St Dionysius' Church, Market Harborough facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Dionysius' Church, Market Harborough |
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St Dionysius' Church, Market Harborough
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| 52°28′43″N 0°55′17″W / 52.47856°N 0.92137°W | |
| Location | Market Harborough |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Website | harborough-anglican.org.uk/teamchurces-stdionysius |
| History | |
| Dedication | St Dionysius |
| Architecture | |
| Heritage designation | Grade I listed |
| Specifications | |
| Height | 154 feet (47 m) |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Market Harborough |
| Deanery | Gartree |
| Archdeaconry | Leicester |
| Diocese | Diocese of Leicester |
St Dionysius' Church is a beautiful old church in Market Harborough, Leicestershire, England. It is part of the Church of England. This church is very special because it is a Grade I listed building. This means it is considered one of the most important historic buildings in the country.
Contents
History of the Church Building
The oldest parts of St Dionysius' Church were built a very long time ago, in the 1200s. Most of the church you see today was built in the 1300s and 1400s.
Changes Over Time
In 1735, a big storm hit the church. Part of its tall tower was damaged and fell down. When they rebuilt it, the new part was a bit shorter than before.
The church had a major update in 1857. The old wooden seats, called pews, were made shorter. The organ was also moved to a new spot. The church reopened for services in January 1858 after these changes.
Later, in 1887, the roof over the chancel and the south aisle was replaced. The chancel is the part of the church where the altar is. In 1953, the roof over the main part of the church, called the nave, also needed replacing. This was because of damage from tiny insects called Deathwatch Beetles.
The Church Organ
The first organ in St Dionysius' Church was built by a company called G.M. Holdich from London. It was first played on July 14, 1844.
Organ Upgrades
In 1857, the same company, G.M. Holdich, took the organ away for repairs. They also made it better by adding more pedals. When the organ came back to the church, it was placed in a new special area on the north side of the chancel.
A completely new organ was installed in 1877. This one was built by J Porritt of Leicester. It was first used on August 9, 1877. Some changes were made to this organ in 1914. You can find out more details about this organ on the National Pipe Organ Register.
People Who Played the Organ
Many talented people have played the organ at St Dionysius' Church over the years. Here are some of them:
- James Dixon: 1851 - 1882
- Herrap Wood: 1882 - 1914 (He used to play at St James' Church, Standard Hill in Nottingham)
- S.W. Heppenstall: 1913 - 1918
- John W. Skempton: around 1925 - 1938
- William (Bill) C. Wright: 1938 - 1977
- Keith Matthews: 1977
- David G. Davis: 1977 - 1981
- David Johnson: 1981 - 2022 (He used to play at St Wilfrid’s Church, Kibworth)
Church Bells
The church has ten bells in its bell tower. Eight of these bells were remade in 1901. Two brand new bells were added in 1990, making a total of ten bells that ring out for the town.
