Weight: 145 lbs Diameter: 18" Bell 1 of 1
Founded by John Taylor & Co 1906
Dove Bell ID: 56558 Tower ID: 21540 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Cracked: No
Leicester: Church of the Resurrection
Overview
Grid reference: SK 597 60
A large, long and low Edwardian church of smooth red brick in a simplified neo-Gothic style, set within an area of contemporary two-storey terraced housing in this eastern suburb of Leicester. The church was built in 1905-6 to an early design by H H Thompson of Leicester. Despite a tight budget, this is a cavernous building with a simple, dignified style and additional Arts-and-Crafts elements.
Visiting and facilities
Building is open for worship
Church usually open during the day Wheelchair access ramp and toilets available Visitor toilets, baby changing facilities and parking available
Building
Ground Plan Description and Dimensions
Ground plan:
7-bay nave and chancel in one, shallow transepts off the chancel, south-east vestry block, porches off west bay of the aisles. Modern lean-to glazed lobbies on the south side.
Dimensions:
Worship area, nave c 16m (52ft) x 8m, chancel 8m long
Description of Archaeology and History
Leicester was the Roman city Ratae Coritanorum, but this church is in an eastern extension of the modern city built in the late 19th century, well outside the walls of the Roman and later Medieval cities. Archaeological evidence from these or other periods is possible but not expected from this site.
The church was built in 1905-6 to an early design by H H Thompson of Leicester. He later designed many fine houses in Leicester in an Arts-and-Crafts style, as well as the distinctive Grade II listed Liberty Shoe factory building on Eastern Boulevard, which was demolished in 2002. Thompson was a partner of the firm Shirley Harrison & Thompson which designed De Mountford Hall.
The new parish was carved out in 1906 of St Michael and All Angels, which had previously been part of Belgrave St Peter. There was apparently a mission church form 1887. It is now reunited with the latter within the large parish of the Resurrection, since 1982.
The western half of the nave was converted in the 1980s with a split-level suite of rooms including toilets and kitchens to facilitate community use of this large building. The remaining worship space has also been reordered within the last 10 years, with the removal of the choir stalls and new forward altar.
Exterior Description
This is a large building with a cavernous interior. Although the budget may have been relatively tight reflected in the simplicity of the design, the architect has managed to create a dignified building with Arts-and-Crafts touches.
The fenestration is of pointed lancets, with a row of seven in the east elevation and single lancets elsewhere to each bay. The west elevation has a 6-light plate tracery window arranged as three stepped 2-lights, shouldered gables as throughout. Four small rectangular windows have been inserted to light the ground floor of the conversion, others have been inserted along the north wall for the same purpose.
The transepts have separate gables, and the twin porches at the west end have broad arched doorways of brick with stone dressings under hood-moulds under stepped and wavy parapets which the aisles also have, the most obvious Arts-and-Crafts touch. Buttresses to each bay, plain clearstorey. There is a large separately gabled and roofed vestry block at the east end of the south aisle, from which rises a stack. Glazed vestibules have been built onto the south aisle and above the porch.
Building Fabric and Features
Nave
20th Century 7 bay nave and chancel in one
Chancel
20th Century 7 bay nave and chancel in one
Transept
20th Century Shallow transepts off the chancel.
Vestry
20th Century South east vestry block.
Porch
20th Century Porches off west bay of the aisles.
Building Materials
Timber
20th Century Timber roofs covered in slates.
Glass
20th Century Modern steel and glass lobbies.
Brick
20th Century Red brick building
Slate
20th Century Timber roofs covered in slates.
Steel
20th Century Modern steel and glass lobbies.
Interior
Interior Description
Inside, the western three bays of the nave have been partitioned off to full height for the modern two-storey community hall. The remaining two bays and the two bays of the chancel (the eastern is a half-width bay) have arcades of exposed brick with octagonal piers with stone dressings and broad depressed arches with rubbed brick mouldings. From these pilasters rise to corbels supporting a barrel-vaulted roof with tie-beams, the latter painted with a chevron design. The clearstorey and aisle walls are whitewashed. The interior is calm and attractive, if rather sparse.
The interior has been cleared of its original furniture and fittings except for the pulpit, font, the stone ambos, and good contemporary light fittings, these multi-coloured facetted glass globes in an iron “cage” with small pendant lamps. Seating is modern chairs with purple upholstery. The floor is of woodblock with several steps up to the High Altar, which has been brought forward from a dais against the east wall; the floor has purple carpet here, with a colourfully patterned glazed tile and marble dais for the High Altar at the east end, no longer used.
There is a small north chapel off the east bay of the nave, the full chancel bay to the east houses the organ in a shallow transept here, the pipes displayed within a tall pointed arch. On the south side of the chancel is the large vestry and office block, accessible through a pointed doorway at the east end of the aisle.
Fixtures and fittings
Altar
20th Century Modern catalogue, pine in chancel and chapel.
Font (component)
20th Century Drum font of beaten lead with repousse decoration including the foundation date 1905 and vine scroll, with ropework rim and crowns within the bowl. Tall stone stem, octagonal at base. By G P Bankart, better known for his work with decorative plasterwork. Probably the finest item in the church.
Lectern
20th Century Brass eagle
Organ (component)
20th Century A good 2-manual organ by John Nicholson of Worcester.
Plaque (object)
20th Century Several 20th-century tablets
Pulpit
20th Century Hexagonal oak with simple open tracery. Twin stone ambos with carved seated angels facing each other across the chancel steps.
Stained Glass (window)
20th Century Some good early 20th-century stained glass
Reredos
20th Century Large Crucifixion figure, carved wood, set within arched recess under the east end windows.
Bells
Portable Furnishings and Artworks
Oil painting of the crucifixion, copy of an Old Master.
Woven banner with pre-Raphaelite angels.
Churchyard
Grid reference: SK 597 60
Burial and War Grave Information
The church/building is consecrated.
It is unknown whether the churchyard has been used for burial.
It is unknown whether the churchyard is used for burial.
It is unknown whether the churchyard has war graves.
National Heritage record for England designations
There are no records of National Heritage assets within the curtilage of this site.
Environment
Ancient, Veteran & Notable Trees
Caring for God's Acre is a conservation charity working to support groups and individuals to investigate, care for, and enjoy the wildlife and heritage treasures found within churchyards and other burial grounds. Look on their website for information and advice and please contact their staff directly. They can help you manage this churchyard for people and wildlife.
To learn more about all the species recorded against this church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas. You can check the spread of records through the years, discovering what has been recorded and when, plus what discoveries might remain to be uncovered.
There are no records of Ancient, Veteran or Notable Trees within the curtilage of this site.
Renewables
| Renewable | Installed |
|---|---|
| Solar PV Panels | No |
| Solar Thermal Panels | No |
| Biomass | No |
| Wind Turbine | No |
| Air Source Heat Pump | No |
| Ground Source Heat Pump | No |
| Ev Charging | No |
Species summary
There are no records of species within the curtilage of this site.
Caring for God's Acre is a conservation charity working to support groups and individuals to investigate, care for, and enjoy the wildlife and heritage treasures found within churchyards and other burial grounds. Look on their website for information and advice and please contact their staff directly. They can help you manage this churchyard for people and wildlife.
To learn more about all the species recorded against this church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas. You can check the spread of records through the years, discovering what has been recorded and when, plus what discoveries might remain to be uncovered.
'Seek advice' Species
More information on species and action to be taken upon discovery.
Caring for God's Acre is a conservation charity working to support groups and individuals to investigate, care for, and enjoy the wildlife and heritage treasures found within churchyards and other burial grounds. Look on their website for information and advice and please contact their staff directly. They can help you manage this churchyard for people and wildlife.
To learn more about all the species recorded against this church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas. You can check the spread of records through the years, discovering what has been recorded and when, plus what discoveries might remain to be uncovered.
Further information
Sources
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