All Saints' Church, Normanton facts for kids
Quick facts for kids All Saints' Church |
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| 53°41′52″N 1°24′54″W / 53.6979°N 1.4149°W | |
| OS grid reference | SE 38737 22539 |
| Location | Normanton, West Yorkshire |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Anglican |
All Saints' Church is a very old and important church in Normanton, West Yorkshire, England. It's a special place where people have gathered for hundreds of years.
Contents
The Church's Long History
The church you see today is thought to have been built around 1256. A man named Roger Le Peytevin from Altofts Hall probably asked for it to be built. But guess what? An even older church was mentioned right here in the Domesday Book of 1086! That was a huge survey of England ordered by William the Conqueror. It's likely that the current church stands exactly where that first one was.
In 1256, Roger Le Peytevin, who was a Norman Baron, gave the church to a group called the Knights Hospitallers. These were medieval knights who helped sick people and travelers at their hospital in Newland.
The church building is designed in a style called "Perpendicular Gothic." This means it has tall, straight lines and big windows. It's mostly made of strong sandstone blocks with a stone roof. The church has a main hall called a nave and a special area near the altar called a chancel. It also has side sections called aisles and a clerestory, which is a row of windows high up. A tall tower was added to the west end in the 1400s. Later, in the 1800s, rooms for the clergy and choir, plus an organ room, were added.
In 1965, the church was given a special Grade II* listing. This means it's a very important historic building. The inside of the church has been changed a few times, most recently in 2019. Now, the church is set up so people face the east during services.
Cool Things Inside the Church
All Saints' Church has some interesting historical items and memorials.
The Freeston Tomb
One important monument is the Freeston Tomb. This is where Sir John Freeston of Altofts was buried. He passed away in 1594. In his will, he left money to create a special home for the poor in Kirkthorpe. He also set up a grammar school for children in Normanton and Warmfield. His generous gift still helps fund the main secondary school in Normanton today, which is called the Freeston Business and Enterprise College.
Ancient Altar Slab
In 1906, something amazing was found! A medieval altar slab, which is a flat stone used as an altar, was discovered under the floor of the sanctuary. It has five crosses carved into it. It had probably been hidden there since the Reformation, a time when many changes happened in churches. Now, this old slab is in the Lady Chapel and is used for weekly church services.
The Font
There's also an old, low, eight-sided stone Font. This is where baptisms take place. It now stands at the west end of the main part of the church.
Memorial Windows
- The window at the east end of the Lady Chapel shows a picture of the Walls of Jericho falling down. This beautiful window is a special memorial to the soldiers who died in the Great War.
- Another window, to the left of the church porch, was added in the late 1970s. It remembers the famous explorer, Martin Frobisher, who came from nearby Altofts.
Old Silver Cups
All Saints' Church owns two very old silver cups. They are now kept in a collection at York Minster. The oldest cup was made in London in 1655 and has "Normanton cupp 1674" written on it. The second cup is a two-handled porringer. It says, "The Gift of Mrs Henry Favell of Pontefract to the Church of Normanton for ever 1699."
Family Memorials
Many important families from Normanton and the surrounding areas have memorials in the church. These include the Bunnys, Torres, Favells, Smiths, Mallets, and Levetts. These memorials often have dates and family symbols, telling stories of people who lived in the area centuries ago. For example, the Mallets and Levetts were very old families in Normanton.
There are also several memorials for a historian named James Torre. He gave up his law career to study history in York. He died in 1699.
Church Leaders (Incumbents)
On an oak board above a door in the church, you can find a list of all the church leaders, called incumbents. This list goes all the way back to Henry of Kyrkeby, who was a clerk in 1252!
See also
- List of places of worship in the City of Wakefield
- Grade II* listed buildings in West Yorkshire
- Listed buildings in Normanton, West Yorkshire
