All Saints' Church, West Haddon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids All Saints' Church, West Haddon |
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| 52°20′28″N 1°04′35″W / 52.3410°N 1.0764°W | |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Website | http://www.stlawrences.org.uk/west-haddon/ |
| Administration | |
| Deanery | Brixworth |
| Archdeaconry | Northampton |
| Diocese | Diocese of Peterborough |
| Province | Canterbury |
All Saints' Church is a special church in West Haddon, Northamptonshire. It's an Anglican church, which means it's part of the Church of England. This church is also a 'Grade I listed building.' This means it's a very important historical building that needs to be protected. You can find it on the north side of the High Street.
When the Domesday Book was written a long time ago (around 1086), it didn't mention a church or priest in West Haddon. This suggests the church might have been built later.
About the Church Building
Most of the church you see today was built a very long time ago, between the 1100s and 1300s. More work was done on it in the 1600s and 1800s.
The church has several main parts:
- The nave is the main area where people sit.
- The north and south aisles are the walkways on either side of the nave.
- The chancel is the part of the church near the altar, usually where the choir sits.
- The west tower is the tall part at the front of the church, often holding bells.
Interesting Tombs and History
In the churchyard, there are three old stone tombs called 'chest tombs.' These are also important historical items, listed as 'Grade II listed buildings.' They are made of a type of stone called lias ashlar.
Here's what we know about them:
- One tomb is from the early 1700s. It has special carved pillars at its corners. You can find it about 6 meters south of the church's south aisle.
- Another tomb is from the late 1600s. It has decorated sides and a large flat stone on top. This one is about 9 meters south of the chancel.
- The third tomb is also thought to be from the early 1700s. It has plain pillars. Some of the writing on it can still be read. It's very close to the church, about 2 meters south of the chancel.
The last tomb on this list might actually be older than the early 1700s. The writing that can still be read on it matches what was written down by John Bridges in the early 1700s. It tells a story about a man named Grigory:
- "Here lyeth honest Griggory,
- Which was a true friend to the Ministry;
- And the soul’s true friend for eternity,
- And one of the best fathers to his ability;
- Hee studdied the true form of Christianity,
- The which he hoped would abound to posterity.
- Grigory Palmer Minister of West-Haddon 52
- years and odd months: it being the place of his
- Nativity; in which parish he first received his
- breath, and also ended his last the 11 day of June
- 1693. Hee being 85 years, 5 months, and odd
- days old."
This inscription tells us that Grigory Palmer was a minister in West Haddon for over 52 years. He was born in the parish and passed away there on June 11, 1693, when he was 85 years old.
Church Records
The church has kept records of important events like births, marriages, and deaths since 1653. These old records are now kept safely at the Northamptonshire Record Office.
Group of Churches
West Haddon's church is part of a group of churches called a 'united Benefice.' This group also includes churches in Long Buckby, Watford, and Winwick. Even though they are part of a group, each church still has its own building.
