Church of St Nicholas and St Peter ad Vincula, Curdworth

The present Church of St Nicholas and St Peter ad Vincula is of Norman[1] origin (1170–1190), established in 1165 when the Augustinian Canons of the Abbey of St Mary de Pratis, Leicester were granted the right to present a priest to the parish. The church was lengthened in the 14th century and the Perpendicular style tower was added in 1460 by the Earl of Warwick, but it was never finished with its intended spire.

In 1895 a carved stone Saxon font was recovered during refurbishments to the church by Lord Norton. The font had been buried under the nave floor, possibly during the Reformation and indicates that a church has been present on the site since Saxon times. This font has been in use ever since its rediscovery.

It is believed some soldiers killed in the English Civil War Battle of Curdworth Bridge are buried in the churchyard, which also contains the war graves of six Commonwealth service personnel of World War I (mostly Royal Flying Corps officers) and three of World War II.[2]

There are three bells in the tower; the first tenor, The Mary Bell dating from the 15th century, said to have been given in gratitude by a traveller lost in the Forest of Arden, guided to safety to Curdworth by the sound of a bell. The second bell is dated 1756 and inscribed "Thos. Eayre de Kettering" and the third treble bell is inscribed "Edward Astley 1663. Thomas Wilcox".

The church has a two-manual pipe organ. A specification of the organ can be found on the National Pipe Organ Register.[3]

Amongst many pieces of sculpture is an angel (now headless) that used to be on the road bridge over the River Tame at Water Orton to safeguard the safe passage of travellers.

• St. Nicholas and St Peter ad Vincula in Curdworth, Warwickshire