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 is a very old and important church located in Dronfield, Derbyshire, England. It is a Grade I listed building, which means it is considered a really special historical place. This important status means it needs to be protected for future generations. It is also a parish church for the Church of England, serving the local community.
Contents
History of the Church
The church building is very old, dating back to the late 13th century. This means it was first built over 700 years ago! Over time, it has been changed and repaired many times. For example, some parts were altered in the mid-16th century. There were also big repairs around the year 1819.
Major Changes in the 1800s
More changes and restoration work happened in 1855. Architects named Flockton and Son from Sheffield led this project. It cost about £1,300, which was a lot of money back then! During this time, new roofs were put on the aisles, which are the side sections of the church. The roof over the main part of the church, called the nave, was opened up. The old ceiling was removed to show the structure above.
New floors were also laid down, and all the seating was replaced. A gallery at the west end of the church was taken out. The large window at the west end received new stained glass. This beautiful glass was put in to remember Mr. Butterman of Dronfield. The Bishop of Lichfield officially reopened the church on Thursday, April 26, 1855.
Beautiful Stained Glass Windows
In 1887, a new stained glass window was added to the east end of the church. This window was paid for by William Parker of Whittington Hall. It was designed by F. R. Shields from London. The famous artist Edward Burne-Jones thought this window was very impressive and praised it highly.
Memorials and Churchyard
Inside the church, you can find special memorials that remember people from the past. These include:
- Thomas Godfred, who passed away in 1399, and his brother Richard.
- John Fanshawe, who passed away in 1580, and his wife Margaret.
- Sir Richard Barley.
Churchyard and War Graves
The area around the church, called the churchyard, is also important. It contains special graves for two British Army soldiers. These soldiers bravely fought in World War I. Their graves are looked after by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
Church Community and Parish Status
St John the Baptist’s Church is part of a larger group of churches. It is in a joint parish with several other churches in the area. This means they work together to serve their communities. The churches in this joint parish are:
- St Andrew’s Church, Gosforth Valley
- St Philip’s Church, Holmesdale
- St Mary’s Church, Unstone
- St Swithin’s Church, Holmesfield
The Church Organ
The church has a wonderful organ that was built in 1830 by Alexander Buckingham. An organ is a large musical instrument that uses pipes to make sound. Over the years, this organ has been carefully restored and made bigger several times. You can find detailed information about this organ on the National Pipe Organ Register.
