St Peter’s Church, Thornton.

Can you help? Do you have a few spare hours in the week or the month? Then please read on.

Our ancient and beautiful church has an important place in the life of the village.

Maybe you enjoy a walk that takes you through the church grounds seeing the snowdrops,
beautiful trees including the copper beech, spotting the squirrels or hearing the
woodpecker.

Maybe it’s visiting the church for some solitude or quiet prayer.

Enjoying one of the church services.

Or maybe it’s the amazing heritage and history of the building.

Or even just the reassurance that it gives.

There is no doubt that this church is valued by many villagers.

This is our problem: the team ‘looking after’ the church is small in number, aging and needs help.

And it does need a lot of ‘looking after’.

From cleaning, gardening, odd jobs to fund raising for repairs.

We would be so very grateful if you could help in one of the many ways.

And you do not need to be a church attendee, just someone who is interested and wants to help this church building and its grounds survive for future generations to enjoy.

This is where we need help:
Cleaning – could you give a couple of hours every 3 weeks or so to help us clean the
church?

Church yard maintenance – We try to meet monthly on a Saturday morning for 2 hours to look after the churchyard. Odd jobs that need doing from time to time.

Fund raising – The happy band of people that make up the Friends of St Peter’s has been
raising money for the church building since 1995. But now we really need folk with
energy and enthusiasm to help raise the funds to keep this grade 1 listed heritage
building from crumbling.

Money is always needed. If it’s not the roof, it’s the stonework or the plaster work or the bees or death watch beetle, or mildew or …

There are always things that need doing in and outside this building which we all care
about.

If you are interested in finding out more, please do contact: –
shirley.garlick19@btinterent.com or phone 07925170803.

Heritage Open Days & The National Churches Trust ‘Ride & Stride’

Welcome to England’s largest festival of history and culture!

Every September thousands of volunteers across England organise events to celebrate our fantastic history and culture. It’s your chance to see hidden places and try out new experiences – all of which are FREE to explore.

Heritage Open Days are England’s largest community led festival of history and culture events which celebrate our heritage, community and history.

https://www.heritageopendays.org.uk/whats-on/printable-area-lists/leicestershire.html

Also every September the National Churches Trust organises ‘Ride and Stride’ for churches – sponsored cycle rides and walks that raise money for the restoration and maintenance of our historic churches and chapels.

https://www.lhct.org.uk/ride-and-stride/

Check out the two links for more information on sites and churches open during September, and please drop in at St Peter’s, Thornton, to view the church and the display of local history. Refreshments available.

Limited street parking. Access from Church Lane by the Corner shop, or take a stroll along the path at Thornton reservoir and walk up to the church from the reservoir.

St Peter’s Church, Thornton

Very largely Early English in character; the nave and the two aisles dating from the beginning of the 14th century or slightly earlier.

St Peter’s church is Grade I listed.

The west tower and spire and the nave clerestory are Perpendicular, added in the 15th century, and the chancel was rebuilt in 1864. The north arcade of the nave has massive octagonal pillars, while that on the south side has quatrefoil pillars. The north aisle has a rare window of ‘ox eye’ design, a cusped spherical triangle. The nave has a full set of Tudor benches, dating from the 1560s their bench ends having carved linenfold panelling.

Friends of St Peter’s, Thornton – membership

The Friends of St Peter’s (FOSP) are a small group of villagers who fund raise for the repairs and refurbishment of the church and grounds. Part of all monies raised are through a number of village events and some by a small membership fee and donations.

If you would like to subscribe to this very worthy cause, then please read the information below and complete the subscription form attached.