All Saints' Church, Hockerill facts for kids
Quick facts for kids The Parish Church of All Saints', Hockerill |
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All Saints' Hockerill looking east
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| Location | Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Website | allsaintshockerill.org.uk |
| History | |
| Consecrated | 7 January 1852 (burnt down) 24 July 1937 |
| Architecture | |
| Heritage designation | Grade II (UK) |
| Architect(s) | George Pritchett (1851) Stephen Dykes Bower (1936) |
| Architectural type | 20th-century Gothic Revival |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Hockerill |
| Diocese | St Albans |
All Saints' Church in Hockerill is a very special building. It's listed as a Grade II historic building, which means it's important and protected. This church was the first one designed by a famous architect named Stephen Dykes Bower in the 1900s. It also has a beautiful round window called a rose window, made by Hugh Ray Easton. Plus, it has an amazing pipe organ built by Henry Willis II.
Contents
The Story of All Saints' Church
For many years, the town of Bishop's Stortford had only one church area, called a parish. But more and more people started going to church. So, the vicar (a church leader) of St Michael's Church, Francis William Rhodes, decided to divide the area into three parishes. Francis was the father of the famous explorer and politician Cecil Rhodes.
Building the First Church
The first All Saints' Church in Hockerill was built in 1851. A local architect named George Pritchett designed it. The church officially opened on January 7, 1852. It was a "Commissioners' church," which means the British Parliament helped pay for it. Queen Victoria herself created the new parish for this church on February 2, 1852. John Menet became the first vicar of the parish. He was also the first chaplain for a nearby college that trained schoolmistresses. Today, that college is known as Hockerill Anglo-European College.
The Big Fire of 1935
On Friday, June 21, 1935, something terrible happened. A fire completely destroyed the church inside. This news was so big it was reported all over the country. Villagers tried to put out the fire, but it quickly spread to the roof. The vicar, Reginald J. Mockridge, and other villagers bravely saved important items. They rescued the Communion plate, church records, and the lectern (a stand for reading).
The roof fell in within half an hour. There was so much smoke that firefighters had to wear gas masks. They couldn't do much because there wasn't enough water nearby.
Rebuilding the Church
People started collecting money for a new church on the very same day of the fire. The new church cost a lot, about £27,178 (which would be around £1.4 million today!). People raised £9,528 (about £0.5 million today) through public donations.
Even royalty helped! Queen Mary of Teck gave a pair of vases for an auction. The Duchess of York (who later became Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother) gave a special blotter and a picture of Princess Elizabeth (who later became Elizabeth II). Even famous movie stars gave signed photos to help raise money.
The first stone for the new church was laid on July 20, 1936. The new All Saints' Church officially opened on July 24, 1937.
Church Design
The church built in 1936 was the first church designed by Stephen Dykes Bower. He spent his whole life working on churches in the Gothic Revival style. Some people think this church is his best work. It mixes traditional church design with new ideas, making it stand out from other churches of its time.
Outside the Church
The front of the church, facing west, is very noticeable in Bishop's Stortford. It has a tall, wide central tower with a unique steep roof shaped like a saddle. There are also three very tall, narrow windows called lancets. The church is built with strong, grey stone called Kentish ragstone. This makes it look very grand and solid. Strong supports called buttresses stand on the sides of the church.
At the southwest entrance, there's a wooden gate from the 1800s called a lych gate. This gate is the only part of the original 1851 church that wasn't damaged by the fire. Dykes Bower was asked to use parts of the old church if possible. He used this same idea later when he rebuilt another church that was destroyed by fire.
Inside the Church
The inside of the church has a simple layout. It has a main area called a nave and two side areas called aisles. These lead to a long, open area at the front called the chancel. When you first enter, you are in a space called the narthex, which is at the bottom of the tower. This area includes the baptistery, which is directly in line with the main altar.
The inside of the church feels bright and open. It has huge open spaces, many tall windows, and light-colored walls. The nave is very tall, about 45 feet (14 meters) high! This height is made even more impressive by large round pillars and pointed arches. These arches support a beautiful ceiling made of sunken panels, called a coffered wagon roof. The open feel and special ceiling are also seen in some of Dykes Bower's later work. The chancel area is dominated by a large round window at the east end. While the church has a Gothic style, some of the furniture, like the four pillars around the main altar, are in a more Classical style.
The Rose Window
The most eye-catching part of the church's inside is the large, round rose window. It's about 18 feet (5.5 meters) wide! It was designed by Hugh Ray Easton and is located at the east end, above the main altar. This window is the main source of color in the building. Its many detailed shapes and rich, deep colors stand out against the plain walls.
In the very center of the window, there's a picture of Christ in Majesty (Jesus as a king). Around him, there are symbols of the people who wrote the Gospels (like Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) and symbols of the apostles. There are also symbols of the church areas connected to the parish. This window's design is similar to another rose window Dykes Bower designed for Lancing College Chapel. Both have pointed arches radiating from the center, like spokes on a wheel.
The Willis Organ
The church has a two-manual organ built in 1937 by Henry Willis II. His company, Henry Willis & Sons, is very famous for organs. The organ pipes are placed high up on the north wall of the chancel. This spot is perfect because the church has excellent acoustics, meaning sound travels very well. Dykes Bower designed the organ's case, and you can see some of the large pipes on display. You can find more details about the organ on the church's website.
All Saints' Today
All Saints' Church is part of the Church of England. It welcomes people from different church traditions. There are eight regular church services each week, with different styles.
The church has many activities for young people and families.
- There's a children's Sunday school.
- A youth group meets regularly.
- They even have a film club!
- There's also a Mother's Union group.
- Two home groups meet for discussions.
- Teams of volunteers help with visiting people, serving at the altar, reading during services, and arranging flowers.
- A robed choir sings every Sunday, and a children's choir sings at the All-Age Mass.
The church building is also a popular place for concerts because of its excellent sound quality. All Saints' Church is connected to All Saints' Church of England Primary School and Nursery. The church building is usually open during the day, from 9 AM to 6 PM.
