St Mary's Church, Cromford facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Mary’s Church, Cromford |
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St Mary’s Church, Cromford
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| Location | Cromford |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| History | |
| Dedication | St Mary the Virgin |
| Architecture | |
| Heritage designation | Grade I listed |
| Designated | 22 June 1950 |
| Architect(s) | Thomas Gardner |
| Groundbreaking | 1792 |
| Completed | 1797 |
| Administration | |
| Parish | St Mary Cromford |
| Deanery | Wirksworth |
| Archdeaconry | Chesterfield |
| Diocese | Diocese of Derby |
St Mary's Church, Cromford is a beautiful old church in Cromford, Derbyshire, England. It is part of the Church of England. This church is very special because it is a Grade I listed building. This means it is considered one of the most important historic buildings in England.
Contents
History of St Mary's Church
The church you see today replaced a much older chapel. It was built for the people who worked at Richard Arkwright’s famous mill in Cromford. Richard Arkwright was a very important person in the Industrial Revolution. He built the first successful water-powered cotton spinning mill.
Building the Church
The church was designed by an architect named Thomas Gardner. Construction started in 1792 and finished in 1797.
Richard Arkwright's Burial
When Sir Richard Arkwright passed away in 1792, he was first buried in a church in Matlock, Derbyshire. However, in 1797, his body was moved to St Mary's Church. Many other members of his family were also buried here later.
Changes to the Church Building
The church has a main open area called a nave, a special area near the altar called a chancel, a tower on the west side, and an entrance area called a narthex. In 1858, the church was updated by Henry Isaac Stevens.
The original church from the Georgian era had a large, open main hall and a sanctuary (a holy place) with the altar at the east end. In the mid-1800s, the church was completely redesigned. It was made to look more like a Gothic building between 1858 and 1859. The new design kept the wide main hall but added a new rounded chancel and a tower. The windows were changed, and a new roof was put on, along with a decorative wall at the top called a crenelated parapet.
Special Features Inside
The church has amazing wall paintings that were created by Alfred Octavius Hemming in 1898. These paintings are the most striking part of the inside of the church. They were carefully cleaned and repaired in 2002. In 1898, six tubular bells were also added to the tower, and new stained glass windows were put in.
Church Community
St Mary's Church is part of a joint parish. This means it shares a priest and works closely with another church:
The Church Organ
The church has a pipe organ that was built by William Hill in 1859. You can find more details about this organ on the National Pipe Organ Register.
See also
- Grade I listed churches in Derbyshire
- Grade I listed buildings in Derbyshire
- Listed buildings in Cromford
