Category Archives: Heritage Open Days

Heritage Open Days are a great way to learn about St Peter’s Church – as well as many other wonderful places! St Peter’s joins the national festival organised in September.

SUMMER TOURS OF ST. PETER’S, CHURCH LANGTON

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Discover the Hidden Treasures of St. Peter’s Church, Church Langton
Guided Tours – Sundays, July 6th & 20th at 1:30pm
Church Langton, Market Harborough, LE16 7SZ

Step inside one of Leicestershire’s most striking historic churches and uncover centuries of fascinating stories, stunning craftsmanship, and artistic treasures.

Join us for a guided tour of St. Peter’s, Church Langton – a grand and imposing parish church packed with unique features and rich history. Highlights include:

  • A rare Sheela-na-Gig – a mysterious and ancient stone carving of a naked female figure, believed to offer protection and ward off evil
  • A beautifully preserved 17th-century font canopy and offertory box
  • Glorious Pre-Raphaelite stained-glass windows
  • A breathtaking alabaster reredos of The Last Supper
  • A musical milestone – the first parish church to host a performance of Handel’s Messiah in 1759

Whether you’re a history enthusiast, an art lover, or simply curious, this tour promises a captivating glimpse into England’s religious and cultural heritage.

Admission: £5 adults – Children FREE
No booking required – just turn up!

After the tour, relax and enjoy homemade cream teas in the peaceful surroundings of this picturesque village.

Contact: Roz on 01858 545160 or email r.folwell@btinternet.com for more details.

Come and explore the stories carved in stone, painted in glass, and sung in history — only at St. Peter’s, Church Langton.

St Peter's Church, Shepherd's Window
St Peter’s Church, Shepherd’s Window
St Peter's: View to pulpit
St Peter’s: View to pulpit
St Peter's Church High Altar Window which shows the Deposition of Christ from the Cross and the women who tended him, including Mary Magdalene
St Peter’s High Altar Window, which shows the Deposition of Christ and the women who tended him, including Mary Magdalene
St Peter's Church Langton: East Window and High Altar with reredos
St Peter’s Church Langton: East Window and High Altar with reredos
St Peter's Nave - Celestry
St Peter’s Nave – Celestry
Reredos: Grapes
Reredos: Wheat
St Peter's: Pew - detail
St Peter’s: Pew – detail
Porch Face carving
Last Supper-Reredo carving by J Reid at St Peter's Church
Last Supper-Reredo carving by J Reid at St Peter’s Church

National Trust Heritage Open Days

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Sundays 8th & 15th September 2024, 3pm

St. Peter’s, Church Langton

Stonton Road, Church Langton, Market Harborough, Leicestershire LE16 7SZ

Join our guided tour of the church, highlighting the architectural and historical features. Learn more about the colourful history of St Peter’s Church and discover the intricate carvings and unique features of this remarkable Grade II* Listed building. The tours are part of the Heritage Festival which takes place annually in September.

Admission is free and refreshments served afterwards. Tours start at 3pm and last around an hour.

St Peter's: View to pulpit
St Peter’s: View to pulpit

A taste of the Tour – Some things you’ll discover

St. Peter’s hosted the first performance of Handel’s Messiah in a parish church 27th September 1759. It was performed as part of a festival of music organised by Rector William Hanbury. Visionary, botanist and priest – a unique man whose legacy lives on to this day.

St. Peter’s is the Mother Church of The Langtons, dating back to Norman times and was possibly an Anglo Saxon minster. This medieval church, of amazing proportions has so much heritage of interest dating from the late 13th and early 14th centuries with the tower, clerestory and nave arcades, the work of the 15th century.

Victorian renovations resulted in the elaborate carvings on the pews and pulpit and a reredos in the chancel which is an alabaster representation of the Last Supper by Leonardo da Vinci.

And that’s only part of the story! Learn more with a Guided Tour

Guided Tour Details                                                                                          

Sunday 8th September: 3.00pm
Sunday 15th September: 3.00pm

No booking required, just arrive at 3pm. We look forward to welcoming you.

Refreshments

Simple refreshments will be available afterwards.

Access

No direct wheelchair access but prior notice by email here, for assistance for wheelchair users. There is uneven ground in churchyard. Parking on the road outside, toilet facilities by arrangement – please ask for assistance – Further parking at the Community Hall on Stonton Road. Approximately 5-10 minutes’ walk.

Directions

Find us just off the B6047 Market Harborough to Melton Road, 3 miles from Kibworth, 6 miles from Market Harborough. Postcode for satellite navigation systems LE16 7SZ –

What three word link: https://w3w.co/cubed.thinkers.upholds

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Heritage open days

National Trust Heritage Open Days

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Creativity Unwrapped at St. Peter’s, Church Langton LE16 7SZ
Discover more as Heritage Open Days celebrates the creativity in this beautiful church http://www.heritageopendays.org.uk

10th & 17th September 2023

A variety of craft activities and tours of the church, based on the theme of creativity, will be
available for all the family. On two consecutive Sundays on 10th and 17th September, St. Peter’s, Church Langton, Market Harborough, will be providing children’s activities at 1.15 to 2.00pm and a guided tour from 2.00 – 3.00pm, highlighting the creative aspect of this wonderful church. St. Peter’s claim to fame is that it was the first parish church in the country to hold a performance of Handel’s Messiah. This free event is an opportunity to find out more about this momentous occasion and is not to be missed.


Previously only performed in theatres, in 1759 the Reverend William Hanbury staged this performance. Find out more about this momentous day. See the original organ casing and keyboard as well as carved medieval bosses, corbels and a figurine, a 17th century font cover and tomb effigy, Minton floor tiles, elaborate Victorian wood carving, Reid’s alabaster reredos carving of Leonardo da Vinci’s ‘Last Supper’, stained glass that has fine examples of Pre Raphaelite designs and quality Victorian glass and decorative Swithland slate headstones including what is said to be the best gravestone image in Leicestershire. Taking inspiration from all this creativity children will be able to make their own tissue paper-stained glass windows, grave rubbings, and tile designs as well as a ‘creativity’ hunt.


St. Peter’s tall 14th century tower is an imposing landmark in the rolling hills of South
Leicestershire. This magnificent Grade 2* church is just off the A6 on the B6047. Church Langton is on the Leicestershire Round with several other footpaths leading to the village and along with the surrounding Langtons has one of three pleasant country pubs offering Sunday lunch.

Rector William Hanbury organised the first performance of Handel’s Messiah in a Parish Church in England in St Peter’s on 27th September 1759.

Victorian renovations resulted in the elaborate carvings on the pews and pulpit and a reredos in the chancel.

Booking Details

Advance booking required.                                                           
Contact: Roz Folwell 01858 545160 r.folwell@btinternet.com

Access

No wheelchair access, uneven ground in churchyard.

COVID-19 Considerations

This event will run in line with local and national government guidelines at the time of the festival. Please do not attend if anyone in your family is exhibiting Covid-19 symptoms.

Additional Information

No toilet facilities inside church, but car parking and toilet facilities available at Langton Community Hall approx five minutes walk from church, where Cream Teas will be available in aid of St Peter’s Church.


Payment on the day

Contactless payments in church now available.

Directions

Find us just off the B6047 Market Harborough to Melton Road, 3 miles from Kibworth, 6 miles from Market Harborough. Postcode for satellite navigation systems LE16 7SZ – What three word link: https://w3w.co/cubed.thinkers.upholds


Organised by

Roz Folwell

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Heritage open days