship of the
manor because, and still are, united once again.
In the Doomsday Survey
there is mention of a priest and we may suppose there was a
church, certainly there is evidence of a building which
appears to have been an aisled structure. Norman
architecture survives in one of the north pillars and the
arch over the south door, thereby showing that the Church
had a north and south aisle in the 12th century.
In the 13th
century the building was reconstructed. In the 14th
century the chancel appears to have been rebuilt on its
present plan and the south porch was added. The tower is
more modern and was built in the 15th century.
Towards the end of the
17th century the building was stated to be
‘rapidly falling into ruin’ but was extensively re-roofed
and restored under the terms of Sir Samuel Jones’s will. The
existing windows of the aisles were fitted, the walls
plastered, ceilings were fixed and the church furnished with
box pews and a “two-decker” pulpit, in accordance with
puritan custom. These fittings were removed in 1883 when the
floor level of the chancel was raised and the chancel nave
re-floored with red tiles. Subsequently, in1887, the plaster
was removed from the walls, the building re-roofed, choir
stalls supplied and the north aisle ceiling was under-pinned
with oak supports. Extensive external repairs were also
carried out. The cost of all this amounted to £1,500.
Electric lighting was installed in 1937 at a cost of £52 and
the bells were re-cast. The churchyard was extended in 1916.
In 1936 the parapet and roof of the tower were repaired at a
cost of £120. Further repairs to the tower were completed in
2001 at a cost of £55,000.
The Church is entirely
dependant on voluntary contributions
for its upkeep and those who worship in the Parish thank you
for your help and interest.
