Visit local Churches and Coventry Cathedral.
Church of St Mary the Virgin, Fawsley
Although there may have been an earlier Anglo-Saxon church on this site, the present church dates from 1209. Established by John de Fawesle, the first vicar, the tower contains a ring of four bells dating from 1450. It is quite rare to find original bells from this period still hanging and in use to this day. The church contains Knightley family memorials and brasses, carved pews and some fine medieval stained glass.
Services are normally held on the first and third Sundays of the month at 11:00 am.
The Knightley Parishes
In addition to Fawsley Church, we are fortunate to include some fine ancient churches in our parish. They include:
- Badby: St Mary the Virgin (13th century).
- Charwelton: Holy Trinity. Located in field about a mile from the village down a gated road.
- Newnham: St Michael and All Angels (13th century). Notable open arches at the west end, which support the bell tower and contain six bells.
- Preston Capes: SS Peter and Paul (early 13th century).
All Saints Church, Earls Barton
Tucked away in the centre of the village, All Saints in Brixworth is my favourite church, much of it Saxon with some Roman brickwork. Typical journey time by car is 40 minutes.
Coventry Cathedral
The Cathedral Church of St Michael was destroyed by incendiary bombs in November 1940 and the ruins of the former cathedral are impressive in their own right. The charred cross and Reconciliation statue are a reminder of the futility of war. Basil Spence's design for the new cathedral, consecrated in 1962, is a modern triumph. It is worth the trip just to see the stained glass by John Hutton and John Piper, and Graham Sutherland's huge tapestry,Christ in Glory. Elizabeth Frink also has work on display.
Typical journey time by car is 45 minutes.