St Mary's Church, Chaddesden facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Mary's Church |
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| 52°55′41″N 1°26′01″W / 52.9281°N 1.4336°W | |
| Location | Chaddesden, Derby, Derbyshire |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Churchmanship | Conservative Evangelical |
| Architecture | |
| Years built | 14th century |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Chaddesden |
| Diocese | Diocese of Derby |
St Mary's Church is a very old church in Chaddesden, a part of Derby, England. It belongs to the Church of England. This church is one of the oldest buildings in Derby. It has been around since the mid-1300s. It's so important that it's officially recognized as a Grade I listed building.
Contents
History of St Mary's Church
St Mary's Church was rebuilt around 1347. This was done by Henry Chaddesden, who was an important church leader called an Archdeacon in Leicester. The oldest part of the church, called the chancel (the area around the altar), is from this time.
Inside the Church
Inside the church, you can see a special wooden screen from the 1400s. It's called a rood screen. There is also a unique, cup-shaped baptismal font. This font is used for baptisms and might be over 600 years old.
The Wilmot Family Connection
The church has a long history with the Wilmot family. This family used to own a lot of land around Chaddesden village. You can find monuments for several members of the Wilmot family in the churchyard. Their large family home, Chaddesden Hall, was once near the church. The land where their house stood is now Chaddesden Park.
One Wilmot family member, Robert Wilmot, started some special homes for people in need. These homes were called almshouses. They used to stand outside the church but are now gone. You can still see a small hump in the ground where they once were.
War Graves at the Church
The churchyard also has graves for two soldiers. These are war graves from World War II. One was a sailor from the Royal Navy, and the other was a soldier from the General Service Corps.
St Mary's Church Today
On June 20, 1952, St Mary's Church was officially named a Grade I listed building. This means it's a very important historic building. In 2018, the church was placed on a special list called the Heritage at Risk Register. This happened because its roof was in poor condition.
However, a big project was completed in 2019. The main part of the roof was completely replaced. This project cost £250,000. Much of the money came from Historic England and other groups. St Mary's Church follows the Conservative Evangelical tradition within the Church of England.
The Church Organ
St Mary's Church has a large pipe organ. It was built in 1876 by Isaac Abbott of Leeds. The organ was put in the church to remember the parents of Sir Henry Wilmot, 5th Baronet. The first time it was played in public was on September 28, 1876. You can find more details about this organ on the National Pipe Organ Register.
The Church Bells
The church has three bells. They are very old, dating from around 1499, 1652, and 1742. Right now, these bells cannot be rung. However, a local community group started a project in 2023. They are raising money to get the bells working again. This project is expected to be finished by 2026.
See also
- Grade I listed churches in Derbyshire
- Grade I listed buildings in Derbyshire
- Listed buildings in Chaddesden
