History of St Faith’s Church, Kilsby

Kilsby's church was originally founded in the early 1100s as a daughter chapel of the neighbouring parish of Barby. The two villages still share a priest to this day, and there are close links between the churches in the two communities.

The church is now dedicated to St Faith, but had an earlier dedication to St Andrew (as revealed by wills dating from the c15th/c16th) and perhaps an even earlier one to St Denys (c12th).

The present building dates from the 12th century, with the north aisle added in the 13th century and the south aisle shortly after. Kilsby was a strongly Puritan village following the Reformation, and the church's medieval decorations, including wall paintings, rood screen and stained glass, were destroyed. The present stained glass is mostly Victorian, and the upper clerestory was also remodelled at this time. The box pews are Georgian.

The church building has withstood many potential disasters, including a fire in the tower in 1911, and due to subsidence many years ago the north aisle leans quite alarmingly, but it is quite safe!

St Faith's church, Kilsby, from the south-west, showing the bell tower and porch St Faith's church, Kilsby, from the north, showing the chancel, nave and north aisle St Faith's church, Kilsby, from the west, showing the bell tower and early 19th century churchyard gates St Faith's church, Kilsby, from the south in the snow, showing the nave and porch

St Faith's Church, Kilsby home page

the interior of St Faith's church, Kilsby. showing the nave, chancel and altar