Withcote Chapel

Withcote Chapel stands in the quiet Leicestershire countryside as a small red­-brick church with stone dressings. It was built early in the 16th century as the private chapel of Withcote Hall and later served the parish. A major restoration in 1744 added the battlemented parapet and corner pinnacles that give it its present outline. The building is made of ironstone with limestone trim and covered in lead roofs. Inside, the nave and chancel form one rectangular space divided only by the seating arrangement. The chapel is worth the journey for its early Tudor stained glass, dated between 1530 and 1540. Most of the glass is attributed to Galyon Hone, glazier to Henry VIII, and was either moved here or commissioned by Roger Ratcliffe. The north windows show the apostles, the south windows Old Testament prophets, and the east window saints and the Crucifixion. Heraldic panels around the walls include the arms of Jane Seymour. Alec Clifton-Taylor chose it as one of his best English parish churches. Visitors find a plain rectangular room with seating along the sides like a college chapel. The 18th-century reredos has fluted Corinthian columns and marble monuments on top of each side-piece. Square-headed windows with three round-headed lights let in light, and the battlemented parapet runs round the top. Outside, the ironstone walls and corner pinnacles stand against the flat Leicestershire fields.