Church of All Saints, Wilden facts for kids
Quick facts for kids All Saints, Wilden |
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| OS grid reference | SO 82419 72217 |
| Location | Wilden |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| History | |
| Dedication | All Saints |
| Architecture | |
| Heritage designation | Grade II listed |
All Saints Church is a historic church in the village of Wilden, Worcestershire. It is located about one mile northeast of the town of Stourport. The church is famous for its beautiful stained-glass windows designed by a world-renowned artist.
Because of its special history and architecture, the church is protected as a Grade II listed building by Historic England. This means it is a nationally important building that must be preserved for future generations.
Contents
History of All Saints Church
Who Built the Church?
All Saints Church was built with money from a wealthy local businessman and politician named Alfred Baldwin. He owned a large factory that made iron nearby and lived close to the church's location in a home called Wilden House.
The church was designed by architect William Hopkins and was built for the Baldwin family and the people who worked at the iron factory. It was officially opened and declared a holy place (or consecrated) in 1880.
The Famous Stained-Glass Windows
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When the church first opened, it had plain windows. But between 1902 and 1914, they were all replaced with 14 amazing stained-glass windows. These windows are what make the church so special today.
The windows were designed by Sir Edward Burne-Jones, a very famous artist from the Victorian era. He was the brother-in-law of Alfred Baldwin, which is how he came to design the windows for the small village church. Alfred's wife, Louisa Baldwin, paid for the new windows.
A Window for a Future Prime Minister
The windows were created in memory of different members of the Baldwin, MacDonald, and Burne-Jones families. One of the most interesting windows shows a young boy starting his journey in life, with a guardian angel watching over him.
This boy was Stanley Baldwin, the only child of Alfred and Louisa. He grew up to become the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom three times in the 1920s and 1930s. Louisa Baldwin is buried in the churchyard.
All Saints Church Today
Today, All Saints Church is part of the Church of England. It works closely with the main church in Stourport, called the Church of St Michael and All Angels. This means they share ministers and work together to serve the local community.
External links
- Wilden, All Saints - Official website for the church
