St James' Church, Swarkestone facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St James’ Church, Swarkeston |
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St James’ Church, Swarkeston
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| 52°51′12.9″N 1°26′56.4″W / 52.853583°N 1.449000°W | |
| Location | Swarkestone |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| History | |
| Dedication | St James |
| Architecture | |
| Heritage designation | Grade II* listed |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Swarkestone |
| Deanery | Melbourne |
| Archdeaconry | Derby |
| Diocese | Diocese of Derby |
St James’ Church in Swarkestone is a very old and important church. It is located in Swarkestone, Derbyshire, England. This church is part of the Church of England. It is also a Grade II* listed building, which means it is a special building protected for its history and architecture.
Contents
History of St James’ Church
The church has parts that date back to the 12th century and the 16th century. This means it is hundreds of years old!
Major Changes in the 1870s
Between 1874 and 1876, the church was rebuilt. A man named Frederick Josias Robinson from Derby led the project. Mr. Lilley from Ashby-de-la-Zouch was the builder.
Many things were changed during this time:
- The old gallery at the west end of the church was removed.
- The tall pews were taken out.
- The flat roofs and ceiling were replaced. The old ceiling used to block the top part of the tower arch.
- The walls were cleaned, removing old plaster and paint.
- Three new arches were built between the main part of the church (nave) and the side aisle. These arches had carved designs.
- New, steeply sloped roofs with tiles were put on the entire building.
- The main entrance to the church was moved from the tower to the south side.
- The walls of the chancel (the area around the altar) were rebuilt.
- A new stained glass window was installed in the east window. This beautiful window was a gift from Lady Crewe.
The church officially reopened on July 26, 1876, after all these changes.
Churches in the Parish
St James’ Church is part of a group of churches in a joint parish. This means they work together. The other churches in this group are:
- All Saints’ Church, Aston-upon-Trent
- St Wilfrid's Church, Barrow-upon-Trent
- St Andrew’s Church, Twyford
- St Bartholomew’s Church, Elvaston
- St James’ Church, Shardlow and Great Wilne
- St Mary the Virgin’s Church, Weston-on-Trent
Important Memorials Inside
The church has special memorials to remember people from the past. These include memorials for:
- Sir John Harpur (who passed away in 1627)
- Richard Harpur (who passed away in 1573)
- Frances Willoughby (who passed away in 1714)
- John Rolleston (who passed away in 1482)
The Church Organ
St James’ Church has a pipe organ. It was built by Charles Lloyd around 1876. You can find more details about this organ on the National Pipe Organ Register.
More Information
- Grade II* listed buildings in South Derbyshire
- Listed buildings in Swarkestone
