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St Lawrence’s Church, Whitwell
Whitwell - The Parish Church of St. Lawrence - geograph.org.uk - 676225.jpg
St Lawrence’s Church, Whitwell (photograph by Alan Heardman)
Location Whitwell, Derbyshire
Country England
Denomination Church of England
History
Dedication St Lawrence
Architecture
Heritage designation Grade I listed
Administration
Parish Whitwell
Deanery Bolsover and Staveley
Archdeaconry Chesterfield
Diocese Diocese of Derby

St Lawrence's Church in Whitwell, Derbyshire, is a very old and important building. It is a parish church, which means it serves the local community. It 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.

The Church's Long History

St Lawrence's Church has been around for a very long time. It was first built in the 12th century, which is over 800 years ago! Over the years, new parts were added in the 13th and 14th centuries. This means the church shows different styles of building from hundreds of years ago.

Restoration Work in the 1800s

The church was given a big makeover between 1885 and 1886. A famous architect named John Loughborough Pearson led this work. During this time, a new roof made of pitch pine was added. The old stone walls were carefully repaired and cleaned. Inside, the walls were replastered.

Some changes were made to the seating too. An old gallery at the back of the church was taken out. The old box pews, which were like small enclosed boxes for families, were replaced. New open seats, also made of pitch pine, were put in their place. The floor was covered with wooden blocks, and a new heating system was installed to keep everyone warm.

Who the Church Serves

St Lawrence's Church is part of a larger group of churches. It shares its parish with All Saints’ Church, Streetly. This means they work together to serve the local communities.

Important People Remembered

Inside the church, there are memorials that help us remember important people from the past. One of these is for Roger Manners, who passed away in 1632. These memorials are like special plaques or statues that tell us about people who were important to the church or the area long ago.

The Church Organ

The church has a beautiful organ that was put in place in 1872. It was built by a company called Forster and Andrews. If you are interested in organs, you can find more details about this specific organ on the National Pipe Organ Register.

More to Explore

If you find historic buildings interesting, you might also like to learn about other places.

  • Grade I listed churches in Derbyshire
  • Grade I listed buildings in Derbyshire
  • Listed buildings in Whitwell, Derbyshire
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