All Saints' Church, Oakham facts for kids
Quick facts for kids All Saints' Church, Oakham |
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All Saints' Church from the footpath between Church Street and Market Place
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| Denomination | Church of England |
| Churchmanship | Broad Church / Central |
| Website | oakhamteam.org.uk |
| History | |
| Dedication | All Saints |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Oakham |
| Deanery | Rutland |
| Archdeaconry | Archdeaconry of Oakham |
| Diocese | Diocese of Peterborough |
| Province | Province of Canterbury |
All Saints' Church in Oakham is a beautiful and historic church located in the town of Oakham, Rutland, England. It is part of the Church of England and is a very important building. The church is so special that it has a "Grade I listed" status. This means it's considered a building of exceptional historical and architectural interest.
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Discovering Oakham's Historic Church
The tall spire of All Saints' Church is a famous landmark. You can see it from miles away as you approach Oakham. The church's impressive tower and spire were built in the 1300s. They show a style called "Decorated Gothic." Most of the church's outside was built a bit later, in a style called "Perpendicular." Some parts were also fixed up in the Victorian era.
The oldest parts of the church are likely the south doorway and its porch. The doorway might be from the early 1200s, and the porch was added later in that century.
Inside the Church: Art and History
When you step inside, the church feels bright and open. You can see more of the "Decorated Gothic" style from the 1300s. The tall, thin columns in the main part of the church, called the nave, have amazing carvings. These carvings show animals, birds, people, plants, and even scenes from the Bible. You can spot carvings of Adam and Eve, their departure from the Garden of Eden, the Annunciation (when an angel told Mary she would have a baby), and the Coronation of the Virgin Mary. There's also a cool carving of a Green Man, which is a face made of leaves.
The church was carefully restored between 1857 and 1858 by a famous architect named Sir George Gilbert Scott. It has been a Grade I listed building for a long time. The church used to have a library of books. These books were given by Anne Harington in 1616. The remaining books were moved to the University of Nottingham in 1980.
The Church Bells
During the church's restoration in 1858, the tower was updated. A new floor was put in for the bell ringers, and the bells were rehung in a new wooden frame. Two of the bells were even re-made by a company called Mears of London.
Today, the church has a set of eight bells. These were made by Gillett & Johnston in 1910. There is also a smaller bell, called a priest's bell, from 1840.
In 1923, one of the large bells, called the tenor bell, came loose. Luckily, it was caught in the bell frame and didn't fall into the ringing room below. The bell frame was still in poor condition in 1937. Because of this, the bells could not be rung for the coronation of King George VI.
The Church Organ
A pipe organ was first installed in the church in 1872. It was made by Brindley & Foster and cost £750. This organ was made bigger in 1896. In 1937, an organ builder named Roger Yates improved it and made it electric. He also moved it to a different part of the church. This old organ was removed in 1994.
The church's current organ is a new two-manual pipe organ. It was built in 1996 by Kenneth Tickell and Company. You can find more details about this organ on the National Pipe Organ Register website.
Organists of All Saints' Church
Many talented musicians have played the organ at All Saints' Church over the years. Here are some of the people who have served as organists:
- Mr. Gadsby (starting 1872)
- Henry Nicholson (1877–1922)
- John Barham Johnson (1923–1925)
- George Newell (1925–1927)
- George F. Austin (1927)
- A.H. Allsop (1927–1930)
- Victor Brook (1930–1932)
- John Dalby (1932–1936)
- Stanley Nolan (1939 – unknown)
- Russell Arthur Missin (1950–1956) – He later became the organist at Newcastle Cathedral.
- Derek Thomas (1958–1984)
- Ivan Linford (1996–1999)
- Kevin Slingsby (2005–2021)
- Dr. August Guan (2021–2023) – He later became the sub-organist at Brecon Cathedral.
- Harry Jacques (2023–present)
Churches in the Oakham Area
All Saints' Church in Oakham is part of a group of churches that work together. This is called a "team ministry." The churches in this group include:
- St Andrew's Church, Hambleton
- St Edmund's Church, Egleton
- All Saints' Church, Braunston-in-Rutland
- St Peter's Church, Brooke, Rutland
- Church of St Peter and St Paul, Langham
- St Andrew's Church, Whissendine
- Holy Trinity Church, Teigh
- St Mary's Church, Ashwell, Rutland
- Church of St Peter and St Paul, Market Overton
Images for kids
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All Saints' Church seen from Northgate
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Interior of All Saints' Church; view from north aisle looking southwest towards font
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Early 14th-century capital, showing fox and geese and other creatures
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Early 14th-century capital, showing the Angel Gabriel (part of the Annunciation scene) (left), and Adam and Eve between Christ and the Jaws of Hell (right)
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Early 14th-century capital, showing a Green Man
