Church of Saints Peter and Paul, Lower Church Street, Syston (Grade I)

Parish church, partially C13, with early C14 and perpendicular work, and externally substantially as restored by Ordish, c1870-80. Pink granite rubble with white limestone dressings. West Tower, nave with clerestory and two aisles, and chancel. Buttressed tower is perpendicular, four stages with west doorway in roll moulded and hollow chamfered ogee archway with outer squared hood mould on large and worn corbel heads, with quatrefoils etc., in the spandrels. The door itself is C19 with blank traceried patterns. Large 3 light geometric traceried light above. Two tiered paired lights to bell chamber. Upper stage is of white ashlar. Quatrefoil frieze below embattled parapet with slender angle pinnacles. South aisle is the work of Ordish, but porch is C14; a shallow coped gable, and buttresses with moulded archway springing from a chamfer with a niche over it. Two tiny windows in its east and west walls with stained glass. The fenestration of the aisle is a heavy geometric style with pointed arched stilted hood moulds, with corbels. Ogee arched doorway to east. Ashlar parapet with masks etc. Tomb recess in south wall; moulded arch with inner ogee, early C14. Clerestory is perpendicular with embattled parapet and grotesque gargoyles on pilasters between the windows. The chancel is of c1870-80. It has a 5 light tiered east window with statue in niche above. Quatrefoil frieze to north and pilasters. One pinnacle, and a larger pinnacle marking its eastern end with mutilated fleurons. North aisle details similar to those of south.
Inside the Church is largely perpendicular. The west tower arch and its 3 sided responds are embellished with trefoiled panels in the stone. Steep pitch of former nave roof visible above. Nave of 5 bays with two arcades, their hexagonal piers and broad chamfered arches again all decorated with traceried panels. Corbel heads to outer hood mould. Reveals of clerestory windows also panelled. Good perpendicular nave roof, with moulded and chamfered tie beams, and sculptural King and Queen posts, human effigies. Painted wood angel wall posts support tie beams by curved braces, stiffly carved figures carrying emblems and now minus their wings (the two eastern most are restorations) standing on grotesque stone corbel heads. Various carved and painted bosses, foliage, green men etc. North and south aisles both c1879-80, painted rubble. Perpendicular chancel arch, with panelled decoration, but Victorian plain chamfered responds, and low marble screen wall, with fine brass gates, presumably by Ordish. Chancel, north vestry and south chapel are entirely Victorian. Chancel roof of angular timbering; long struts supporting a high collar. Inlaid marble reredos and aumbrey to north with fine brass hinges. Intricately traceried wood screens to north and south. The Sedilia to the south is a C13 survival.
10 sided font, probably C13, with unornamented shield shaped panels, slightly mutilated, on solid base with four shafts. Wood Victorian pulpit, very elaborate; leaning angels support the main body of it, which has carved figures in highly wrought traceried niches. Curved sounding board and canopy above, also ornately worked. Stained glass in the south aisle and in one north aisle window, 1870-80, unattributed. Central panels depicting biblical scenes etc., in wide margins with floral motifs. Chancel window has saints, prophets etc., in architectural settings.