On Easter Monday (2 April 2018) we had been to Sheffield so I could give platelets. It was a rather grotty day, but we drove back via the Peak District. St Anne’s church Baslow is in the middle of a popular Derbyshire village SK252722, on the River Derwent. When I eventually get back to the Derwent Valley Way I will walk through it. I could also do the Peak Pilgrimage – website – and visit it. So why is there no church guidebook? There have all the information on the church website so print it off, and charge a couple of quid for it! They had an art/poster exhibition around the village entitled “One Friday”, getting people to think about Good Friday – it wasn’t the weather to explore, but I picked up the booklet about it. A 72 page church magazine, excellently produced.
The original church is C13, and the bridge is the old packhorse bridge (I should have taken a closer look). The website reminds us the church is dedicated to Jesus’s grandmother – I like the idea of granny’s church! The tower and spire are at the west end of the north aisle, which is unusual – the north aisle was probably the original nave, and the current nave is C15.
There is a C13 grave slab in the porch which I failed to photo, and a nice lead memorial with feet that I did. Nice Easter garden too, and a dog whip just inside the door. Apparently his job was “to whip the dogs, which had followed their masters, out of the church, and generally to look after the orderly behaviour of both bipeds and quadrupeds during Divine Service.” I’ve only ever had guide dogs in churches, and they are always well-behaved.
A Victorian restoration – it looks a very Victorian pulpit. Older font with nice Easter flowers, and I like the streamlined microphone – so many church PA systems have technology that looks like it comes from the ark.
The chancel was rebuilt in 1911 to celebrate the coronation of George V – much of it made by Mr Advent Hunstone of Tideswell. I like the altar frontal, wood and window. Nice making of a room to the north side of it.
A rather feminine St Martin in a window, and the WW1 Memorials are nearby. Has anyone researched the history of these men? Interesting thought – how do we make sure the research that has been done in the last few years is not lost? I know that in Darley Abbey there are articles in previous church magazines, but who will look at them in 50 years time?
Moving outside, it is a rather nice porch. Why is one headstone back to front compared to the next one?
The clock is by Smiths of Derby, and dates to 1897. One dial comes from an earlier clock, so has an earlier date, the other is a Royalist celebration.
I must come back when the weather is better and enjoy the village.