All Saints' Church, Wing facts for kids
All Saints' Church in Wing, Buckinghamshire, is a very old and important church. It's so special that it's a Grade I listed building. Most of its stone walls were built between the 700s and 1000s. This was during the Anglo-Saxon period. This makes it one of the oldest churches still standing in England!
Wing is a small place. It's about 5 kilometers (3 miles) southwest of Leighton Buzzard. It's also about 12 kilometers (7.5 miles) northeast of Aylesbury. The church itself is on the edge of the village, towards the west. Did you know a music video by the choir Libera was filmed here?
Contents
The Church's Amazing History
The story of Wing goes way back to the 600s or 700s. The name "Wing" originally meant "The Settlement of Withun's People." Christian missionaries first arrived in this area in the mid-600s. The region became Christian, starting from Aylesbury.
The first time Wing was mentioned in writing was between 966 and 975. The church itself was first written about shortly after the Norman Conquest in 1066. It mentioned a priest named Goldric. He was allowed to keep his church and land even after the Normans took over.
Anglo-Saxon Secrets of the Church
Some parts of All Saints' Church are still from Anglo-Saxon times. These include the apse (a rounded end of the church) and the secret crypt underneath it. Also, the north wall and some pillars are Anglo-Saxon.
The crypt and the apse above it were built at different times. The oldest part is inside the crypt. It has three small spaces and windows from the 700s. The apse above it was built in the 800s. It's one of the best examples of 800s architecture. It's also the only fully preserved Anglo-Saxon apse in England!
The main part of the church, called the nave, is 10.6 meters (35 feet) high. It has three sections, or "naves." Most of this part is also from the Anglo-Saxon period. The only Anglo-Saxon window you can still see is in the eastern wall, above where the choir sings.
From Norman Times to the Reformation
After the Normans conquered England in 1066, a French monastery took charge of the church. This was the Benedictine monastery of St. Nicholas in Angers. They hoped to build a smaller monastery here. But they mostly just hired someone to collect money.
From 1216, the money from the church was used to pay a vicar. A vicar is like a local priest. From then on, All Saints' Church became a parish church. This means it served the local community.
In 1416, during the Hundred Years War between England and France, the church changed hands again. It went to a priory (a small monastery) near St Albans. From the mid-1200s to the late 1400s, the local Lord of Wing and Ascott was in charge of keeping the church in good shape.
Changes in Style: Decorated and Perpendicular
The church got some updates in the 1300s. This was in a style called "Decorated Style." The biggest changes happened in the 1400s. This was in a style called "Perpendicular style."
The most noticeable addition in the 1400s was the huge bell tower. You can see it from far away! There are six bells in the tower. Four of them are from the 1600s. They were made by the "Knight family's bell foundry" in Reading. The wooden frame holding the bells is from 1654.
The church also has some old glass windows from the 1300s. One shows the crowning of Mary. The two entrance buildings, one in the south and one in the north, are from the 1300s and 1400s. The southern doorway has carvings of coats of arms, lions, and other symbols. These are linked to the church's patron saints.
The baptismal font, used for baptisms, is also from the 1400s and is still used today. One of the most important artworks from the 1400s is the wooden ceiling. It has beautifully carved angels with wide wings. The edge of the ceiling is decorated with many figures. These include kings, queens, musicians, and even devils!
The Church After the Reformation
The Reformation in England began around 1530. This is when Henry VIII separated the English Church from the Pope. For Wing, a big change was when monasteries were closed down. The Priory of St. Mary de Pre, which owned Wing church, was dissolved in 1528.
The rights to the church were bought by Robert Dormer, 1st Baron Dormer. The Dormer family lived nearby at Ascott Hall. They became very important in Wing until the early 1700s. Many members of the Dormer family are buried in the church. Their tombs are especially impressive. You can see the tombs for Sir Robert Dormer (died 1552), Sir William Dormer (died 1575), and Robert Dormer, 1st Baron Dormer (died 1616).
The church also has beautiful stained glass windows from the 1800s. There's also a Walker organ from 1864. It was moved in 2002 to a new platform at the base of the tower.
Images for kids
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The church organ.
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A peaceful view of the churchyard.
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Another look at the churchyard.
See also
In Spanish: Iglesia de Todos los Santos (Wing) para niños
