St Matthew's Church, Pentrich facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Matthew’s Church, Pentrich |
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St Matthew’s Church, Pentrich (photograph by Revcarole)
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| Location | Pentrich |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| History | |
| Dedication | St Matthew |
| Architecture | |
| Heritage designation | Grade I listed |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Pentrich |
| Deanery | Alfreton |
| Archdeaconry | Chesterfield |
| Diocese | Diocese of Derby |
St Matthew's Church is a very old and important church in Pentrich, Derbyshire, England. It is part of the Church of England. This church is so special that it is a Grade I listed building. This means it is protected because of its long history and beautiful design.
Contents
History of the Church
This church is really old! It was built way back in the 12th century, which means the 1100s. The church has several main parts:
- A nave: This is the main central area where people sit.
- North and south aisles: These are the side sections next to the nave.
- A porch: This is the entrance area.
- A chancel: This is the part of the church near the altar.
- A short embattled tower: This is a tower with a cool, castle-like top.
The church was fixed up and made new again between 1859 and 1860. It opened its doors once more on March 28, 1860.
The Font: A Surprising Story
The font is a large bowl used for baptisms. The base of the font has the date 1662 on it. However, the bowl itself has decorations that look much older, from the Norman period (around the 11th or 12th century).
During the 1800s, the old font bowl was actually missing from the church! People used it for a very different purpose: salting beef. Luckily, it was eventually returned to its proper place in the church.
Ancient Sundial
On the outside wall of the south chancel, you can find a special old sundial. It is called a mass dial or scratch dial. These were used long ago to tell the time for church services.
Beautiful Stained Glass
St Matthew's Church has some amazing stained glass windows. These windows tell stories or show pictures using colorful pieces of glass.
- The window at the east end of the south aisle was made by a famous company called Morris & Co..
- The window on the north wall of the chancel was designed by Christopher Whall in 1915.
Memorials to Remember People
Inside the church, there are special memorials that remember people who have passed away.
- One memorial is for Edward Horn, who died in 1764.
- Another memorial is for Madam Mower, who died in 1776.
The Church Organ
The church has a pipe organ that was built in 1860. It was made by a company called Forster and Andrews. You can find more details about this organ on the National Pipe Organ Register, which lists information about organs across the country.
More to Explore
If you are interested in other important buildings, you might like to look at:
- Grade I listed churches in Derbyshire
- Grade I listed buildings in Derbyshire
- Listed buildings in Pentrich
