Bakewell - Part 2: All Saints Parish Church - Saxon Crosses, Stained Glass, Misericords and Font

After the Emperor Moth excitement - back to Bakewell


All Saints Parish Church

There has been a church on the site since 800 AD and possibly even earlier. In 1110 the building of a stone church was instigated by William Peverel, a Norman Knight, in the Norman style. In the mid 13th century the church was re-modelled in the Early English Style. Interior and exterior renovations took place in the 1840's including the construction of a new spire. There were further alterations in the late 19th century and just before the First World War

Dandelions and daisies were flowering in the churchyard despite

the fact that the grass had recently been mown :( Although daisies will tolerate close mowing due to their growing habit.

The grass did look a bit longer in some areas and to be fair, due to the arrival of rain, I didn't have chance to explore the whole churchyard so there may well have been areas that had been left to their own devices to encourage wildlife.

These stone carvings were particularly lovely.

Whilst B ordered tea and cakes, I explored the Newark which was adjacent to the tearoom. After the Reformation this became the mortuary chapel for the Vernon and Manners families and there are various family tombs from the 15th and 16th centuries.

These symbols reminded me of something from the Da Vinci Code!

After eating my cake rather quickly, I went off to explore the church.


The font is 14th century and was described by Pevsner as "the finest of its kind in the County". The carvings depict Christ, John and Mary, Peter and Paul, a Bishop, a priest and John the Baptist. On the rim there are the remains of a font cover lock which was used to protect against magic as ordered by the Archbishop of Canterbury in 1236.

The stone fragments on display date from Anglo-Saxon, Norman and early Medieval times.

The Chapel of St Michael and St George


The War Memorial altar

Pulpit

Rather lovely wooden carvings on the choir stalls

I am absolutely fascinated by misericords (or seats of mercy as they are called) and the wonderful wooden carvings and the stories behind them. There were lots at All Saints although unfortunately most of the ones I've taken photos of don't seem to be mentioned in the guide book. Apologies for incomplete carvings (its not easy squeezing between the stalls and trying to get a photo!). They date back to the thirteenth century.

Initially, I thought the first one was a depiction of the Green Man but apparently its a pun on achers (3 rotten teeth that ached and 3 acres to support a cow!).

I think this one might represent St George and the Dragon?

I really must see if you can buy a book on misericords and how to interpret them.


Part of the nineteenth century mosaic floor in the Chancel

14th century alabaster Foljambe Monument

The stained glass windows, apart from one installed in 1905, date back to the mid/late 19th century.

The 1893 Window of Saints and Angels adoring the Lamb of God by the Pre-Raphaelite artist Henry Holiday

The C E Kempe window of ~1905 of St George and St Hubert who saw a vision of the crucified Lord in a stag's antler and was thus converted. The window shows the influence of black and white photography through its cloudscapes.

The Wheatsheaf trademark of Kempe

I didn't take photos of all the windows so missed the Clayton and Bell window - one of the perils of reading the guidebook after you've returned home!!


It was raining as we left so I only had chance for a quick look round the churchyard and managed to get a few photos of the Saxon crosses. It was only when I got home (again) that I discovered I should have taken photos of all faces of the crosses as they are all different and represent pagan and christian panels so I've only included information of the cross faces that I took pictures of.



This is the 8th century Saxon Cross (it would once have had a cross on the top). Possible interpretations of the pagan panels which show the pagan view of the world. Symbols show an ash tree with Woden above humans on branches with a squirrel whose role was that of messenger between gods and humans.

The Anglo Scandinavian Cross

Evidence suggests that this was found on a ridgeway above Beeley and and was brought to the church for safekeeping. Again the cross head is missing. It is a listed ancient monument and dates from 1000 AD. Some crosses like this marked parish boundaries whilst others commemorated a major event. Sadly, many were destroyed and unbelievably used as foundations for roads :(

South Face - it is believed the face at the top is a Norse mask. Pellets below may represent fruits of vine i.e. Christianity. The 2 crosses with loose, unconnected rings suggest 2 tribes whereas the lower rings are connected suggesting the joining up of tribes.

A view from the rainy churchyard over the town and surrounding countryside.

The church is beautiful and very interesting and well worth a visit if you ever visit the area. There were a lot of other fascinating features that I missed/didn't have time to see. Just beyond the church is the Bakewell Old Museum which I would have liked to have looked round.


Sorry for all the photos - you can see why I split the post on Bakewell into two!!


References : All Saints Parish Church, Bakewell Guidebook plus various information boards around the church.