All Saints' Church, Hawton facts for kids
Quick facts for kids All Saints' Church, Hawton |
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All Saints' Church, Hawton
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| Denomination | Church of England |
| Churchmanship | Broad Church |
| History | |
| Dedication | All Saints |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Hawton |
| Diocese | Southwell and Nottingham |
| Province | York |
All Saints' Church, Hawton is a beautiful old church located in the village of Hawton, Nottinghamshire, England. It's part of the Church of England. This church is very special because it's listed as a Grade I listed building. This means it's considered a building of outstanding historical or architectural importance, like a national treasure!
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Exploring All Saints' Church
This church is really old, dating back to the Middle Ages. A famous building expert named Nikolaus Pevsner once said that the chancel (the part of the church near the altar) is "one of the most exciting pieces of architecture in the country." That's a huge compliment!
Inside the chancel, you'll find two amazing stone carvings: an Easter Sepulchre and a sedilia. Experts believe the artists who carved these also worked on parts of Southwell Minster, another important church nearby.
The Easter Sepulchre
The Easter Sepulchre is the most famous feature of the church. In the past, this special place was used to keep the consecrated bread and wine safe between Maundy Thursday and Easter Day. During this time, there were no regular church services, so the special elements were stored here.
The carvings on the Easter Sepulchre tell a story:
- At the bottom, you can see sleeping Roman soldiers guarding the tomb of Christ.
- Above them, you'll find the risen Christ with his grave clothes draped over his shoulder.
- At the very top, the apostles are looking up to heaven, watching Christ's feet as he ascends.
Sadly, some parts of this amazing stonework were damaged a long time ago during a period of conflict.
The Sedilia
On the opposite side of the chancel, you'll see the sedilia. This is a finely carved stone seat that was originally made for the clergy (church leaders) to sit on during services.
The sedilia also has incredible carvings:
- At the very top, there are six saints standing on small figures of people and animals, with angels above them.
- Below them are four female figures.
- Then you can spot St Edward the Martyr with a bishop on each side.
- Higher up on the left is St Peter, and on the right is St Nicholas.
- Even further down, you'll see two men on their hands and knees gathering grapes among the leaves, and a pelican in its nest.
Important Memorial
Inside the church, there is a memorial for:
- Sir Robert de Compton, who passed away in 1330.
A Group of Churches
All Saints' Church, Hawton, is part of a group of churches that work together. This group is called the United Benefice of Farndon with Thorpe and Hawton with Cotham. It includes:
- St. Lawrence's Church, Thorpe
- St. Peter's Church, Farndon
- St. Michael's Church, Cotham
See also
- Grade I listed buildings in Nottinghamshire
- Listed buildings in Hawton
