All Saints' Church, Huntingdon facts for kids
All Saints' Church is an old and important Church of England building in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, England. People have built churches on this spot for a very long time. The first time a church was mentioned here was way back in 973 AD! It was first dedicated to either St Mary or The Blessed Virgin and All Martyrs.
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Discovering All Saints' Church
This church has a mix of old and newer styles. The front part, called the chancel, is from the Early English Period. But most of the church was built later, in the Late Perpendicular Gothic style, around the time of King Henry VII. It was rebuilt again in 1620.
What You Can See Inside
The church was carefully repaired by Sir George Gilbert Scott. New oak roofs were added, and old carvings were kept or copied exactly. The church has a chancel, a main area called the nave, side sections called aisles, a south porch, and a tall tower at the west end. This tower holds four bells.
Inside, you'll find many beautiful things:
- Stained Glass Windows: Look for the colorful stained glass windows that tell stories.
- Pulpit: The pulpit, where sermons are given, is made of carved alabaster. It has fancy metal railings made from copper, brass, and tin.
- Font: The font, used for baptisms, is carved stone. It stands on columns made of beautiful jasper and different kinds of marble.
- Organ: There's a large organ with three rows of keys and many different sounds it can make.
- Stalls: The seating areas, called stalls, are made of carved oak, mixed with walnut and cedar wood.
- Reredos: Behind the altar, there's a carved oak screen called a reredos. It has figures, small alcoves, and decorative canopies, added in the 1800s.
The church is quite large and can seat about 500 people.
Famous Connections and History
All Saints' Church has a rich history, including links to some very famous people from England's past.
Oliver Cromwell's Link
The church keeps old records, called registers. Some of these records came from another church, St John Baptist, after it was taken down. The registers from St John's go back to 1585, while All Saints' own records start in 1558.
A very famous entry in the St John's register is the baptism of Oliver Cromwell in 1599. Oliver Cromwell later became a very important leader in England. About twenty years after his baptism, the records also mention him having to make amends for something he did. Oliver Cromwell's family name appears often in these records. His father, Robert Cromwell, was buried in this church on June 24, 1617.
Mary Queen of Scots' Journey
The church also has a connection to Mary Queen of Scots. It's mentioned that her body rested within the church walls for a time. This happened when her body was being moved from Peterborough Cathedral to Westminster Abbey. Her son, King James I, ordered her body to be moved to Westminster Abbey.
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