St Alkmund's Church, Derby facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Alkmund’s Church, Derby |
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St Alkmund’s Church, Derby in 1906
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 St Alkmund’s Church, Derby
Location in Derbyshire
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| 52°55′36.48″N 1°28′42.96″W / 52.9268000°N 1.4786000°W | |
| Location | Derby |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| History | |
| Dedication | Alchmund of Derby |
| Architecture | |
| Architect(s) | Henry Isaac Stevens |
| Groundbreaking | 6 May 1844 |
| Completed | 15 September 1846 |
| Construction cost | £7,700 (equivalent to £533,900 in 2021). |
| Demolished | 1968 |
| Specifications | |
| Height | 216 feet (66 m) |
St Alkmund's Church was a beautiful Victorian church in Derby, England. It stood in a special Georgian square, which was the only one of its kind in the city. Sadly, the church and its churchyard were taken down in 1968. This happened to make way for a new road to help traffic move better.
Churches dedicated to Saint Alkmund have been on this spot for a very long time, since the 9th century! When the church was demolished, workers found amazing old items. These included a stone sarcophagus (a type of coffin) and parts of a 4-meter tall stone cross. You can see these ancient treasures today at the Derby Museum and Art Gallery.
A new, modern church with the same name was built later on Kedleston Road, called St Alkmund’s (new) Church, Derby.
Contents
Building the Church
The church we are talking about was built in 1846. A famous architect named Henry Isaac Stevens designed it. It cost about £7,700, which was a lot of money back then! This church was built on the same spot where many older churches, all named after Saint Alkmund, had stood since the 800s.
The church was made from ashlar stone and built in a Gothic style. This means it looked like old medieval churches with pointed arches and tall windows. Inside, it was very grand with high pillars and stone arches. It had a wide main area (nave) and a special part for the altar (chancel). The tall, pointed tower (steeple) was held up by flying buttresses, which are special supports.
The first stone for the church was laid on May 6, 1844. The finished church opened its doors on September 15, 1846. The Bishop of Lichfield officially opened it.
The "Holy Spite" Spire
Building the church caused some disagreements with the Catholic community in Derby. The church's very tall spire, which was 216 feet high, was built directly in front of the Catholic St Mary's Church. Because of this, some people jokingly called the Anglican church "The Church of the Holy Spite" for many years!
A famous Derby painter, Joseph Wright, was re-buried in St Alkmund's churchyard after the new church was finished in 1846.
A Quiet Oasis
The church was surrounded by many lovely two and three-story townhouses. These houses lined the square and the churchyard, creating a peaceful area. There were also interesting old buildings nearby. These included The Lamb Inn, a pub that opened in 1835 and even had its own brewery. A sweet shop from the 1600s stood at one corner. There were also several medieval shops near the Queen Street entrance. A famous expert, Sir Nikolaus Pevsner, described the area as "A revival of 18th century unmatched, a quiet oasis."
Problems with the Spire
In the mid-1950s, people found that the wooden parts holding up the steeple were bending and rotting. Because of this, the top 20 feet of the steeple had to be removed for repairs. This was done because the stone and wood in the steeple were becoming weak. Plans were made to put the top of the steeple back, but it never happened. Some of the fancy Gothic decorations on the roof were also removed, but no one ever said why.
The Church Organ
The church had a special organ built by Forster and Andrews in 1858. It cost £250, which was paid for by people donating money. However, this organ was not big enough. So, in July 1888, a new and much larger organ was installed. This one cost £1,200 and was built by Thomas Chambers Lewis.
A very famous French organ player, Alexandre Guilmant, even gave a concert on this new organ on March 22, 1889. The organ was changed a few times over the years to make it even better. You can find out more about this organ on the National Pipe Organ Register.
Demolition and New Beginnings
In 1963, the Derby Council announced big plans to improve traffic in the city. Part of this plan meant building a new road right through the church and its churchyard. Many people in Derby were very unhappy about this.
However, the council used a special order to buy the land, and demolition began in 1968. During the demolition, something amazing happened! Workers uncovered the site of the very first church, along with a stone sarcophagus that many believe belonged to St Alkmund himself. They also found other old items.
Today, these treasures are on display at the Derby Museum and Art Gallery. This includes parts of a 4-meter tall stone cross with carvings of birds and animals. This cross was found in the churchyard in the 1800s.
Now, the old church site is part of Derby's inner ring road, called St Alkmund's Way (A601). There's not much left to see of the original church, but a plaque was put up to remember its long history.
A new, modern church with the same name was built on Kedleston Road in the early 1970s. You can learn more about it at St Alkmund’s (new) Church, Derby.
Images for kids
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St Alkmund's Church has a spire in this painting by Robert Bradbury. This dates the painting as after 1845 and is in the collection of Derby Museum
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Cross shaft from St Alkmund's Church at Derby Museum and Art Gallery.
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St Alkmund's Sarcophagus, at Derby Museum
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This 1750 drawing is of an older church at this site; it is from the collection of Thomas Bateman
