St Anne's Church, Baslow facts for kids

Quick facts for kids St. Anne’s Church, Baslow
St. Anne’s Church, Baslow
53°14′49.65″N 01°37′26.25″W / 53.2471250°N 1.6239583°W / 53.2471250; -1.6239583
Country	United Kingdom
Denomination	Church of England
Churchmanship	Broad Church
Architecture
Heritage designation	Grade II* listed
Administration
Parish	Baslow
Deanery	Bakewell and Eyam
Archdeaconry	Chesterfield
Diocese	Diocese of Derby

St. Anne’s Church, Baslow, is an old and important church located in Baslow, England. It is officially recognized as a Grade II* listed building, which means it is a very special historic place.

A Look at the Church's History

How St. Anne's Church Was Built

This church has been around for a very long time. It was first built way back in the 1200s! Over the years, it has been updated and changed many times.

Big Changes in the 1800s

In 1852, the church got a major makeover. A famous architect named Sir Joseph Paxton helped with the plans. Workers added a new part called a chancel. They also removed old plaster and a gallery inside the church.

The organ was improved and moved to a new spot. A beautiful new stained glass window was put in. They also added new wooden seats, called pews, and a fancy marble pulpit. The floor of the chancel was covered with colorful tiles. The church also got a new room for the clergy and even central heating! It reopened in December 1853.

More Updates in the Late 1800s

The church was improved again in 1894. It was cleaned, and more new stained glass windows were installed by a company called Hardman of Birmingham. The old choir stalls were replaced with new ones made of oak wood. A decorative screen, called a reredos, was added behind the altar. The chancel floor was updated with mosaic tiles.

Changes in the 1900s

Later, in 1911, the chancel area of the church was rebuilt once more. This shows how the church has continued to be cared for and updated over many centuries.

The Church Tower Clock

Look closely at the east side of the church tower. You'll see a round clock face. It has the letters V I C T O R I A 1 8 9 7 written on it, along with Roman numerals. This clock was a gift from Dr. Edward Mason Wrench. He gave it to the church in 1897 to celebrate Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee. This was a big celebration for the Queen's 60 years on the throne.

Sharing a Parish

St. Anne's Church is part of a group of churches called a joint parish. This means it works together with a few other local churches. These include:

• St Lawrence's Church, Eyam
• St Hugh’s Church, Foolow

The Churchyard

The area around the church, called the churchyard, is a peaceful place. It contains the grave of an Army Chaplain who served in World War I. This grave is looked after by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

A Unique Fact: The Dog Whipper

Here's a fun and unusual fact about St. Anne's Church! It is known for still having a whip that was once used by the parish dog whipper. In the past, a dog whipper was a person whose job was to keep dogs from disturbing church services. They would gently use a whip to guide any noisy dogs out of the building.

The Church Organ

The church has a pipe organ that has a long history.

• The first organ was put in back in 1849 by a company called Davis. It had nine different sounds, called stops.
• In 1865, a new organ was installed by Brindley & Foster. A famous organist, George Henry Smith, played it for the first time on December 5, 1865.
• This organ was later repaired and updated in 1895 by Brindley and Foster again. Other companies, like Conacher and Co, and Chalmers and Hyde, have also worked on it. You can find more details about this organ on the National Pipe Organ Register.

The Church Bells

The tower of St. Anne's Church holds six bells. The oldest of these bells is very old indeed, dating all the way back to 1520! It was made by a person named Ralph I Heathcote.

Images for kids

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  St Anne's church

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  Interior

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  Reredos

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  West window, possibly by William Wailes

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  Angel on Isabel Wilson's memorial window