Church of St Botolph

Constructed on an area of high ground at the north end of the modern village, the churches history is intertwined with that of the villagers and Slapton Manor, located immediately to the west of the church. Its construction would have been overseen by the Manor House, at that time owned by a branch of the De Lucy family who are commemorated by the inclusion of their family crest in the east window over the high altar. The Knight family, later keepers of the manor, are also commemorated widely in the churches monuments. It was initially built sometime in the late 12th to early 13th century and was added to in the 14th century. The wall paintings were an evolving work between the 14th and…

The building consists of a chancel, a nave, a southern lean to lady chapel, a west tower, and a south porch. Like the vast majority of medieval churches, it is oriented axially towards the sanctuary and the high altar in the chancel at the east end of the church. It is constructed from local limestone and ironstone, a characteristically Northamptonshire material. On the south wall of the main body are two traceried gothic windows and a porch, inside which there are a couple of carved Mass dials. On the north elevation, the nave and chancel, there are also two windows and a walled up door. The chancel is lit by three large gothic windows and has a small priests door to the south.

wall and the entrances to the chancel. To the right is the screened off Lady Chapel in the south aisle.]] The Church of St Botolph, Slapton is home to The Slapton Wall Paintings, a notably complete collection of 14th-15th century wall paintings which dominate the interior and greet the visitor immediately on entry. In the north aisle on the north wall a large depiction of St Christopher carrying the Child Jesus and over the capitals of the arcade to the south (from left to right) St George and the dragon (partly lost), the Virgin Mary and St Michael overseeing the Weighing of souls, Satan inspiring two gossips, The Ecstasy of St Francis, and the Mass of Saint Gregory showing the Man of…