St Matthew's Church, Hayfield facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Matthew's Church, Hayfield |
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St Matthew's church tower
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| 53°22′46″N 1°56′45″W / 53.379474°N 1.945874°W | |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Website | Church website |
| History | |
| Founded | 1386 |
| Dedication | Matthew the Apostle |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Heritage designation | |
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Listed Building – Grade II
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| Designated: | 21 April 1967 |
| Reference #: | 1088001 |
| Style | Early English Gothic |
| Completed | 1818 |
| Specifications | |
| Materials | Gritstone ashlar |
| Bells | Eight |
| Tenor bell weight | 10 long tons 2 cwt 21 qr (23,210 lb or 10.53 t) |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Hayfield, Derbyshire |
| Deanery | Peak |
| Archdeaconry | Chesterfield |
| Diocese | Derby |
| Province | Canterbury |
St Matthew's Church in Hayfield, England, is a very old church that has been around since the 1300s! It's a special building, officially called a Grade II listed building, which means it's important to protect. The church is right next to the River Sett. Its tall clock tower, with five sections, is a famous landmark in the village.
The church is built from a local stone called gritstone. It looks like an old English Gothic style building. Around the church, there is a small graveyard. A church hall, built in 1977, is also connected to the church. It even has a new community garden.
St Matthew's is an active Anglican church. It holds services on Sundays, and also hosts baptisms, weddings, and funerals. The church is a busy place for the community. It holds concerts, art shows, and special festivals like the May Queen and well dressing events. The current vicar, John Hudghton, also serves churches in Chinley and Buxworth.
Contents
History of St Matthew's Church
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The village of Hayfield started a long time ago, in the Norman period. St Matthew's Church has been in its current spot since 1386. Before that, it was in an area called Kirksteads. This is where the Kinder and Sett rivers meet. Records show the church was finished by 1405.
Hayfield used to be a small chapel area within the larger Parish of Glossop. It included many nearby villages and hamlets. In 1650, people said Hayfield was "a Parochial Chapel fit to be made a Parish." This meant it was important enough to be its own parish.
Old Church Features
The old church had some interesting parts. One was a rood loft. This was a narrow balcony that stretched across the church. It was unusual because most rood lofts were removed during the Reformation. An old story says it had a painting of the Crucifixion with St Peter and St John. This painting was made in 1755.
A Local Ghost Story
There's a spooky local ghost story about St Matthew's Church. It's said that on August 31, 1745, a minister named Dr. James Clegg wrote to a local newspaper. He reported that "hundreds of bodies rose out of the grave" in the churchyard. He said they were "singing in concert" before they disappeared! Dr. Clegg wondered where they went.
Rebuilding the Church
In 1793, the church tower was rebuilt. It was given six bells. Later, a seventh bell was added in 1909, and an eighth in 1947. The rest of the church was rebuilt in 1818. This cost £2458, which was a lot of money back then! The builders were Bradbury and Rangeley.
The tower was made taller in 1894. This was to add a new clock with four faces. This clock could chime the hour and quarter hours. The Slack and Bennett families paid for the new clock, so it cost the church nothing.
The Church Crypt
Underneath the church, there is a crypt. This is like a large underground room that goes under the whole church. The church floor was raised higher to stop floods from coming into the building. The old church's pillars were made shorter to hold up the new wooden floor.
St Matthew's Church is a Grade II listed building. It was given this special status on April 21, 1967. Grade II means the building is of "special interest."
The current church hall was built in 1977. It is connected to the church. This building has been updated to make it easier for everyone to use. It now has level floors, a prayer room, a new kitchen, and more bathrooms.
What the Church Looks Like
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From the outside, the church is made of squared gritstone. It has stone walls with a pattern that looks like a castle wall. The windows have three parts and a special stone pattern called tracery. On the south side, there is a wide door with steps.
The main part of the church is its central tower. This tower has five sections. The fourth section holds the eight bells. The fifth section of the tower was added in 1894. It has a clock with four faces, made by William Potts & Sons from Leeds.
Inside the Church
Inside, the church has wooden balconies on three sides. At the back, there is an organ from 1849. There is also a special monument from 1786. It honors Joseph Hague, who was a kind person from the area. He helped many people in the 1700s. The monument has a white marble plaque and a bust of Hague.
The balconies are held up by thin iron columns. These columns have flower designs. Underneath the balconies, you can still see some of the original box pews. These are like small wooden enclosures for families to sit in. The lower windows have colorful stained glass from the late 1800s.
The central box pews in the main part of the church were replaced with chairs. This makes it easier to use the space for community events. The back of the church was also changed into a welcoming foyer.
See also
- Listed buildings in Hayfield, Derbyshire
