About St. Wilfrid's
This church is dedicated to St Wilfrid who lived from 634 to 709 who became the Bishop of Leicester between 691 and 702. become a friendeventsabout st wilfrid’s
St Wilfrid
There is a 19th century statue of St Wilfrid over the south door and he is also shown in the tower window. Rectors of Kibworth Beauchamp are recorded from 1239 and chaplains of Kibworth Harcourt from 1262.
The oldest part of the Church can be found in some stonework in the Chancel which dates from the 13th century. The Church was rebuilt in the 2nd half of the 14th century including a tall spire. Sadly, in 1825 the old tower and spire collapsed and the present tower minus a spire dates from the reign of William IV ( 1830-1837). The church underwent further restoration in the 1860s.
One floor of the tower houses the clock which is dated 1834 and has recently been fully renovated thanks to the Friends.
There were only 6 bells in the original tower, the oldest of which dates from 1618. In 1904 a new iron frame was installed and by 1910 the ring was increased to 8 bells.
about st wilfrid’s
Serving Kibworth Harcourt and Kibworth Beauchamp
St Wilfrid’s serves both Kibworth Harcourt and Kibworth Beauchamp in Leicestershire and has a north and south porch. They were designed for the inhabitants of Harcourt to use the north porch, while the residents of Beauchamp used the south entrance. The two porches date from the 14th century.
In the nave prior to 1846 box pews were in evidence but around this date they were replaced by pine benches. The other woodwork in this part of the Church includes an iron bound oak chest dating from 1681, a pulpit from 1896 and a lectern from 1945.
The font has a chequered history. It was removed during the Civil War and not brought back into use until the 19th century. According to the vestry minute book it was restored and returned to its original place in 1880.
The church
In the chancel the carved oak altar and rood screen were installed in 1931. There has been an organ in this part of the Church since 1856. The present one was installed in 1895 and the choir stalls were supplied in 1902.
about st wilfrid’s
Stained Glass
There are some fine examples of stained glass in the windows of St Wilfrid’s and some are dedicated to the memory of individuals who lived locally. Various monuments adorn the walls recording the lives of people who served and lived in both Harcourt and Beauchamp over the centuries.
The surrounding Churchyard contains many fine memorials. Several from the 1720s and 1730s were made from limestone but by the middle of the 18th century slate was generally used. By 1870 the Churchyard was so crowded that an extension to the east was made. The western wall and gate posts were rebuilt as a memorial to commemorate the Golden Jubilee of Queen Victoria in 1887 and this date can still be seen etched into one of the gate posts. In 1892 the parishes bought land for a cemetery on the Harborough Road (A6) which is still in use today.
There is a guide book that was prepared in October 1976 for the Kibworth Feast, when the Church offered a celebration of village life past and present. This was part of the Parish contribution to the Jubilee Year of the Diocese of Leicester and the guide book contains a comprehensive record of St Wilfrid’s Church and chronicles its history through the centuries.
Glyn Hatfield.
