Smisby Church overlooks the housetops into Leicestershire and has monuments to the Kendall's who lived at the Old Hall, which is now a farmhouse near the church.

• Early History: The first building on the site was a Chapel of Ease, built by the Monks from Repton in 1068 and forming the Old Hall. The nave and chancel were added by Joanne Comyn. She married William Steppey in 1300 and became owner of Smisby and its Manor when she died.
• Church Construction & Features:
  • The tower was added in the 15th century.
  • It contains two bells which are inscribed "God save the King 1617" (Chapter J) and "God save King Charles the Second 1661".
  • The font is 14th century in date and of octagonal design, situated originally under the first arch but moved to its present position in the 1950's when the church was restored.
  • A set of new pews was added, and the floor was raised so that new heating channels could be put beneath the floor, which almost covered the pillar bases.
  • In the 1960's, the old organ was removed and a new one was built under the tower.
  • An altar plate was placed where the first altar had been and the broken piscina was restored. A new side altar was dedicated to Dr. Mark Baker, the village's doctor, who gave his life trying to save two men trapped down a well.
• Monuments in the Church:
  • There are three monuments, none of which has been without adventure in its six centuries.
  • One is an alabaster stone, recut from an earlier one. It is an alabaster stone, recut from an earlier one, sculptured with the figure of a woman in a long mantle with her hands clasped on her breast. She is Jean Comyn, who died in 1310 and was heiress of the Lord of the Manor. The face is much worn and one of her shields is gone, but the heiress is believed to have been for the most important Lady of Smisby. It is thought to be Jean Comyn, who died in 1310 and was heiress of the Lord of the Manor. For years it was used by the parishioners for propping up the long most important Lady of Smisby.
  • The memorial in the south aisle is that of William Kendall, great, great, grandson of Joanne Comyn and his wife Ann. His portrait was engraved in stone when he died in 1500. He is worn away but his wife can still be seen. On the outside buttress of the south aisle is a Hastings ragged sleeve, probably placed there after William's two brothers, Richard and Thomas, who were killed at Bosworth in 1485.
  • The third memorial is by the side of the main altar and is that of Henry Kendall, great grandson to William, and his wife Elizabeth. He is seen kneeling with his wife on their great monument with their 13 children. With two sons and one daughter in shrouds. The eldest son Henry sold the Manor of Smisby to the Creswes of Calke Abbey in 1560.
  • The linen-fold panelling behind the main altar originally came from Ashby Castle and was brought to Smisby in the 1850's.
• Stained Glass & Wood Carving:
  • The squint or hagioscope was widened in the 1890's to give a view of the alter from the South aisle.
  • The carved wooden War Memorial on the South wall is the work of a Smisby craftsman, William Bailey.
  • The windows are of varying dates and types. The three light East window in the chancel is an example of decorated work, about 1350, having been cemented and filled with tracery before 1850. The East window behind the side altar is an early English Lancet window. Other windows are of a much later date.
• Village History: The village still keeps its old lock-up, a tiny octagonal building with a studded door and a spire like roof. It is believed that here, in the fields behind the school, was fought the famous tournament described by Scott in Ivanhoe, less than two miles from the castle mound which some of the scenes in the story were laid. For more details on the village, see "SMISBY The Mystery of its History" a copy of which is in the library.