Steetley Chapel in North Nottinghamshire came as a complete surprise recently. We were visiting friends in the area and they mentioned in passing that there was an old church nearby. On investigation we found one of the most complete Romanesque buildings in Britain. the celebrated J. C. Cox described it as “the most perfect and elaborate specimen of Norman architecture to be found anywhere in Europe”. High praise indeed.

Steetley Chapel, like all buildings of its age is heavily restored having laid in ruins for years until the 1880s. The Bishop of Lichfield should be praised for bringing this gem back to life again. Originally built in the fourteenth century (although probably on the site of an older chapel) it is a classic three compartment church. There is a fifteen foot long nave, thirteen foot long chancel and a delightful semi circular apse, the most sacred space with the altar.

The chancel arch is a masterpiece with various beak head, dog tooth and zig zag carvings. The chancel and nave are supported by strong Romanesque columns whose capitals are carved with the works of the creation. As would be expected of a church of this age, its height is disproportionate stretching to heaven with walls containing tiny openings for windows. The Normans knew how to build strong buildings but hadn’t mastered the large traceried windows which came later.

The chancel does contain one large gothic window which would look out of place but has redeemed itself with gorgeous late twentieth stained glass. It was donated by Mr Alfred Thompson in 1990, portraying the resurrection and dedicated to his wife. 

The village of Steetley was a small hamlet in Norman times but completely lost to the Black Death in the 1300s. Its own resurrection was due to the arrival of coal mining in the nineteenth century, which in its turn has passed and been replaced by the sprawling parcel distribution industry.

The little Romanesque chapel at Steetley has witnessed all this long history and legend. It is said that the celebrated castle of Front de Boeuf was here and that Steetley was the ruined shrine where the Black Knight enjoyed the hospitality of the “Holy Clerk of Copmanhurst”. All you followers of medieval romance out there may decide for yourselves.