Church Of St Swithin

The Church of St Swithin is a parish church located in Great Dalby, dating back to the 13th century, with significant repairs and alterations in the 17th and 19th centuries. The tower is from the 13th century and was repaired in 1658. The nave and aisle were rebuilt in 1658, and the chancel was restored in 1838 and again in 1887. The west door and window were renewed in 1889 by Goddard and Paget.

The church is constructed from coursed and squared ironstone and limestone ashlar, with limestone ashlar dressings, and features Swithland slate roofs. It comprises a west tower, a nave, a chancel, a south aisle, and a south porch. The two-stage west tower has a moulded plinth, string course, four gabled angle buttresses, and a weathercock crowning a pyramidal roof. A giant arch on the west face of the tower contains a double-ringed shaft doorway with moulded imposts, hood mould, and a late 19th-century Geometrical triple lancet window above. The tower’s second stage has a chamfered double lancet bell opening with a flat head and hood mould on each face.

The 17th-century nave has a chamfered plinth, coved eaves, and a coped parapet. The north side features four-light mullioned and transomed casements, with the bottom lights blocked. The chancel has a coped west gable, and includes a leaded casement to the north, a lean-to organ chamber, and a three-light mullioned and transomed casement to the east. The south side has a two-light mullioned casement to the west and a slightly off-centre chamfered pointed doorway with a hood mould.

The south aisle, also dating from the 17th century, has four buttresses, setoffs, moulded eaves, and a moulded parapet. It contains a pair of cross-mullioned casements to the west, above the porch, and two paired full-height four-light mullioned and transomed casements to the right. Three shields with crests are positioned above the windows. The south porch has a coped gable and a plain shouldered doorway.

Inside, the church showcases a C19 common rafter roof, and a mid-17th century south doorway with a chamfered surround and a studded plank door with patterned strap hinges and C17 furniture. The tower features a stilted segmental arch with multiple chamfers and rebates, alongside octagonal responds. A two-bay south arcade has an octagonal pier and responds with large double-chamfered and rebated round arches. The chancel has a double-chamfered and rebated round arch with octagonal responds, and a continuous sill band. A matchboarded ceiling dates to 1838. The interior’s furnishings include a mid-17th century octagonal font, an early 18th century vase and balustered altar rail, and late 19th-century benches, stalls, desk, pulpit, and an eagle lectern. A C19 benefactions board and early C19 Royal Arms are also present.