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, Swarkestone is a historic church located in Swarkestone, Derbyshire, England. It is part of the Church of England and is considered a very important building. In fact, it has a special status called "Grade II* listed", which means it's a building of more than special interest.
Contents
Discover the Church's History
This church has a long history, with parts of it dating back to the 12th century (that's the 1100s!). Other parts were built in the 16th century (the 1500s).
Major Changes in the 1870s
Between 1874 and 1876, the church went through a big renovation. A man named Frederick Josias Robinson from Derby led the project. Mr. Lilley was the main builder.
During this time, many old features were updated or removed.
- The west gallery, which was like a balcony, was taken out.
- The old, tall pews (church benches) were also removed.
- The flat roofs and ceiling were replaced with new, higher ones. This made the inside feel much more open.
- The walls were cleaned, removing old plaster and paint.
New Features and Reopening
The church gained some new and beautiful additions.
- Three new arches were built between the main part of the church (the nave) and the side aisle. These arches had lovely carved designs.
- New, steeply sloped roofs with tiles were added to the entire building.
- The main entrance was moved from the tower to the south side of the church.
- The walls of the chancel, the area near the altar, were rebuilt.
A special new stained glass window was installed in the east window. It was a gift from Lady Crewe and was made by famous artists Burlison and Grylls. The church officially reopened on July 26, 1876, after all these changes.
Part of a Group of Churches
St James’ Church is not alone! It is part of a group of churches that work together in the local area. This group includes:
- 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
Honoring Important People: Memorials
Inside the church, you can find special memorials. These are like tributes or plaques that remember important people from the past. Some of the people honored here include:
- 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, which is a large musical instrument that makes sound using air blown through pipes. This organ was built by Charles Lloyd around 1876, the same time the church was being renovated. You can find more details about this specific organ on the National Pipe Organ Register if you're interested in how it works!
See also
- Grade II* listed buildings in South Derbyshire
- Listed buildings in Swarkestone
