All Saints' Church, Breadsall facts for kids

Quick facts for kids All Saints' Church, Breadsall
All Saints' Church, Breadsall (photograph by Richard Croft)
52°57′15.48″N 1°26′56.76″W / 52.9543000°N 1.4491000°W / 52.9543000; -1.4491000
Location	Breadsall
Country	England
Denomination	Church of England
History
Dedication	All Saints
Architecture
Heritage designation	Grade I listed
Administration
Parish	Breadsall
Deanery	Derby City
Archdeaconry	Derby
Diocese	Derby
Province	Canterbury

All Saints' Church in Breadsall, Derbyshire, is a very old and important church. It's a Grade I listed parish church within the Church of England. Being Grade I listed means it's considered a building of exceptional historical interest.

A Look Back at All Saints' Church

This church is super old! It was first built way back in the 1100s (the 12th century). Over the years, new parts were added in the 1200s and 1300s.

Restoring the Church

The church has been carefully repaired and updated many times.

• In 1830, it had its first big restoration.
• Another major restoration happened between 1877 and 1886. An architect named Frederick Josias Robinson led this work.
• During this time, a new arch was built, the roof of the main area (nave) was fixed, and new seats were put in. The old plaster and paint were also cleaned off the walls. The north side of the church was also repaired.

The Fire of 1914

On June 5, 1914, the church was badly damaged by a fire.

• The fire almost completely burned the inside of the building.
• The tall tower and spire became unsafe.
• Only the walls were left standing, and the windows were totally destroyed.
• Even the stone in the walls was damaged by the heat.
• After the fire, architect W. D. Caroe helped rebuild the church.
• The construction company Cornish and Gaymer from North Walsham did the rebuilding work.
• The church was finally reopened on April 14, 1916.

Famous People Connected to the Church

A very important person named Erasmus Darwin is buried here.

• He was a doctor and a deep thinker during a time called the Midlands Enlightenment.
• He was also a natural philosopher, which means he studied nature and the world around him.
• He was a physiologist, studying how living things work.
• Erasmus Darwin was also against the slave trade.
• On top of all that, he was an inventor and a poet!

The Church Organ

The church has had different organs over the years.

• In 1834, a pipe organ was installed by Alexander Buckingham.
• This organ was later changed by a company called Wadsworth.
• Sadly, this pipe organ was destroyed in the big fire of 1914.
• Today, the church uses an electronic organ for its music.

See also

• Grade I listed churches in Derbyshire
• Listed buildings in Breadsall