MORCOTT : CHURCH OF ST MARY THE VIRGIN
Church Post Code LE15 9DH
Open to visitors


It was May 2019 and a return to Rutland on a cloudy Sunday afternoon. The church of St Mary at Morcott was our second church of the afternoon, a churchcrawl which ended in an evening service at North Luffenham. This was a return visit for me, having previously visited here on a bright and sunny afternoon in the winter of 2015.
It is always good to spend some time in Rutland; a glorious country with some picturesque villages and, for the most part, open and welcoming churches and friendly people.
Morcott can be found some seven miles south east of Oakham, with the Northamptonshire border a short distance off to the south. Stamford is to be found eight miles or so away to the north east, with Peterborough approximately 20 miles off to the east.
The name Morcott means “cottage on the moor” Quiet and peaceful, despite the close proximity of the bustling A47. According to the 2021 census, the population was 323; which was two more than was recorded in the census of 2011.
Those travelling along the A47 will see the Grade II Listed Morcott windmill on the opposite side of the road from the village; which was rebuilt in the late 1960’s and which is now a private dwelling.



The tower and spire of St Mary can be seen from the A47 with the church standing central in the village, surrounded by cottages on slightly raised ground. There was no mention of a church or priest at the time of the Domesday Survey in 1086 and the church that we see today dates to mainly the 12th and 13th centuries.
The church consists of west tower, now rendered, with small recessed spire, nave with north and south aisles and clerestories, south porch and chancel.
The three stage west tower dates back to the 12th century; and is battlemented with two light windows to the belfry stage. The church clock, in the traditional colours of blue and gold, sits on the south face.
The west door of the tower is Norman and highly decorated. The top of this doorway has been remodelled at some point, with a pointed arch replacing the original semi circular arch; keeping up with the latest styles and fashions! An oculus, a circular window, sits half way up the second stage, with an empty image niche placed in very close proximity below it which would have held a statue prior to the reformation of the 16th century.



Four bells hang here, all of some age and interest, with these being looked at by Thomas North, in his study of the church bells in Rutland which was published in 1880. The first of the ring was cast locally, by Thomas Norris of the Stamford bellfoundry, and is dated 1637. The second is an alphabet bell, which basically just has an inscription consisting of the letters of the alphabet; this was cast by Watts of Leicester in the 16th century.
The third in the ring was cast by Thomas Eayre of Kettering in 1726. The inscription on this bell reads “HIS NAZARENE REX JUDAEORUM FILI DEI MISERERE MEI GLORIA PATRI FIKIO ET SPIRITUI SANCTO 1726” This translates as “Jesus of Nazareth King of the Jews son of God have mercy on me. Glory to the Father the Son and the Holy Spirit”
The fourth in the ring is another of great age, again dating from the 16th century, with this one courtesy of Newcombe, also of Leicester with this one having the inscription ‘S MARIA’.
In his usual thorough manner, North notes a few items regarding the bells from the church wardens account books. This included 6d spent on mending the second bell clapper in 1685 and 8s 6d paid to Thomas Law of (Kings) Cliffe for four bell ropes.
A carving of a human figure to the south is almost entirely weathered away; with just a single ear left fairly untouched. The south porch has a small bricked up image niche over the door. Against the south wall of the chancel a tall slim two light window sits alongside a tiny priest’s door with semi circular arch, with the door sitting well above ground level!
It was a dull Sunday afternoon in Rutland, with the leaden clouds threatening rain. This did make for some good photographs though.


Entrance to the church is from the south, through a 14th century porch and a doorway dating from the 12th century, with the latter having a beautifully rounded arch. The two bay north arcade dates from the 12th century; with semi circular arches, circular piers and intricately carved capitals; with carvings including a human figure with long, almost horse like face and enormous ears which sits alongside a ram.
The symbolism of carvings has doubtless lost much of its meaning over the 800 odd years since these were produced. Who knew what was going through the minds of those who created these. However, the symbolism of the ram is fairly straightforward and was often used. The Ram represents protection as the ram protected the herd and also symbolises sacrifice as the ram was an animal that was sacrificed to God.
Elsewhere, a highly simplistic caricature of a face almost looks like a ballflower. Foliage and interlace designs can be seen throughout. Just stunning! The tower arch is of a similar date, with similar rounded arches. Turning around and looking at the south doorway, this is a simple design, no elaborate carvings here, and is very beautiful. Astonishing to think of the people throughout the centuries who have walked in through this doorway!





Rutland is a small county but it has some important architecture contained within its churches and, with the exception of Tickencote, with its six tier Norman chancel arch, the north arcade here would rate as highly as anything to be found in its borders. On my first visit here back in 2015, a lady preparing for the following days service told me that the previous year someone had spent two days inside the church with a raised platform sketching the carvings on the capitals.
The south aisle dates from a little later, and also has semi circular arches, circular piers and capitals, with the carvings on these far less intricate.
The chancel arch with its pointed arch, is later still, dating from the Early English period, and has nailhead designs on then responds. The chancel itself is large and spacious, with much evidence of Victorian restoration. The altar is plain and simple with a cross and two candle sticks, with further candlesticks on the ledge of the east window behind. The altar cloth was green which indicates ‘ordinary time’ with this on this occasion being the time between Easter and Advent.
Against the south wall of the chancel is a piscina, in which the holy vessels used in the Mass would have been washed. Opposite on the north wall there is a cupboard, an aumbry, in which the holy vessels would have been stored.
The east window is of four lights and is of clear glass. In fact there is no stained glass to be seen anywhere in the church; the result being that it was quite light inside, even on a dull day.
Visitors to the church are watched by a carving of a male figure, with impressive moustache and hair which reminded me of church Zoom meeting during the first covid lockdown when the barbers had all closed. An angel with wings unfurled and sightless eyes symbolises the safe escorting of the soul towards Heaven; a testament as to the faith of the deceased.





It was a quiet afternoon in Rutland with just a single jogger to be seen as we looked around the church grounds. As is often the case in Rutland, many of the gravestones are badly weathered, and covered in lichen.
There is still enough to see to indicate that many of these would have been very fine work in their day. What we have left though, for the most part, is badly weathered and covered with attractive lichen. There is nothing of any great rarity or interest in the grounds here; with nothing have its own Listing; however the churchyard wall itself has its own Grade II Listing.
Just to mention a couple of things though; an attractive Georgian table tomb has a symbol of a downturned torch on one of the side panels. If the torch points down, or if the flame is extinguished, it is a symbol of death and mourning. If the torch points upwards, it is a more uplifting message; symbolising resurrection and eternal life.
Elsewhere we see an arrow. This is a symbol of mortality with the arrow symbolising the piercing of life. However, at times it can be more specific, indicating sudden death; a life cut short swiftly. Elsewhere in Rutland, in the church grounds at Teigh, we see a beautifully carved scene in slate. A woman is going about her business whilst death in the form of a skeleton peers from around a curtain just about to throw an arrow at her, ending her life.



The church here has been open to visitors on each occasion that I have visited and is well worth taking a look at. As mentioned earlier Rutland has a healthy attitude to open churches, with the majority, but not all being open to visitors; with the interested churchcrawler almost certainly finding a decent amount of churches open nearby should they care to explore.
Photographs taken are from the May 2019 visit, with the exception of a few of the interior shots, which were taken on the 2015 visit when the light quality was a little better in places due to some weak winter sunshine.