St John the Baptist's Church, Dronfield facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St John the Baptist’s Church, Dronfield |
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St John the Baptist’s Church, Dronfield (Photo by Dave Bevis)
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| 53°18′5.400″N 1°28′19.092″W / 53.30150000°N 1.47197000°W | |
| Location | Dronfield |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| History | |
| Dedication | St John the Baptist |
| Architecture | |
| Heritage designation | Grade I listed |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Dronfield with Holmesfield |
| Deanery | Chesterfield |
| Archdeaconry | Chesterfield |
| Diocese | Diocese of Derby |
St John the Baptist’s Church in Dronfield, Derbyshire, is a very old and important building. It is a parish church that belongs to the Church of England. This church is so special that it has a "Grade I listed" status. This means it is considered one of the most important historic buildings in England.
Contents
History of the Church
This amazing church has been standing since the late 1200s! Over the centuries, it has been changed and fixed up many times. In the mid-1500s, some parts of the church were updated. Then, around 1819, it had a lot of repairs to keep it in good shape.
Big Changes in 1855
In 1855, the church got a huge makeover! Architects named Flockton and Son from Sheffield led the work. It cost about £1,300, which was a very large amount of money back then.
- New lead roofs were put on the side sections, called aisles.
- The main area, known as the nave, had its ceiling removed to show the open roof structure.
- New floors were laid down, and all the seating was replaced.
- A special balcony area at the back, called the west gallery, was taken out.
- The big window at the west end of the church received beautiful stained glass in memory of a local person, Mr. Butterman.
The church was officially reopened on Thursday, April 26, 1855, by the Bishop of Lichfield.
Beautiful Stained Glass
More beautiful stained glass was added to the east window in 1887. William Parker, who lived at Whittington Hall, paid for this artwork. It was designed by F. R. Shields from London. A famous artist named Edward Burne-Jones thought the new glass was truly wonderful.
Important Memorials
Inside the church, you can find old memorials that remember people from long ago. These include:
- Thomas Godfred, who passed away in 1399, and his brother Richard.
- John Fanshawe, who died in 1580, and his wife Margaret.
- Sir Richard Barley.
Churchyard and War Graves
The churchyard is the area around the church where people are buried. It contains special graves for two British Army soldiers. These soldiers died during World War I and are cared for by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
Church Music: The Organ
The church has a pipe organ that was built in 1830 by Alexander Buckingham. This organ has been repaired and made bigger several times over the years. You can find more details about this organ on the National Pipe Organ Register if you are interested in how it works.
Images for kids
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St John the Baptist’s Church, Dronfield
