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St. Botolph's Church, Sibson
St.
Botolph's Church is a Grade 2 listed building. It is situated
in the centre of the village of Sibson and has an understated elegance.
Within its walls there are still vestiges of its High Church days in the
early 20th century.
There has been a church on this site since at least the 12th century, and probably earlier. The present chancel, the oldest part of the building, dates from about 1300 and contains a piscina and three sedilia. The windows are light and airy and two of the windows in the chancel are Victorian stained glass. (The Victorian glass was removed in April 2006, to protect against damage while repairs are carried out to the chancel. It has been discovered that the chancel East wall is moving). The chancel contains a sepulchral effigy dating from c1300 and the sanctuary floor contains a brass memorial to the Rector of Sibson, John Moore, who died in 1532. There is also a curious outline of a window in the chancel which may have been a lepers' window or confessional. The present altar dates from 1903.
Following the collapse of the steeple in 1724, the nave had to be rebuilt. This was done largely in brick, by Francis Smith, and was completed in 1726 (for approximately £800).
The tower contains four bells which were restored in
1977. There is a keen team of bell ringers who are hoping to augment
the peal of bells to five. The clock was made by Samuel Deacon of
Barton-in-the-Beans in 1789 and was restored with an automatic winding
mechanism as a millennium project.
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The church organ was brought to Sibson from Glenfield Church by Robert Wylie, a long standing church member, in 1966. It was made c1880 by J Porritt. Despite regular servicing the condition had deteriorated and it needed a thorough overhaul and clean. This was done in 2005 and now it is once again used for regular worship and concerts.
Surrounding the church is a glorious churchyard, much loved by villagers and visitors. It contains beautiful shrubs and trees and is lovingly maintained by local people.
Church Maintenance
A service of dedication was held in the church on 14th October 2007 to celebrate the completion of the building works and the installation of the bells.
The
Archdeacon of Loughborough, Venerable Paul Hackwood, preached and performed the
dedications.
When the bells were hung, a wheeled bier and a wicker bath chair were brought down from the tower; both probably late Victorian or early 20th century. Before being displayed in the church, they are both in need of renovation and restoration. If there is anyone who has the skills to do this and would be prepared to do the work, please contact John Hobson on 01827 880967.
June 2010. Estimates for repair to the fire damage in the bell tower are due in and it is hoped that the work can be commenced without undue delay.
.
The Future
The church in Sibson is seen by the villagers as an important part of their lives. In addition to regular worship, concerts and exhibitions are held there. The church is open daily for visitors and prayer, and a surprisingly large number of people sign the visitors book.
Sibson church community play a full part in the life of The Sheepy Group of Churches. Church meetings are often held in the village pub and fund raising is usually shared between the village hall and the church.
Sibson and its two hamlets of Wellsborough and Upton house approximately 250 people. The area is very rural, with several farming families working the land. Most people work out of the village, but the hub of village life is the church, the pub and the village hall. Most of the people who support the ventures there can be found in one of the three!
At a meeting held in the church in 2002, to invite opinions from local people as to the church's future, nearly 30 residents attended. They were all of one mind: they wanted the fabric of the building to be cared for and they were happy for the church to be used for a variety of events, such as concerts and flower festivals as well as worship.
The 2006 Easter Flower Festival was a joy to behold, with many craft and flower displays by local people, complementing the elegance of St. Botolph's Church.
Sibson Village Hall
To resurface the car park at the hall:
Awards for All
Lottery funding
Parish and Community Initiative Fund at Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council.
A grant towards a new floor in the outside storeroom:
WREN Environmental Ltd.
Sibson Hand Bell Ringers
Sibson Hand Bell Ringers need new faces to replace those who have left the Parish (Autumn 2009). No musical skills are required. We have a lot of fun and raise hundreds of pounds each Christmas for Acorns and LOROS hospices. Please come and join us.