All Saints Church, Acton facts for kids
Quick facts for kids All Saints Church, Acton |
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| OS grid reference | TL8922345230 |
| Location | Melford Road, Acton, Sudbury, Suffolk, CO10 0BA |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Anglican |
| Churchmanship | Central Anglican |
| History | |
| Status | Parish church |
| Architecture | |
| Heritage designation | Grade I |
| Designated | 23 March 1961 |
| Architect(s) | Whitworth Co-partnership |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Completed | Circa 12th Century |
| Specifications | |
| Bells | 5 |
| Tenor bell weight | 8 long cwt 1 qr 4 lb (928 lb or 421 kg) in F# |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Acton |
| Deanery | Sudbury |
| Archdeaconry | Sudbury |
| Diocese | St Edmundsbury and Ipswich |
| Province | Canterbury |
All Saints Church is a historic church found in the village of Acton, close to Sudbury. It's an Anglican church, which means it belongs to the Church of England. It serves as the main church for the local area, known as a parish church. This church is considered very important, so it was given a special "Grade I" listing on March 23, 1961. This means it's a building of exceptional historical interest.
Contents
Building the Church
The history of All Saints Church goes way back! The Domesday Book, a famous survey from 1086, mentions a church in Acton with a good amount of land. The first building was put up around the year 1250.
Changes Over Time
Over the centuries, the church has changed. The south side of the church, called the south aisle, was built in the 1400s. Later, in the late 1800s, the top part of the church tower had to be taken down because it wasn't safe. It was then rebuilt in the 1920s.
Special Memorials
All Saints Church is home to some amazing historical memorials. These help us remember important people from the past.
Ancient Brasses
The church has a collection of monumental brasses. These are special metal plates with engraved pictures and words, usually found on tombs. One of these brasses, for a knight named Robert de Bures, is the oldest brass in Suffolk. It's also the third oldest in all of England! The Victoria and Albert Museum even called it "the finest military brass in existence."
The collection includes brasses for Robert de Bures, Lady Alice Byran, and Henry de Bures. There are also smaller brasses for later members of the Byran family. The clothing shown on Robert de Bures's brass tells us he was a knight who took part in the last Crusade to the Holy Lands, which happened in 1270. Robert de Bures is buried inside All Saints Church.
Jennans Family Memorial
The Jennans family added their family vault to the south aisle of the church in the 1400s. A special memorial was put up in the 1700s to honor Robert Jennans, who passed away in 1732. He was an Adjutant (a military officer) to the famous Duke of Marlborough. This memorial shows Robert Jennans and a figure that represents grief. It also shares details about both Robert Jennans and his son, William Jennans.
Church Bells
All Saints Church has five bells. These bells were made between 1659 and 1747. In 1926, the bells were carefully checked and rehung by the Whitechapel Bell Foundry, a very famous bell-making company. The bells weigh between about 450 kg and 825 kg.
Zeppelin Bomb Display
The church has a very unusual item on display: a bomb from World War I! This bomb was dropped by a German airship called a Zeppelin on August 7, 1916, right in the parish. It's a reminder of the church's history during wartime.
See also
- Grade I listed buildings in Suffolk
