All Saints' Church, Hillesden facts for kids

Quick facts for kids All Saints’ Church, Hillesden
All Saints’ Church, Hillesden
Location	Hillesden
Country	England
Denomination	Church of England
History
Dedication	All Saints
Architecture
Heritage designation	Grade I listed
Administration
Parish	Hillesden
Deanery	Buckingham
Archdeaconry	Buckingham
Diocese	Diocese of Oxford

All Saints’ Church, Hillesden is a very old and important church located in Hillesden, Buckinghamshire, England. It is a Grade I listed building, which means it's recognized as a place of special historic interest. This church is part of the Church of England and has been a central part of the local community for many centuries.

History of the Church

The inside of All Saints' Church, showing the nave and chancel.

The oldest part of All Saints’ Church is its tower, which was built in the 15th century. The rest of the church was rebuilt starting in 1493 by monks from Notley Abbey. The church has a special design called a "cruciform plan," which means it's shaped like a cross when you look at it from above. It also has side sections (aisles), a porch on the north side, and a small chapel next to the main altar area (chancel). There's even an octagonal (eight-sided) staircase on the outside that leads to a room for church officials (vestry) and a private chapel above it.

The door on the south porch used to be part of Hillesden House. You can still see bullet holes in it from the English Civil War. This was a big conflict in the 1640s when the village was attacked by soldiers fighting against the King.

Restorations and Changes

The church was carefully repaired and updated between 1874 and 1875 by a famous architect named George Gilbert Scott. He was born in a nearby village and this church actually inspired his love for Gothic architecture, which is a style known for its pointed arches and detailed decorations. Scott restored the church for free!

The church officially reopened on June 16, 1875. During this restoration, the roofs were replaced, and a new ceiling with oak panels was added. The old wooden seats were fixed, and new ones were made to match. The pulpit, where sermons are given, was also updated. A special screen was restored and put in place to separate a small chapel (chantry) from the side sections (transepts). Even a tomb belonging to the Denton family was repaired. The beautiful stained glass windows were put back together by artists named Burlison and Grylls, and a new window showing stories from the Bible (parables) was added.

The church also had another restoration in the 1960s to keep it in good condition.

Church Leaders (Incumbents)

For a long time, the church at Hillesden was looked after by monks or canons from Notley Abbey. This was because the church was given to the Abbey in 1162. The first recorded church leader (Curate) was John Orchard in 1526.

After the Dissolution of the Monasteries (when King Henry VIII closed down many monasteries), Hillesden church was first given to Christ Church, Oxford in 1542. Later, in 1546, it was given to a new church organization created by the King. The church leaders were called Curates for a long time.

The church was part of the Diocese of Lincoln until 1837, and after that, it became part of the Diocese of Oxford. In 1869, the house where the church leader lived (the Vicarage) was rebuilt. After this, the church leaders at All Saints’ were called Vicars.

Connected Churches

All Saints’ Church is part of a group of churches that work together in a "joint parish." This means they share resources and sometimes services. The other churches in this group are:

• St Cecilia's Church, Adstock
• Holy Trinity Church, Gawcott
• St Mary the Virgin's Church, Padbury

Stained Glass Windows

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  This window is a memorial to three people – Frederick James Staley, George Henry Staley, and Walter Henry Jeffs – who sadly died in the First World War.

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  This is a very old piece of stained glass from the 16th century, originally from Flanders. It shows scenes from the miracles of Saint Nicholas.

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  This window, made by Burlison and Grylls in 1875, illustrates different parables, which are stories with a moral lesson.

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  A detailed image of a bishop in stained glass.

The church has several beautiful stained glass windows. These windows are made from many small pieces of colored glass joined together with lead, creating pictures that glow when light shines through them. Some of the windows are very old, while others were added during the church's restorations.

Memorials

A memorial inside the church dedicated to Mary Rowe, Viscountess of Hillsborough.

Inside the church, you can find several memorials. These are special plaques or structures that remember people who have passed away, often important figures connected to the church or local area. Some of the people remembered here include:

• Catharine Denton (died 1733)
• Dr William Denton (died 1691)
• George Woodward (died 1735)
• Alexander Denton (died 1576)
• Elizabeth Denton (died 1667)
• Thomas Isham (died 1676)
• Godfrey Boate (died 1722)
• Mary Rowe, Viscountess of Hillsborough (died 1742)

The Organ

The pipe organ located in the north aisle of the church.

All Saints’ Church has a pipe organ, which is a large musical instrument that produces sound by sending air through pipes. This organ was built in 1970 by George Osmund. You can find more detailed information about this specific organ on the National Pipe Organ Register, which keeps records of organs across the country.