Middle Littleton, St Nicholas Church

Middle Littleton, St Nicholas Church

The Worcestershire village of Middle Littleton is known for its superb medieval tithe barn, now in the care of the National Trust. From the barn, you can look across green fields to the 13th-century parish church, dedicated to St Nicholas.

Historical Highlights

• Norman font
• 15th-century pulpit
• 16th-century bench ends
• Victorian Gothic reredos on metal
• Medieval floor tiles

History

The nave and chancel were built in the 13th century, with the west tower, south porch, south-east chantry chapel, transepts, and vestry added later. The tower base dates to the late 13th century while the upper stages were added in the 15th century.

The church interior

The south transept was added to serve as a Lady Chapel by Thomas Smyth of North Littleton, who died in 1532. Smyth left the annual income from a cow, plus money and goods, for a chantry chapel, but there is no written record that a chantry license was granted.

It is fascinating to read the terms of Smyth's will, now kept in the Worcestershire Record office. It reads as follows:

'Unto the Chapel of our Lady, one of my best kine [cattle], and I will that my obit continually every year once shall be there kept and celebrate of the profits yearly coming of the said cow and the residue of the same to be applied unto the reparations of the said Chapel as it will extend. I bequeath unto the use and profit of the same chapel 6/8d [about 33p today], one chalice, one mass book printed, one pair of cruets and one pair of vestments of white damask crossed with red.'

The Frederick Preedy reredos

The church was comprehensively remodelled in 1871 by the architect Frederick Preedy (1820 – 1898), a native of the area. Preedy enlarged the church and designed and painted the striking reredos. He did, however, leave the original medieval window intact.

Preedy was unusual amongst Victorian architects in that he both designed and painted stained-glass windows, producing works of the highest quality.

The Norman tub font

By far the most interesting historical feature inside the church is the 12th-century lead-lined font. This is tub shaped and set on a later stem. It is carved with a band of lozenges and decorated with traditional motifs, including leaves, crosses, and chevrons.

The pulpit is built from reused 15th-century wooden panels, while the nave pews are largely late-medieval. The benches in the chancel date to the Tudor period.

Medieval tiles in the chancel

In the north transept is a section of original medieval floor tiles, and more tiles from the same period are set into a niche in the north chancel wall. These tiles were likely made in Malvern.

In the north transept floor are two interesting 17th-century ledger stones, the oldest commemorating Eleanor Carew, who died in 1673. The inscription - with its unique spelling choices - reads as follows:

'Ellener the daughter and heyre of William Rennolds of Shottery in the parish of Stratford upon Avon in the county of Warwick, gent., and wife of Edward Carew, Esq. of this parish (who lived by faith and practises a good Christian) departed hense the 30 of December 1673 aged 51 years and under this stone is interred.'

The tower arch

The tower arch is decorated with rough designs in Tudor style, though the church guide does not mention them at all, leaving visitors to wonder just how old they are. Also not mentioned in the guide is an iron-bound parish chest, of a style that might suggest a date in the 17th century.

St Nicholas forms part of the Evesham Preedy Trail, linking buildings associated with Frederick Preedy.

Visiting

I highly recommend combining a visit to the Middle Littleton Tithe Barn with St Nicholas Church. the two sites are a very short walk or drive apart. We did not see any dedicated car parking for the church (there is for the tithe barn), but it was easy to park along the road verge. The church was open when we visited.