All Saints Church, Darton facts for kids

Quick facts for kids All Saints' Church, Darton
53°35′06″N 1°31′57″W / 53.585°N 1.5325°W / 53.585; -1.5325
OS grid reference	SE 31110 09915
Location	Darton
Country	England
Denomination	Church of England
Churchmanship	Broad church
Administration
Parish	Darton
Deanery	Barnsley
Archdeaconry	Pontefract
Diocese	Leeds
Province	York

The Church of All Saints is a very old church in the village of Darton, South Yorkshire, England. It's part of the Church of England and belongs to the Diocese of Leeds. This amazing building was mostly built in the 1500s. It's so important that it's a Grade I listed site! People believe there has been a church here since at least 1150.

History of All Saints' Church

The villages of Darton and Kexbrough are mentioned in a very old record called the Domesday Book from 1086. However, the first time the church itself is mentioned is in 1150. A church from the Norman period was built by John de Laci and Sir John de Sothill. They were important landowners in the area.

Church Ownership Changes

The right to choose the church's priest, called "patronage," stayed with the de Laci family for a long time. Later, it passed to the King, who was also the Duke of Lancaster. This continued until King Richard III's time. In 1483, he gave the church to the Friars of the Priory of St Mary Magdalene at Monk Bretton. This was in exchange for some land in Lancashire.

After King Richard III, King Henry VII came to power. For a while, he held onto both the land and the church. But after a special request to Parliament, the church was given back to the Friars.

Rebuilding the Church

Soon after getting the church back, the Friars started a big building project. They wanted to replace the old Norman church with a much larger one. This new church was built in a style called "Perpendicular Gothic," which means it had tall, straight lines and big windows. It was finished in 1517.

The church needed to be bigger because more people were living in the area. During the building work, the Friars might have used old gravestones as building material. You can still see at least twelve old cross slabs built into the walls. Two original cross slabs are also used as tops for tombs inside the church.

The Parish and Its Growth

The area served by Darton church, called its "parish," used to be much larger. It stretched south towards Barnsley and east to include places like Barugh, Gawber, Kexbrough, Mapplewell, and Staincross. All Saints' Church was the main place of worship for this large area for over 800 years. Over time, some of these smaller places became their own separate parishes. For example, Gawber became a separate parish in 1848.

Clues from the Past

Not much of the very first church remains today. However, in the north-west corner inside the church, you can see a part of a sloping roof. This was once part of a small building called an "anchorite cell." An anchorite was a person who chose to live a very simple life, often alone, and stayed "anchored" to the church. They would live in this small space for the rest of their lives.

The Norman Font

Near the modern kitchen, you can see the base of the church's original Norman font. A font is a basin used for baptisms. The top part of this old font was given to a new church, St Thomas' Church in Gawber, in 1877. Later, St Thomas' Church got its own new font, and the old Norman font was put outside. Sadly, it was later stolen.

Rood Screen Steps

Along the north wall, you'll find steps that once led up to a "rood screen." This was a wooden screen that separated the main part of the church (the nave) from the area around the altar (the chancel). Before a big change in the church called the Reformation, these screens were common. Kids who visit the church often enjoy climbing these steps!

The Beaumont Chapel

On the north side of the altar is the Beaumont Chapel. It's also sometimes called the Lady Chapel. This chapel has several memorials for the Beaumont family. One large marble memorial is against a blocked-up window. At its base, there's a sad-looking figure of a child leaning on an hourglass.

Underneath the altar in this chapel are five grave slabs. These are currently hidden under the floorboards but might be uncovered in the future. The oldest one is from 1646. Two of these full-length grave slabs are very special because they are made of cast iron. They are very rare for the 1600s in the UK and are in excellent condition.

Stained Glass Window

The beautiful stained glass window in the Beaumont Chapel is the oldest in the church. It shows Mary Magdalene and was given by Prior Thomas Tykyll in 1526. Prior Tykyll was in charge of the Monk Bretton Priory. This window was originally in a different spot but was moved. If you look closely, you can see five small crosses etched into the glass. These represent the Five Wounds of Christ.

The Ancient Altar

The church's altar is very old, dating back to the 11th century. It has an interesting story! During the Reformation, many stone altars were removed because they were seen as linked to old pagan worship. This altar was thrown out and replaced with a wooden table. Many other church items like paintings and statues were also destroyed at this time.

Luckily, All Saints' Church altar wasn't destroyed. In 1924, a vicar named Rev. Harold F Helgood found a stone in the churchyard path. He was curious, so he turned it over and was amazed to find the old 11th-century Norman altar! Just like the stained glass, this altar also has five crosses carved into its surface, representing the Five Wounds of Christ.

The John Silvester Chapel

To the south of the chancel is the John Silvester Chapel. This chapel has a very impressive marble monument against its east wall. It shows a grand figure of a man standing on a platform, with two ladies seated beside him. One lady is comforting three children, and the other seems to be holding a glove.

The Darton Imp

Most "imps" (small, mischievous-looking carvings) found in old churches are hidden away. But the Darton imp is carved on a pillar between the main part of the church (the nave) and the south aisle. It's about fifteen feet high, right where everyone can see it!

The Darton imp looks a bit strange. It's a carved face in profile, but it seems like the monks who built this part of the church were playing a joke. Prior Tykyll might have been in on it too! From its high spot, the imp can "look" at everyone in the church. It has a staring, serious eye, perhaps meant to make people feel watched. Its open mouth might look like it's shouting at the people below.

The Church Tower

The church tower is about 80 feet tall. The monks originally added four pointed tops called pinnacles. But over many years, these became unsafe and had to be removed. There are 62 steps to the bell chamber, which is quite a climb! Visitors can't go up the tower right now, but from the top, you would have an amazing view of the village. The tower was the first part of the church that Prior Tykyll rebuilt when he decided to make the Norman church bigger.

The old wooden frame that held the bells was put in place in 1759. It held six bells from Whitechapel. By 1960, it was very old and worn out. So, in 1998-99, it was replaced with a strong, modern steel frame. This new frame should keep the bells safe for many years to come.

The Friars who finished building this church in 1517, and the Prior who gave the Mary Magdalene stained glass window in 1526, all lost their roles just twelve years later. This happened on November 21, 1538, when King Henry VIII's officials closed down the Priory of Monk Bretton.

See also

• Grade I listed buildings in South Yorkshire
• Listed buildings in Darton