Thistleton Church, Rutland - St Nicholas' ChurchThistleton church

Thistleton is the most northerly village in Rutland with a population of just over 100 people and St Nicholas was the parish church until 2017. Following consultation with the community, the Diocese and the Church Commissioners, the parishes of Cottesmore and Thistleton were merged into one and St Nicholas Thistleton became a Chapel of Ease on April 1st 2017.

The church no longer has a regular pattern of Sunday services but remains fully licensed for services, weddings, baptisms and funerals. Occasional services - usually eight or so each year - are held mainly around the major Christian festivals of Easter and Christmas, to celebrate Harvest, the Patronal Feast of St Nicholas and to mark important community events.

As the only public space in the village, the church is a multi-functional building used for community events and to promote interest in heritage and local history. In 2020, thanks to grants from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, the Rutland Historic Churches Preservation Trust and a number of other local and national funding bodies, the church’s Collyweston roof was reslated and the interior benefitted from limited reordering and installation of a new energy efficient heating system.

More information about Thistleton Church can be found at https://www.thistletonchurch.org

When the church became a Chapel of Ease it was on the understanding that the church would be financially supported by the local Thistleton community. All costs associated with the church are met through the fundraising efforts of the Friends of Thistleton Church, registered charity no. 1167538. Further information can be found on the website  http://friendsofthistletonchurch.weebly.com