St John the Baptist, Tideswell facts for kids

Quick facts for kids St John the Baptist's Church, Tideswell
St John the Baptist's Church, Tideswell
53°16′44″N 1°46′21″W / 53.2788°N 1.7726°W / 53.2788; -1.7726
Country	United Kingdom
Denomination	Church of England
Churchmanship	Broad Church
History
Dedication	St John the Baptist
Architecture
Heritage designation	Grade I listed building
Architectural type	Decorated Gothic
Administration
Parish	Tideswell
Deanery	Bakewell and Eyam
Archdeaconry	Chesterfield
Diocese	Diocese of Derby
Province	Canterbury

The Church of St John the Baptist in Tideswell is a Church of England parish church. It is a very old and important building in the village.

About the Church

Tideswell church, one of the most important parish churches in Derbyshire

Even though it's not a cathedral, this church is so big and beautiful that people call it the "Cathedral of the Peak". It's one of the most famous churches in Derbyshire. It's also a Grade I listed building, which means it's a very important historic building.

History of St John the Baptist's Church

Building the Church

The church you see today was built between about 1320 and 1400. It replaced an older, smaller Norman church. Building work was slowed down by the Black Death, a terrible disease that spread across Europe.

The church has two main building styles. The nave (main part), aisles (sides), and transepts (arms of the cross shape) are in a late Gothic style. The chancel (area around the altar) and the tower are in a Perpendicular style, which is a later Gothic style.

Past Disputes and Ownership

Around 1250, the church became part of a big argument. Two religious groups, Lichfield Cathedral and Lenton Priory, both believed they owned the church's land. This argument lasted for about 300 years!

The dispute even went to the Vatican in Rome several times. It only ended when King Henry VIII closed Lenton Priory in the 1500s.

Restoring the Church

The church has been carefully repaired and updated over the years. A major restoration project began in 1873, led by architect John Dando Sedding. This work focused on fixing and preserving the old parts of the church, rather than replacing them.

Workers replaced the old oak roof and fixed the lead on the roof. People at the time praised the work. They liked that the old features were kept, not destroyed.

The chapel in the south transept was also restored. This was a gift from James Bower Brown. A sculptor named Thomas Earp rebuilt the tomb of Sir Thurstan de Bower and Lady Margaret.

The chancel area was reopened in 1875. Carvings in stone and wood were done by skilled craftspeople. Restoration work continued until 1905. At that time, a gallery that had been added in 1826 was removed from under the tower.

New south doors were added, designed by John Oldrid Scott. These doors included panels made from an old oak beam from the village's Old Guild Hall.

Church Community

Parish Status

St John the Baptist's Church is part of a joint parish. This means it shares a vicar and works closely with several other churches nearby:

• St John the Evangelist's Church, Cressbrook
• Christ Church, Litton
• St Anne's Church, Millers Dale
• St Margaret's Church, Wormhill

Vicars of Tideswell

The church has had many vicars (priests) over the centuries. Here are some of the people who have led the church:

Inside the Church

Memorials and Tombs

The church has several interesting memorials. There are brass plaques for Sir John Foljamb (who died in 1383) and Bishop Robert Purseglove (who died in 1579). Bishop Purseglove is shown in his old church clothes from before the English Reformation.

In the middle of the chancel is a special tomb called an altar tomb. It holds the body of Sir Samson Meverill (1388–1462). He was a knight who fought in the Siege of Orléans against Joan of Arc. The tomb was restored in 1876.

In the south transept, there are two chapels. The Lytton chapel has an old bell on the floor. Nearby is the tomb of Robert Lytton (died 1483) and his wife Isabel (died 1458). The Bower chapel has a large tomb that might belong to Sir Thurstan and his wife Margaret de Bower. The figures on the tomb are made of alabaster and are very old.

The churchyard also contains war graves for seven service members from World War I.

Special Features

The church has a medieval font, which is a basin used for baptisms. It has carvings of a chalice (a cup) and an open book. The old north door, which dates from about 1500, is now displayed inside the church. It was replaced in 1997.

The ends of the pews (church benches) have detailed carvings. These were made by a local carver named Advent Hunstone. The carvings show the seven sacraments, which are important Christian ceremonies. These include baptism, confirmation, and marriage. The screen under the tower was designed by John Oldrid Scott in 1904.

Stained Glass Windows

The church has beautiful stained glass windows. The east window, which shows the "Tree of Jesse" (a family tree of Jesus), was made in 1875 by Heaton, Butler and Bayne.

The west window, called "Te Deum," was made in 1907 by Hardman and Powell. It features John the Baptist and is a memorial to the vicar's mother and his wife's mother. In 1996, a new window was added to remember William Newton (1750-1830), a local poet known as the "Minstrel of the Peak." This window was created by Alfred Fisher.

Church Organs

St John the Baptist's Church has two pipe organs. The main organ was built in 1895 by Forster and Andrews. You can find details about it on the National Pipe Organ Register. The second organ, called the chancel organ, was built in 1979 by the Johnson Organ Company. Its details are also on the National Pipe Organ Register.

Gallery

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  Exterior

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  Exterior (south transept and chancel)

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  Tower window and door

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  Tomb of Sir Sampson Meveril

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  Tomb of Sir Thurstan de Bower and his wife Margaret

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  Inscription around the de Bower tomb

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  Close-up of de Bower effigies

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  South aisle

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  Nave, arcade, chancel arch and screen

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  Close up of pew ends

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  Pulpit

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  Ornate chair

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  Altar and chancel

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  East window, Tree of Jesse, Heaton, Butler and Bayne 1876

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  Memorial to William Newton by Alfred Fisher of Chapel Studio 1996

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  South Transept, The Resurrection

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  West window, Te Deum, Hardman and Powell, 1907

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  The main organ in the north transept

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  Pipe organ

See also

• Grade I listed churches in Derbyshire