Church History
The village of Mountsorrel lies, and has always lain, in two church parishes and this has been so ever since records began. The south end of the village was part of Rothley parish and had a chapel, dedicated to St. Nicholas, about half way between the castle and the present Christ Church. The north end of the village was part of Barrow parish and had a chapel dedicated to St. John the Baptist which passed through many changes, and is now St. Peter’s Church.
Christ Church
The chapel of St. Nicholas was in use in 1552 but its date of construction is unknown. It had a tower and chancel and it stood in its own chapel yard. It was no longer in use in 1586 when the site was sold.
The chapel organisation, complete with its church wardens, continued until at least 1717 and there was a "curate of the South End", Mr. Edward Robinson, mentioned in 1842.
Christ Church, together with its vicarage was built and endowed in 1844 by the generosity of a wealthy lady, Miss Sarah Brinton, and a few years later it became an independent parish taken out of the old parish of Rothley, with parish boundaries that became increasingly unrealistic over the years so that part of the village of Mountsorrel lies, even today, in the ecclesiastical parish of Rothley.
The church still stands much as it was in 1844 but the chancel was lengthened in 1899 and the church lounge with its toilets and kitchen were added in 1984.
St. Peter’s
The chapel of St. John the Baptist was first built in about 1240. Its tower still stands but the rest of the chapel was rebuilt in about 1440 and the belfry was added on top of the old tower. The chapel was enlarged in 1795 and drastically rearranged with the altar at the west end just in front of the tower. It was again drastically "restored" in 1870 when the the altar returned to the east end. The mediaeval arches were demolished, the walls were increased in height, new and larger windows were installed and a new roof was provided. Much of the older building is still visible in the present structure.
The old clock in the east gable dates from about 1780 and its mechanism is still in place inside the roof.
The chapel became an independent church, probably in January, 1869, and the church became known as St. Peter’s at about the same time.
The vestry was added in 1889 and the porch was built in 1899. The kitchen and toilet block and new organ chamber were built in 1999.
The churches of Christ Church and St. Peter’s Church became a united benefice with the same vicar in 1983.
Edmund A. Stacey.
Publications
Christ Church - A History
This book combines Barrie Uff’s valuable research and Edmund Stacey’s own studies and investigations on the history of Christ Church.
A History of St Peter’s Church Mountsorrel
This book presents Edmund Stacey’s studies and investigations on the history of Saint Peter’s church.
Copies of both titles are available at the back of church for the purchase at six pounds, which is below the actual cost of printing.
