All Saints Church, Narborough facts for kids
Quick facts for kids All Saints' Church, Narborough |
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| Denomination | Church of England |
| Churchmanship | High Church |
| History | |
| Dedication | All Saints |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Narborough |
| Diocese | Leicester |
| Province | Canterbury |
All Saints' Church in Narborough, Leicestershire, is a special church that belongs to the Church of England. It's a place where people gather for worship and community events.
Contents
Discovering All Saints' Church
A Look Back in Time
The church building you see today in Narborough was mostly built in the 13th century. That's over 700 years ago! However, it's very likely that an even older church stood on this spot. This earlier church might have been there as far back as the 10th century.
Archaeologists found a special Saxon tombstone nearby. It's called a hogback because it looks a bit like a pig's back. You can see this ancient stone at the Jewry Wall Museum in Leicester.
Changes Over the Years
Most of the church was rebuilt between 1856 and 1883. This means many parts were updated or added during that time. The church has two aisles, a nave (the main part where people sit), a chancel (the area around the altar), and a north vestry.
There's also a tall tower on the west side. Inside this tower, you'll find a ring of six bells. These bells are rung together to make music.
Inside the Church
The main part of the church, the nave, is quite large. It has six sections, with beautiful pillars and strong supports. The chancel area was rebuilt in 1883 by someone named F. Bacon.
You can also see a special stained-glass window in the north aisle. It's called the Ascension window and was made by Theodora Salusbury in 1929. If you look closely, you might spot two fish hidden in the folds of the robes in the window!
Behind the altar, there's a very fancy screen called a reredos. The whole chancel area is beautifully decorated.
Family Memorials and Features
The church has several memorials and windows dedicated to the Everard family. These are ways to remember important people from the past.
The original south porch, which was built in the Norman style, was rebuilt in 1860. The font, where baptisms take place, is very old, dating back to the 13th century. It has moved three times over the centuries! The font is decorated with different patterns, including one that looks like two tree trunks side by side.
You can also find sedilia (special seats for priests) and a piscina (a basin for washing sacred vessels) in the southern aisle.
The Churchyard's Story
The churchyard, where people were once buried, is now closed for new burials. New burials happen at the cemetery next door. However, there's an interesting gravestone in the churchyard for a man named Harry Baker. He passed away in 1901 at the age of 49 after being "thrown from a trap" (a type of horse-drawn carriage).
All Saints' Church Today
Community and Services
All Saints' Church is part of a larger group of churches called the benefice of Narborough and Huncote. This group is part of the Diocese of Leicester, which is a larger area managed by the Church of England.
The church holds weekly Sunday services. They also have other events throughout the year, like a popular Christmas Tree Festival.
A Special Building
All Saints' Church is a very important historical building. It is listed as a Grade II* listed building. This means it's a particularly important building of more than special interest. It's usually locked to keep it safe, but it opens for regular events and special open days.
