The church of St Giles, Costock, is the featured church for January 2023. Costock is located about 14 km (9 miles) south of Nottingham city centre.
It consists of a nave, south porch, north aisle and chancel. There is a bell turret with a single bell (dated 1660) on the west gable of the north aisle.
The church is mainly 14th century but the building has earlier origins: part of a Norman capital was found in the churchyard and a quoin on the nave external wall is carved with an interlace cross of Hiberno-Norse inspiration that possible dates from the 11th century.
The north aisle and south porch were added by the architect G. G. Place in 1848 and the nave and chancel were restored by George Gilbert Scott in 1862.
On the external south wall of the chancel is a worn recess from the 14th century containing the badly damaged effigy of a priest. There is a more modern copy of the recess (in memory of the Rev Edward Wilson who died in 1859) on the north wall.
Inside, the aisle arcade is, according to Nikolaus Pevsner, ‘vigorous, with foliage capitals and large masks carved by the incumbent, the Rev Edward Wilson.’
There are several late medieval benches with poppyheads. Many more benches were made by Wilson and are adorned with dogs, cats etc.
The 14th century octagonal ashlar font bowl is on a modern pedestal.
There are two stained glass windows by Burlison and Grylls.