St James' Church, Edlaston facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St James’ Church, Edlaston |
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St James’ Church, Edlaston
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| 52°58′52.83″N 1°43′54.72″W / 52.9813417°N 1.7318667°W | |
| OS grid reference | SK 18118 42674 |
| Location | Edlaston, Derbyshire |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| History | |
| Dedication | St James |
| Architecture | |
| Heritage designation | Grade II* listed |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Edlaston |
| Deanery | Ashbourne |
| Archdeaconry | Derby |
| Diocese | Derby |
| Province | Canterbury |
St James’ Church is a historic church in the village of Edlaston, Derbyshire, England. It is part of the Church of England. Because of its special historical importance, it is a Grade II* listed building. This means it is a "particularly important building of more than special interest" and is protected by law.
Contents
History of the Church
St James' Church has a long and interesting past, with parts of it dating back hundreds of years.
Building and Early Changes
The oldest parts of the church were built in the 14th century, over 600 years ago. The main part of the church, called the nave, was likely rebuilt in 1682. We know this because the date is carved into a stone on the outside of the east wall.
In the late 1700s, a man named Robert Greville was the rector, which is a type of priest in charge of a parish. He and his wife Dorothy had a son, Robert Kaye Greville, who grew up in Edlaston. Robert later became a famous botanist (a scientist who studies plants) and an abolitionist, someone who worked to end slavery.
The 1870 Restoration
In 1870, the church had a major makeover. An old gallery in the nave was taken down. The old wooden pews, which are long benches for people to sit on, were replaced with new ones made of oak.
The floor was also redone. The main walking areas, called the aisles, and the area around the altar, called the chancel, were decorated with special patterned tiles called Minton encaustic tiles. The church also got new choir stalls, a new altar table, and new altar rails. This work was paid for by the rector at the time, Bishop Edmund Hobhouse.
Later Repairs and a Surprise
More restoration work happened in 1900. The first stone for this project was laid on July 25th. The work was designed by an architect named E. Arden Minty, who was the brother of the church's rector.
A surprising event happened in 1906. As the rector, Rev. F. Arden Minty, was walking to the altar, the floor suddenly collapsed under him! Luckily, he was able to catch himself and did not fall into the hole. It turned out that the arch of a large burial vault hidden under the chancel had broken.
The Church Today
St James' Church is part of a group of local churches that work together. This is called a joint parish. The other churches in its group are:
