St Andrew's Church, Old, Northamptonshire facts for kids

Quick facts for kids St Andrew’s Church, Old
Denomination	Church of England
Administration
Deanery	Brixworth
Archdeaconry	Northampton
Diocese	Peterborough
Province	Canterbury

St Andrew's Church is a special old church in the village of Old, Northamptonshire. It's an Anglican church, which means it belongs to the Church of England. It's also the main church for the village, called the parish church. This building is so important that it's a Grade I listed building. This means it's protected because of its history and beauty. You can find it on Church Lane, on the south side of Old village.

A Look Back in Time

How Old is St Andrew's Church?

When people looked at old records from 1086, called the Domesday Book, they didn't find any mention of a church or a priest in Old. This might mean there wasn't a church building here back then. Or, it could just mean there wasn't a priest living in the village at that time.

Building the Church

Most of the church you see today was built a very long time ago. It was put together in the 1200s and 1300s. The builders used strong stone called lias and slate for the roof. The church has a main area called the chancel. It also has a long central part called the nave, with a south aisle next to it. There's a porch at the north side and a tall tower at the west end.

In the 1400s, more work was done on the church. The arch leading to the chancel was built then. They also added a clerestory, which is a row of windows high up in the nave. The porch was added, and the aisle was made wider.

Remembering Alexander Ibbs

Inside the church, on the north wall of the chancel, there is a special monument. It remembers Alexander Ibbs, who was a rector (a type of priest) for the parish. He passed away in 1606. The words on the monument are in Latin.

Major Updates in the 1800s

The church had a big makeover in 1874 and 1875. During this time, some new rooms were added. These included a vestry and a room for the organ, both leading from the chancel. The chancel also got a new curved roof. The aisle received a new roof too. An old gallery at the west end was removed, and some of the windows were changed.

Village Records

The church keeps important records called parish registers. These books have information about births, marriages, and deaths in the village. The oldest records for St Andrew's Church go all the way back to 1559! The very old registers are now kept safely at the Northamptonshire Record Office.

Working Together

St Andrew's Church in Old is part of a group of churches. This group is called a united benefice. It includes the churches from nearby villages like Hannington, Scaldwell, and Walgrave. Each village still has its own church, but they work together.

Photo gallery

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  Church tower

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  Monument to Alexander Ibbs, 1606

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  Chancel

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  Nave looking south-west

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  Nave looking west