Church of the Immaculate Conception, Spinkhill facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Church of the Immaculate Conception |
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| 53°18′09″N 1°19′11″W / 53.3025°N 1.3197°W | |
| OS grid reference | SK4543278611 |
| Location | Spinkhill, Derbyshire |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Website | Hallam-Diocese.com |
| History | |
| Status | Active |
| Founder(s) | Society of Jesus |
| Dedication | Immaculate Conception |
| Consecrated | September 1846 |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Parish church |
| Heritage designation | Grade II listed |
| Designated | 7 July 1989 |
| Architect(s) | Joseph Hansom |
| Style | Gothic Revival |
| Groundbreaking | 1844 |
| Completed | 1846 |
| Administration | |
| Deanery | Chesterfield |
| Diocese | Hallam |
| Province | Liverpool |
The Immaculate Conception Church is a Roman Catholic church located in Spinkhill, Derbyshire, England. It's a special building that serves as a Parish church for the local community.
This beautiful church was built in 1846. It was designed by a famous architect named Joseph Hansom. You can find it on Spinkhill Lane, right across from the Immaculate Conception Catholic Primary School. It's also south of Mount St Mary's College in the village. The church was started by the Jesuits, a group of Catholic priests. It's considered a very important building, so it's listed as a Grade II building.
Contents
History of the Church
How the Church Started
Back in the 1600s and 1700s, during a time called the English Reformation, the Society of Jesus (also known as the Jesuits) wanted to create Catholic schools and missions in England. They tried to do this in and around Spinkhill.
In 1633, a college and a mission were successfully started in Spinkhill. Later, in 1711, records show that there was a chapel and a house for priests at Spinkhill Hall. This chapel was rebuilt a couple of times, once in 1791 and again in the 1830s.
From 1841 to 1842, Mount St Mary's College was built nearby. The college's own chapel used some parts and materials from the old chapel.
Building the Church
Construction work on the current church began in 1844. Joseph Hansom was the architect who designed it. The building cost about £6,000, which was a lot of money back then!
The church was finished in 1846. In September of that year, it was officially opened and blessed in a ceremony called a consecration.
In 1864, the church was made even bigger. Joseph Hansom also oversaw these additions. A larger room called a sacristy was built behind the north chapel. The old sacristy was then changed into the Middleton Chapel, which later became known as the Lady Chapel.
Changes Over Time
The church has been updated several times over the years. In 1904, many changes were made. A special screen called a rood screen was moved. It was replaced with new altar rails made from a beautiful stone called alabaster. A new decorative screen behind the altar, called a reredos, was also put in. Even the clock in the church tower was replaced!
In 1947, a lovely stained glass window was added to the south-east chapel. This window was made by a famous company called Hardman & Co..
More changes happened between 1960 and 1966. The floor of the church was replaced. The stained glass windows around the main part of the church, called the nave, were removed. A new meeting room was also built on the north side of the church. This room was designed by the architectural firm Reynolds & Scott.
In 1989, even more updates were done. The main altar, called the high altar, and its reredos were moved to the north chapel. This north chapel was then renamed the Blessed Sacrament Chapel. Some stained glass from this chapel was moved to the south chapel. The baptismal font, which is used for baptisms, was moved to the back of the nave. The old altar was replaced with a new one made of stone. The new altar and a special stand for reading, called an ambo, were designed by John Rochford & Partners. They were in charge of all these updates.
Church Services
The Church of the Immaculate Conception holds two Sunday Masses each week. One service is on Saturday evening at 6:30 PM. The other service is on Sunday morning at 10:00 AM.
Exterior Views
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The main entrance of the church.
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A compass sculpture found outside the church.
More to Explore
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Hallam
- Listed buildings in Eckington, Derbyshire
