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 historic church located in the village of Old, Northamptonshire, England. It belongs to the Church of England and serves as the main church for the local community. This building is very special because it's a Grade I listed building, which means it's considered an extremely important historical site and is protected. You can find it on Church Lane, on the south side of the village.

A Look Back in Time

Early History of the Church

When the Domesday Book was created in 1086, it was like a big survey of England. Interestingly, there's no mention of a church or a priest in Old village in that book. This might mean there wasn't a church building there yet, or perhaps there just wasn't a priest living in the village at that time.

How the Church Was Built

Most of the church you see today was built a very long time ago, during the 13th and 14th centuries. That's between the years 1200 and 1399! It's made from strong stone called lias, with special cut stones called ashlar for details. The roof is made of slate.

The church has several important parts:

• A chancel, which is the area around the altar.
• A nave, which is the main part where people sit. It has four sections and a raised row of windows called a clerestory.
• A south aisle, which is a walkway along the side.
• A north porch, which is the entrance area.
• A tall west tower.

The arch that separates the chancel from the nave was built in the 15th century. Around that time, more work was done on the church, like adding the clerestory windows, building the porch, and making the aisle wider.

Special Features and Changes

Remembering Alexander Ibbs

Inside the church, on the north wall of the chancel, there's a special monument. It has a Latin message that remembers Alexander Ibbs, who was a rector (a type of priest) for the parish. He passed away in 1606.

Modern Updates to the Church

The church had a big makeover between 1874 and 1875. During this time, some important changes were made:

• A vestry (a room for clergy) and an organ chamber were added next to the chancel.
• The chancel got a new, curved ceiling called a barrel roof.
• The aisle also received a new roof.
• An old gallery at the west end of the church was removed.
• Some of the windows were changed to improve the light.

Church Records

The church has kept records of important events, like births, marriages, and deaths, since 1559. These old records are now stored safely at the Northamptonshire Record Office.

The United Parishes

St Andrew's Church in Old is part of a group of churches that work together. This group, called a united benefice, also includes the villages of Hannington, Scaldwell, and Walgrave. Each of these villages still has its own church building.

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