St Wystan's Church, Repton facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Wystan's Church, Repton |
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Repton Church
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 St Wystan's Church, Repton
Location in Derbyshire
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| 52°50′26″N 01°33′11″W / 52.84056°N 1.55306°W | |
| OS grid reference | SK 303 272 |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Churchmanship | Broad Church |
| Website | reptonchurch.uk |
| History | |
| Status | Parish church |
| Founded | Repton Abbey established c. 600AD |
| Founder(s) | Saint David (traditionally) |
| Dedication | St Wystan |
| Relics held | St Wystan (moved by King Cnut to Evesham Abbey) |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Heritage designation | Grade I listed |
| Designated | 19 January 1967 |
| Architect(s) | Arthur Blomfield (restoration) |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Style | Anglo-Saxon, Gothic |
| Specifications | |
| Spire height | 212 feet (65 m) |
St Wystan's Church is a historic Church of England parish church located in Repton, Derbyshire. It is famous for its ancient Anglo-Saxon crypt, which was once the burial place of two Mercian kings. The church is considered a very important building in England, listed as a Grade I listed building. It is named after the Anglo-Saxon Saint Wystan, whose remains were once kept in the church's crypt.
Contents
Exploring St Wystan's Church
The original church building was part of an abbey and was shaped like a cross. It might have had a tower in the middle. The main part of the church, called the nave, has side sections (aisles) that were rebuilt in the 1200s and made wider in the early 1300s.
The tall tower and pointed spire were added around 1340. The very top of the spire reaches about 212 feet (65 m) (64.6 meters) above the ground. In the 1400s, more windows were added high up in the nave, and a timber roof was built. The church also has a two-story porch. Inside, you can find old monuments, including a stone statue of a knight from around 1400.
The church tower holds eight bells that can be rung in a special way called change ringing. The oldest bell was made in Leicester around the year 1500. The church was carefully repaired and updated between 1885 and 1886 by an architect named Arthur Blomfield.
The Ancient Crypt and Royal Burials
The crypt at St Wystan's is very old, built in the early 700s. It was constructed over a natural spring and was likely first used as a baptistery, a place where people were baptized.
Later, this space was turned into a mausoleum (a grand tomb) for King Æthelbald of Mercia while he was still alive. Two other important people, King Wiglaf and his grandson Saint Wigstan, were also buried here. It is believed that the royal bodies were first buried in the ground to decompose, and then their bones were placed inside the crypt.
After Saint Wigstan was buried, the crypt became a popular place for people to visit on a pilgrimage. However, when the Danish (Viking) army invaded, St Wigstan's body was moved for safety. It was brought back later, but King Cnut had his remains moved again in the 900s to Evesham Abbey in Worcestershire.
The Anglo-Saxon parts of St Wystan's Church, especially the crypt, are considered "one of the most precious survivals of Anglo-Saxon architecture in England." The crypt is a square room with a unique roof made of nine domed sections. These sections are supported by pillars along the walls and four pillars in the center.
It has been suggested that the design of Repton's crypt might have influenced later important buildings, like the shrine of Edward the Confessor in Westminster Abbey.
Kings and Princes Buried Here
- King Æthelbald of Mercia – died in 757
- King Wiglaf of Mercia – died in 839
- Prince/Saint Wigstan – died in 849 (his remains were later moved to Evesham Abbey)
Discoveries from the Past
In the 1980s, archaeologists found a large grave near St Wystan's Church. It was thought to be linked to the Great Danish Army (Vikings). This grave, built over an old Saxon chapel, contained about 300 human skeletons. Around 20% were women, and 80% were men aged 18 to 45. Many of the bones showed signs of violent injuries. Viking items, like a Thor pendant, were also found.
At first, scientists thought the bodies were from different time periods. But in 2018, a team from the University of Bristol confirmed that all the remains were from the late 800s AD. This matches the time when the Viking army spent a winter in Derbyshire. The earlier dating problem was due to the Vikings eating a lot of seafood, which can affect carbon dating results.
Outside the crypt, in 1979, a stone carving called the 'Repton Stone' was discovered. It is the top part of a standing cross. One side shows a carving of a mounted figure, a man on a horse wearing armor and holding a sword and shield. He also has a crown on his head. This figure is believed to be King Æthelbald of Mercia. King Æthelbald died in 757 and was buried at Repton. If this is true, it would be the earliest large picture of an English king. The Repton Stone is now on display at the Derby Museum and Art Gallery.
Churchyard and Notable Burials
The churchyard is the resting place for 17 Commonwealth service members, mostly from the Royal Air Force who died during World War II. Also buried here are the ashes of C. B. Fry, a famous English sportsman. His tombstone, placed in 2008, calls him "Cricketer, Scholar, Athlete, Author – The Ultimate All-rounder."
The Church Organ
The church has a pipe organ built by Peter Collins in 1998. It has two keyboards and 23 different sounds (stops). You can find more details about this organ on the National Pipe Organ Register.
Past Organists
- Thomas Dalby (around 1847 – 1848)
- Herbert Stevens (1865 – ?)
- A. E. Rogers (1887 – ?)
- Mr. Hodgkinson (around 1903)
- William James (around 1909)
- Edgar Foster (? – 1916)
- Miss Partridge (1916 – 1918)
- Edgar Foster (1918 – ?)
- Cyril Woodward (around 1950s)
- Andrew Patterson (1983 – 1987)
- Terence W. Bennett (1987 – ?)
Part of a Larger Parish
St Wystan's Church is part of a combined parish with two other churches:
See also
- Grade I listed churches in Derbyshire
- Grade I listed buildings in Derbyshire
- Listed buildings in Repton
- Repton Abbey
Images for kids
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The mounted figure on the Repton Stone (now in Derby Museum) has been identified as King Æthelbald of Mercia
