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All Saints' Church, Pitsford
All Saints Pitsford (geograph 1960128).jpg
52°18′24″N 0°53′43″W / 52.3067°N 0.8952°W / 52.3067; -0.8952
Location Church Lane, Pitsford, Northamptonshire, NN6 9AJ
Country England
Denomination Church of England
Website https://www.achurchnearyou.com/church/16426/
History
Status Active
Architecture
Functional status Parish church
Heritage designation Grade II* listed
Administration
Parish Pitsford
Deanery Brixworth
Archdeaconry Archdeaconry of Northampton
Diocese Diocese of Peterborough
Province Province of Canterbury

All Saints' Church is an important Anglican Church located in Pitsford, England. It serves as the main church for the local community. This historic building is officially recognized as a Grade II* listed building, meaning it is a very special and protected structure. You can find it on the west side of Church Lane, at the northern edge of the village.

History of All Saints' Church

The village of Pitsford was mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086. This was a huge survey ordered by William the Conqueror to record everything in England. However, the Domesday Book did not mention a church or a priest in Pitsford at that time.

Early Building and Norman Times

Parts of All Saints' Church are very old, dating back to the time of the Norman Conquest in the 11th century. For example, the stone carving above the main church door, called a tympanum, is from that period. This shows how long the church has been a part of Pitsford's history.

Building Over the Centuries

Most of the church you see today was built between the 12th and 14th centuries. Over time, different parts were added or changed. In 1867, the church underwent a big restoration. During this work, the south aisle, the porch, and the chancel (the part of the church near the altar) were rebuilt. Many changes were also made inside the church.

The church building includes a nave (the main part where people sit), north and south aisles (sections on the sides), a chancel, and a west tower. You can find very detailed descriptions of the church's architecture on the Historic England website.

Notable People Connected to the Church

One important person linked to All Saints' Church was Reverend Robert Skinner. He became the Rector of Pitsford in 1628, taking over from his father. Later, he became a bishop, first in Bristol in 1636, then in Oxford in 1641. After the monarchy was restored in England, he became the Bishop of Worcester in 1663.

The church has kept records of births, marriages, and deaths, known as parish registers, since 1560. These old records are now stored safely at the Northamptonshire Record Office.

All Saints' Church Today

On November 2, 1954, All Saints' Church was officially given its Grade II* listed building status. This means it is considered a particularly important building of more than special interest.

Pitsford is now part of a "united benefice" with Boughton. This means that while the two villages share a rector (the main priest), each village still has its own church building and community.

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