13th century priest's gravestone, with floreated cross.
Was the central embellishment added later?
Right: the sort of grave the gravestone would have covered In the early twelfth century, the bishops wished to exert greater control over the parishes. They made renewed attacks on the marriage of priests - which caused problems when the children made efforts to inherit their father's property and tithes - and encouraged the donation of churches (with their revenues) to the diocese. The advowson (the gift of the rector's living) of Little Packington was given around 1174 to the Convent of Worcester by Gilbert Picot, lord of the manor, together with tall trees to provide crucks for a parsonage house. |
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| As glass became cheaper, the small easterly windows were blocked up and the present large window was inserted with plain interlaced tracery in the style of 1290 - Early English becoming Decorated. The chancel arch was probably reconstructed above the norman piers and abaci at this time (visible in 1856 but now lost). Further light was brought in with the south window (right) of the same date or a little later, and the west window in the earliest perpendicular style of around 1340. At least one window was added on the north side of the nave in a square-headed fifteenth (or early sixteenth) century style. |  |
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