St Helen's Church, Ashby-de-la-Zouch facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Helen's Church, Ashby-de-la-Zouch |
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From the southeast
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 St Helen's Church, Ashby-de-la-Zouch
Location in Leicestershire
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| 52°44′50.4″N 1°28′.8″W / 52.747333°N 1.466889°W | |
| Location | Ashby de la Zouch, Leicestershire |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Churchmanship | Broad Church |
| Website | http://sthelensashby.net/ |
| History | |
| Dedication | St. Helen |
| Architecture | |
| Heritage designation | Grade I listed building |
| Architectural type | English Gothic |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Ashby-de-la-Zouch |
| Archdeaconry | Loughborough |
| Diocese | Diocese of Leicester |
| Province | Canterbury |
St Helen's Church is a historic Church of England church in Ashby-de-la-Zouch, Leicestershire. While a church has stood here since the 11th century, most of the building you see today dates from 1474. At that time, William Hastings rebuilt the church while also turning his nearby home into a castle.
The church has been updated many times over the centuries. A big change happened in 1878–80 when the main part of the church, called the nave, was made much wider. St Helen's Church has beautiful old stained glass windows, interesting monuments, and unique features like a finger pillory. It is a very important building, recognized with a Grade I listing for its amazing architecture.
Contents
Discovering the Church's Past
Early Days and Big Changes
Ashby-de-la-Zouch was mentioned in the Domesday Book in 1086, a very old survey of England. It said there was a priest and a church with just a nave (the main part of the church). Around 1144, the church and its lands were given to a group of monks called the Augustinians. They owned it until 1538.
In 1474, William Hastings rebuilt and made the church much bigger. This happened at the same time he was building his famous castle nearby. From this time, parts of the tower, the Hastings Chapel, and some windows still remain.
Changes Through the Centuries
The English Reformation in the 1500s brought big changes to churches across England. In 1547, King Edward VI ordered that all images in churches, like statues and stained glass, should be removed or destroyed.
Around 1670, the church was updated. A gallery was added at the back, and a large wooden Royal coat of arms was put in. By the late 1700s, more space was needed because more people were coming to church. So, in 1829, the seating was replaced, and galleries were built along the sides.
The biggest rebuild happened between 1878 and 1880, led by James Piers St Aubyn. The galleries were taken down, and two new outer aisles were added, making the church much wider. A chapel was also changed into a vestry (a room for clergy). Later, between 1963 and 1968, the church had repairs for wood damage and heating system improvements.
St Helen's Church is the main church for Ashby-de-la-Zouch. It is part of the Diocese of Leicester and the Province of Canterbury.
Exploring the Church Building
St Helen's Church is about 41.7 meters (137 feet) long. It's unusual because it faces more north of east than most English churches. The church is made of sandstone and has a large tower at the west end. This tower, mostly from the 1400s, has battlements (like a castle wall) and pointed decorations called pinnacles. Inside the tower, there's a spiral staircase leading to the bells and clock.
The main part of the church, the nave, is actually wider than it is long because of the extra aisles added in the 1800s. The church has a special area called the Hastings Chapel, which sticks out like the arms of a cross. Many parts of the church, including the Hastings Chapel and the upper windows (called the clerestory), have battlements.
The stone pillars inside the nave were updated in the 1400s and have special carved designs. This style is quite rare and can also be seen in a few other old churches in England.
Art and Carvings Inside
At the east end of the church, there are two chapels: the Chapel of St Michael and All Angels and the Lady Chapel. These chapels feature 20 stone heads carved by Thomas Earp in the late 1800s. These carvings show people from the Bible, like Salome and John the Baptist, or historical figures like St Helen and Martin Luther. More carved heads can be found near the doors and windows, including ones of Queen Victoria and Jesus.
The wooden roofs of the nave and one of the aisles are from the 1400s. The rest of the roof was added during the Victorian rebuild. St Helen's Church was given a Grade I listing in 1950. This means it's considered an exceptionally important building, not just for its old parts but also for its monuments and fittings. The Victorian updates are also praised for fitting well with the older parts of the church.
Special Features and Furnishings
Windows and Unique Items
In 1622, the church had a lot of stained glass, but much of it disappeared during the Reformation. The eleven colorful stained glass windows on the north, west, and south sides of the church were put in around 1879. They show scenes from the Life of Christ, from the Annunciation (when an angel told Mary she would have Jesus) to the Last Supper.
The stained glass in the main chancel and the Hastings Chapel was added in 1924. Some of this glass is very old, possibly from the 1200s or 1400s, and might have originally come from the nearby castle.
A very rare item in the church is the finger pillory at the west end. This device was used to punish people by holding their fingers, but it was seen as kinder than the stocks because it didn't shame them in public. In the middle aisle, a large brass candelabrum (a fancy candle holder) hangs. It was given to the church in 1733 and has a brass dove on top.
The beautiful wooden reredos (a screen behind the altar) from 1679 is thought to be by a local craftsman, Thomas Sabin. There's also a metal screen made by another Ashby craftsman, John Staley. A large Royal Arms from the time of King Charles II hangs on the west wall.
The alabaster pulpit (where sermons are given) and the eight-sided font (used for baptisms) were made by Thomas Earp between 1878 and 1880. The font is carved from a single stone block and decorated with Christian symbols.
The church has a pipe organ that was made by Kirkland of London. It has been repaired several times, most recently in 1955.
Clocks and Bells
The church tower has a clock facing north. On the south side, there's a sundial that was found and fixed in 2000. It was built at the same time as that part of the tower. The tower also holds ten bells. The oldest bell dates back to 1571, but it was recast (melted down and reshaped) in 1849. All the bells were repaired in 1886 and again in 2006, with help from the Heritage Lottery Fund. Two new bells were added, bringing the total to ten.
Hastings Chapel and Important Memorials
The Hastings Chapel is home to several monuments for the Hastings family. One large alabaster tomb is for Francis Hastings, 2nd Earl of Huntingdon, who died in 1561, and his wife Catherine. Another memorial is for Theophilus Hastings, 9th Earl of Huntingdon, who died in 1746. His wife, Selina, was famous for starting a college for religious ministers. A sculpture of her in mourning is placed near her husband's memorial. The Hastings family's coffins are buried in vaults beneath the church.
In the Lady Chapel, there's a memorial to Arthur Hildersham and a painted wooden bust of Margery Wright, who died in 1623. An inscription says she gave money to buy gowns for the old and needy people in the town.
The Chapel of St Michael and All Angels has a stone figure known as "the Pilgrim." This 15th-century figure shows a person of noble birth holding a pilgrim's staff. It's believed to represent Thomas, the third brother of William Hastings.
Many old carved stone memorial slabs were removed in 1829. Only one remains, for Robert Mundy, who died in 1526, and his two wives, both named Elizabeth. It now stands upright by the west wall.
The archway at the western end of the churchyard has a skull and crossbones on top of each pillar. Many of the gravestones in the churchyard are from 1750–1850. Some show beautiful carvings. French prisoners of war were housed in Ashby from 1804, and some who died there are buried in the churchyard.
Other Burials
- Henry Hastings, 3rd Earl of Huntingdon
- George Hastings, 4th Earl of Huntingdon
- Francis Hastings (died 1595)
- Ferdinando Hastings, 6th Earl of Huntingdon
- Theophilus Hastings, 7th Earl of Huntingdon
- Francis Hastings, 16th Earl of Huntingdon and his wife Margaret Lane
- Katherine Neville, Baroness Hastings (within the Lady Chapel)
- Elizabeth Stanley, Countess of Huntingdon
Important People Connected to the Church
For a long time, the right to choose the vicar (the church's priest) belonged to the Hastings family. This continued until 1931. The names of the vicars are known all the way back to Roger in 1200.
Henry Hastings, the third earl, was a strong supporter of Puritanism, a strict form of Protestantism. He even started Ashby Grammar School to teach his religious ideas. He invited Anthony Gilby, a religious leader, to Ashby, making the town an important center for radical Protestantism. Another influential Puritan minister, Arthur Hildersham, also served at St Helen's.
Church Activities and Community
As of 2017, St Helen's Church is part of the "Ashby and Breedon Team Ministry." This group includes several other churches in the area. The church runs "Little Fishes," a group for mothers and toddlers. Its "street pastors" also work to connect with the town community.
The Ashe lectures, started in 1654, provide for special talks in the church. Famous speakers in the 20th century included Geoffrey Fisher and George Carey, who were both Archbishops of Canterbury.
Future Plans: Heritage Project
In 2014, the Heritage Lottery Fund gave £648,300 to the St Helen's Heritage Project. This money is for a three-year project to build a Heritage Centre across from the church. Once finished, the centre will have a display area, a kitchen, rooms for rent, and a garden. The church plans to have trained guides and activities for visitors, including craft courses like calligraphy and stone carving.
Before the project started, an archaeological dig in 2013 found old ruins of a vicarage and a barn. They also found trenches from the Civil War and parts of an old pathway, along with smaller household items.
