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 Church of the Immaculate Conception is a Roman Catholic church located in Spinkhill, a village in Derbyshire, England. It was built in 1846 and designed by a famous architect named Joseph Hansom. You can find it on Spinkhill Lane, right across from the Immaculate Conception Catholic Primary School, and south of Mount St Mary's College. This church was started by the Jesuits, a group of Catholic priests, and is considered a special historical building, known as a Grade II listed building.
Contents
History of the Church
Early Beginnings
For a long time, during the 1600s and 1700s, it was difficult to be Catholic in England because of the English Reformation. Despite this, a group of Catholic priests called the Society of Jesus (also known as the Jesuits) tried to set up Catholic schools and missions in and around Spinkhill.
In 1633, they successfully started a college and mission 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 older Spinkhill chapel.
Building the Church
Work on the current Church of the Immaculate Conception began in 1844. It was designed by the well-known architect Joseph Hansom, who also designed the famous Birmingham Town Hall. Building the church 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 blessed and opened in a special ceremony called a consecration.
Later, in 1864, the church was made even bigger. Joseph Hansom, the original architect, was brought back to do this work. A larger room called a sacristy (where priests prepare for services) was added behind the north chapel. The old sacristy was then changed into a new chapel, which later became known as the Lady Chapel.
Changes Over Time
The church has been updated and changed several times throughout its history.
In 1904, many changes were made. A screen that used to separate parts of the church, called a rood screen, was moved. In its place, new altar rails made of a beautiful stone called alabaster were installed. A new decorative screen behind the altar, called a reredos, was also put in, and the clock in the church tower was replaced.
In 1947, a stunning stained glass window, created by a company called Hardman & Co., was added to the south-east chapel. More changes happened between 1960 and 1966. The floor was replaced, and some 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.
In 1989, more big changes took place. The main altar and its reredos were moved to the north chapel, which was then renamed the Blessed Sacrament Chapel. Some stained glass was moved from there to the south chapel. The baptismal font, where baptisms happen, was moved to the back of the nave. A new stone altar was put in place of the old one. This new altar and a special stand for reading, called an ambo, were designed by an architectural firm named John Rochford & Partners, who managed all these updates.
Church Services
The Church of the Immaculate Conception holds two Sunday Masses each week. One is on Saturday evening at 6:30 PM, and the other is on Sunday morning at 10:00 AM.
Outside the Church
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The main entrance to the church.
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A unique compass sculpture found outside the church.
See also
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Hallam
- Listed buildings in Eckington, Derbyshire
