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 an old and important church in Chaddesden, a part of Derby, England. It belongs to the Church of England. This church is one of the oldest buildings in the city. It was built way back in the mid-1300s! Because it's so special, it's called a Grade I listed building. This means it's a very important historic place.
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A Look Back in Time at St Mary's
St Mary's Church was rebuilt around the year 1347. A person named Henry Chaddesden, who was an Archdeacon, helped with this. The front part of the church, called the chancel, is from this time.
Inside the church, you can see a special screen from the 1400s. It's called a rood screen. There's also a unique font, which is shaped like a cup. This font is used for baptisms and might be over 600 years old!
The church has a long history with the Wilmot family. This family used to own a lot of land in Chaddesden. You can find monuments for some of the Wilmot family members in the churchyard.
The Wilmot family lived nearby in a large house called Chaddesden Hall. This house is no longer there. The land where the house used to be is now Chaddesden Park. This park is right next to St Mary's Church.
One member of the Wilmot family, Robert Wilmot, started some almshouses. These were special homes for people who needed help. They used to be outside the church. They are gone now, but you can still see a small bump in the ground where they once stood.
The churchyard also holds the graves of two soldiers. One was from the Royal Navy and the other from the General Service Corps. They both served during World War II.
St Mary's Church Today
On June 20, 1952, St Mary's Church was officially named a Grade I listed building. This shows how important it is.
In 2018, the church was put on a list of buildings that needed help. This was because its roof was in "poor" condition. But good news! By 2019, the main part of the roof was completely fixed. It was replaced with new green slate tiles. This big project cost about £250,000. Much of the money came from Historic England, an organization that helps protect old buildings.
St Mary's Church follows a specific tradition within the Church of England. It is known for its Conservative Evangelical beliefs.
The Church Organ
St Mary's Church has a pipe organ. It was built in 1876 by a company called Isaac Abbott of Leeds. This organ was put in the church to remember the parents of Sir Henry Wilmot, who was a Baronet.
The first time the organ was played in public was on September 28, 1876. If you want to know more about this organ, you can find details about it from 1996 on the National Pipe Organ Register.
The Church Bells
The church has three bells. They are very old! One bell is from around 1499. Another is from 1652, and the third is from 1742. Sadly, these bells cannot be rung right now.
See also
- Grade I listed churches in Derbyshire
- Grade I listed buildings in Derbyshire
- Listed buildings in Chaddesden
