Bakewell Parish Church
Encyclopedia
All Saints Church, Bakewell is the parish church of Bakewell
, Derbyshire
. It is a Grade I listed building.
times and the churchyard
has two 9th century Saxon crosses. During restoration
work, in the 1840s, many carved fragments of Saxon stonework were found in and around the porch
, as well as some ancient stone coffin
s.
style however only the West front and part of the nave
survive from that time. The remainder of the church was built between 1220 and 1240. The spire
was added in 1340 but, in 1840, was completely rebuilt as it had become dangerous.
s, along with eighteen 19th century misericords in the choir stalls. Additionally, there is one 19th century misericord on a priests seat. The 19th century misericords date from 1881.
. In the Vernon Chapel (off the South aisle) there are several magnificent tombs: Sir Thomas Wendesley (killed at the Battle of Shrewsbury
in 1403; John Vernon
of Haddon Hall
, who died in 1477; and Sir George Vernon and his two wives.
Sir George, nicknamed 'King of the Peak', died in 1567, is famous as the father
of Dorothy Vernon, who eloped with Sir John Manners, both of whom have a monument
at the South end of the chapel. There is also a monument to their son, George Manners
and his wife Grace
. Outside the chapel is a much smaller alabaster
monument to Sir John Foljambe and his wife.
. Further work by Jardine and Co in 1954 and George Sixsmith in 1989 have left the church with a 3 manual 42 speaking stop pipe organ. A specification of the organ can be found on the British Institute of Organ Studies
National Pipe Organ Register at N00212.
. It is used for, amongst other things, concert
s by Bakewell Choral Society and the annual Commemoration
service of Lady Manners School
when they staff and pupil
s give thanks to Grace, Lady Manners
for founding their school in 1636.
The church website has much more information about the ongoing life and worship of the parish, including forthcoming services and other events.
Bakewell
Bakewell is a small market town in the Derbyshire Dales district of Derbyshire, England, deriving its name from 'Beadeca's Well'. It is the only town included in the Peak District National Park, and is well known for the local confection Bakewell Pudding...
, Derbyshire
Derbyshire
Derbyshire is a county in the East Midlands of England. A substantial portion of the Peak District National Park lies within Derbyshire. The northern part of Derbyshire overlaps with the Pennines, a famous chain of hills and mountains. The county contains within its boundary of approx...
. It is a Grade I listed building.
The first church
The church was founded in 920, during SaxonAnglo-Saxons
Anglo-Saxon is a term used by historians to designate the Germanic tribes who invaded and settled the south and east of Great Britain beginning in the early 5th century AD, and the period from their creation of the English nation to the Norman conquest. The Anglo-Saxon Era denotes the period of...
times and the churchyard
Churchyard
A churchyard is a patch of land adjoining or surrounding a church which is usually owned by the relevant church or local parish itself. In the Scots language or Northern English language this can also be known as a kirkyard or kirkyaird....
has two 9th century Saxon crosses. During restoration
Victorian restoration
Victorian restoration is the term commonly used to refer to the widespread and extensive refurbishment and rebuilding of Church of England churches and cathedrals that took place in England and Wales during the 19th-century reign of Queen Victoria...
work, in the 1840s, many carved fragments of Saxon stonework were found in and around the porch
Porch
A porch is external to the walls of the main building proper, but may be enclosed by screen, latticework, broad windows, or other light frame walls extending from the main structure.There are various styles of porches, all of which depend on the architectural tradition of its location...
, as well as some ancient stone coffin
Coffin
A coffin is a funerary box used in the display and containment of dead people – either for burial or cremation.Contemporary North American English makes a distinction between "coffin", which is generally understood to denote a funerary box having six sides in plan view, and "casket", which...
s.
The present church
The present church was started in the 12th century in NormanNorman architecture
About|Romanesque architecture, primarily English|other buildings in Normandy|Architecture of Normandy.File:Durham Cathedral. Nave by James Valentine c.1890.jpg|thumb|200px|The nave of Durham Cathedral demonstrates the characteristic round arched style, though use of shallow pointed arches above the...
style however only the West front and part of the nave
Nave
In Romanesque and Gothic Christian abbey, cathedral basilica and church architecture, the nave is the central approach to the high altar, the main body of the church. "Nave" was probably suggested by the keel shape of its vaulting...
survive from that time. The remainder of the church was built between 1220 and 1240. The spire
Spire
A spire is a tapering conical or pyramidal structure on the top of a building, particularly a church tower. Etymologically, the word is derived from the Old English word spir, meaning a sprout, shoot, or stalk of grass....
was added in 1340 but, in 1840, was completely rebuilt as it had become dangerous.
Misericords
All Saints' contains three early 15th century misericordMisericord
A misericord is a small wooden shelf on the underside of a folding seat in a church, installed to provide a degree of comfort for a person who has to stand during long periods of prayer.-Origins:...
s, along with eighteen 19th century misericords in the choir stalls. Additionally, there is one 19th century misericord on a priests seat. The 19th century misericords date from 1881.
Relics and monuments
The church has some interesting relics of the Vernon and Manners families as well as a fine 14th century baptismal fontBaptismal font
A baptismal font is an article of church furniture or a fixture used for the baptism of children and adults.-Aspersion and affusion fonts:...
. In the Vernon Chapel (off the South aisle) there are several magnificent tombs: Sir Thomas Wendesley (killed at the Battle of Shrewsbury
Battle of Shrewsbury
The Battle of Shrewsbury was a battle fought on 21 July 1403, waged between an army led by the Lancastrian King, Henry IV, and a rebel army led by Henry "Hotspur" Percy from Northumberland....
in 1403; John Vernon
John Vernon
John Keith Vernon was a Canadian actor. He made a career in Hollywood after achieving initial television stardom in Canada.-Early life:...
of Haddon Hall
Haddon Hall
Haddon Hall is an English country house on the River Wye at Bakewell, Derbyshire, one of the seats of the Duke of Rutland, occupied by Lord Edward Manners and his family. In form a medieval manor house, it has been described as "the most complete and most interesting house of [its]...
, who died in 1477; and Sir George Vernon and his two wives.
Sir George, nicknamed 'King of the Peak', died in 1567, is famous as the father
Father
A father, Pop, Dad, or Papa, is defined as a male parent of any type of offspring. The adjective "paternal" refers to father, parallel to "maternal" for mother...
of Dorothy Vernon, who eloped with Sir John Manners, both of whom have a monument
Monument
A monument is a type of structure either explicitly created to commemorate a person or important event or which has become important to a social group as a part of their remembrance of historic times or cultural heritage, or simply as an example of historic architecture...
at the South end of the chapel. There is also a monument to their son, George Manners
George Manners, 7th Earl of Rutland
George Manners, 7th Earl of Rutland was an English nobleman. He was the son of John Manners, 4th Earl of Rutland and the younger brother of Roger Manners, 5th Earl of Rutland and Francis Manners, 6th Earl of Rutland. George Manners married Frances Cary, daughter of Sir Edward Cary and Katherine...
and his wife Grace
Grace, Lady Manners
Grace, Lady Manners was an English noblewoman who lived at Haddon Hall near Bakewell, Derbyshire. She founded Lady Manners School in 1636.-Biography:...
. Outside the chapel is a much smaller alabaster
Alabaster
Alabaster is a name applied to varieties of two distinct minerals, when used as a material: gypsum and calcite . The former is the alabaster of the present day; generally, the latter is the alabaster of the ancients...
monument to Sir John Foljambe and his wife.
Organ
The organ dates from 1810 when a "finger organ" by J Lincoln was installed. This was rebuilt in 1851 by William Hill, and again in 1883 by Brindley & FosterBrindley & Foster
Brindley & Foster was a pipe organ builder based in Sheffield who flourished between 1854 and 1939.-Background:The business was established by Charles Brindley in 1854. He was joined by Albert Healey Foster in 1871 and the company acquired the name Brindley & Foster.Charles Brindley was born in...
. Further work by Jardine and Co in 1954 and George Sixsmith in 1989 have left the church with a 3 manual 42 speaking stop pipe organ. A specification of the organ can be found on the British Institute of Organ Studies
British Institute of Organ Studies
-Aims:The aims of BIOS are* To promote objective, scholarly research into the history of the organ and its music in all its aspects, and, in particular, into the organ and its music in Britain....
National Pipe Organ Register at N00212.
Organists
- Thomas Barker Mellor ca.1883 - 1913?
- W.E. Cave 1913 - ????
- Glyn Davies 1982 - ????
The church today
Today, along with its regular religious services, the church is an important building in the town and the wider Peak DistrictPeak District
The Peak District is an upland area in central and northern England, lying mainly in northern Derbyshire, but also covering parts of Cheshire, Greater Manchester, Staffordshire, and South and West Yorkshire....
. It is used for, amongst other things, concert
Concert
A concert is a live performance before an audience. The performance may be by a single musician, sometimes then called a recital, or by a musical ensemble, such as an orchestra, a choir, or a musical band...
s by Bakewell Choral Society and the annual Commemoration
Commemoration (observance)
Commemorations are a type of religious observance in the Church of England. They are the least significant type of observance, the others being Principal Feasts, Principal Holy Days, Festivals, and Lesser Festivals. Whereas Principal Feasts must be celebrated, it is not obligatory to observe...
service of Lady Manners School
Lady Manners School
Lady Manners School is an English secondary school and Specialist Music College as designated by the Specialist Schools Trust situated in Bakewell, a market town in the Peak District National Park, Derbyshire...
when they staff and pupil
Pupil
The pupil is a hole located in the center of the iris of the eye that allows light to enter the retina. It appears black because most of the light entering the pupil is absorbed by the tissues inside the eye. In humans the pupil is round, but other species, such as some cats, have slit pupils. In...
s give thanks to Grace, Lady Manners
Grace, Lady Manners
Grace, Lady Manners was an English noblewoman who lived at Haddon Hall near Bakewell, Derbyshire. She founded Lady Manners School in 1636.-Biography:...
for founding their school in 1636.
The church website has much more information about the ongoing life and worship of the parish, including forthcoming services and other events.