All Saints' Church, Ockbrook facts for kids
Quick facts for kids All Saints' Church, Ockbrook |
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Lych Gate
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| 52°55′02″N 1°22′16″W / 52.91716°N 1.37123°W | |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Churchmanship | Broad Church |
| Website | www.allsaints.ockbrook.com |
| History | |
| Dedication | All Saints |
| Architecture | |
| Heritage designation | Grade II* listed building |
| Architectural type | Gothic |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Ockbrook and Borrowash |
| Diocese | Diocese of Derby |
| Province | Canterbury |
All Saints' Church, Ockbrook, is a historic church in Ockbrook, Derbyshire, England. It is part of the Church of England. This church is a very old building with lots of interesting stories from the past.
Contents
History of All Saints' Church
This church has a long and fascinating history. Before the English Reformation (a big change in the church in England), Ockbrook was a small part of a larger church area called Elvaston. Monks from Shelford Priory used to receive payments from the church here.
Becoming a Parish Church
After the monasteries were closed down during the Reformation, the Stanhope family took over the church in Elvaston. Around the mid-1500s, Ockbrook became its own separate church area, known as a parish.
Oldest Parts of the Church
The oldest part of All Saints' Church is its tower, which was built way back in the 12th century. Its walls are super thick, about 4 feet! The font, which is a large basin used for baptisms, is also very old, from the Norman period. It was actually found outside in the vicarage garden for 150 years before being brought back inside and put to use again in 1963.
The beautiful oak screen in the chancel (the area near the altar) dates back to 1520. It was moved to All Saints' in 1810 from another chapel in Leicester. The choir stalls, where the choir sits, were also added around this time and might have come from the same place.
Changes Over Time
Over the centuries, the church has been changed and made bigger many times. This is why it has such a unique look today. The Pares family, who lived in Hopwell, became important supporters of the church in the late 1700s and still are today.
- In 1803, Thomas Pares rebuilt the chancel and added a special vault for his family.
- The north aisle (a side section of the church) was built in 1814.
- The south aisle was added in 1835, costing about £700 at the time. This also included a gallery at the west end.
- In the 1890s, new wooden pews replaced the older, box-like seats.
- The tower was repaired and made strong again in 1890 and 1927.
Church Community
All Saints' Church is part of a combined church community with St Stephen's Church, Borrowash. This means they work together and share services.
Memorials and Stained Glass
Inside the church, you can find several memorials, especially to the Pares family. These include beautiful sculptures by a famous artist named Sir Richard Westmacott. There are also brass plaques and marble memorials remembering people who were important to the church or the local area.
The church also has some lovely stained glass windows:
- The large window at the east end of the chancel was made by Edward Payne in 1968.
- Other windows in the chancel and aisles feature stained glass from different periods, some from the late 1800s and early 1900s, often dedicated to people by their families.
Churchyard
The churchyard, the area around the church, is a peaceful place. It contains war graves for five soldiers from World War I and one Royal Air Force officer from World War II.
The Church Organ
The Pares family vault, built in 1803, was later turned into a special space for the church organ in 1928 by Joseph Birkinshaw.
The church likely had an organ installed when it was rebuilt in 1835. The organ has been worked on and improved several times over the years by different companies, including Henry Groves of Nottingham. You can find more details about this organ on the National Pipe Organ Register.
Past Organists
Many talented people have played the organ at All Saints' Church over the years. Here are some of them:
- Miss Chevin (around 1879-1890)
- Mr. W. Cotten (around 1896)
- E.S. Morris (around 1901)
- W.J. Baker (from 1903)
- Albert Edward Mitchell (1906-1938)
- H. Garratt (around 1945)
See also
- Grade II* listed buildings in Erewash
- Listed buildings in Ockbrook and Borrowash
