The last church of August. On Friday 31st I had a funeral to do just up the road at Quarndon as Becky the Vicar is on holiday. All straightforward, and an opportunity to blog St Paul’s – SK 335410. They have a website and we work together in Allestree Churches Together.
There is an old C12 chapel, of which one chunk remains – I must walk up and photo it next time I walk through the village (which I do quite often). There is a drawing of the old church inside. Funding for this church was provided in part by a generous donation of land and funding by the Reverend Alfred Curzon, 4th Baron Scarsdale, and donations from others.
Pevsner gives it three lines: “1872-4 by Giles & Brookhouse. Tasteless and restless, aggressively rock-faced, with SW broach spire and Dec, detailing.” I think we can say that Mr Pevsner was not impressed! I think it is an OK church outside and fits well amid the yews. Inside it is a nice open church, with some interesting detailing.
The East window dates to 1890, a very colourful representation of the conversion of St Paul, there are another couple of stained glass windows, and the eagle keeps watch.
The War Memorial stands by the road, and I like the way they have added a new plaque which makes sure the information is known and updated. A Commonwealth War Grave in the churchyard – doing that funeral must have been harder than the one I did.
This is a very nice overview of the church and churchyard. I hope that you are soon able to return to the church in order to take photos of the ruins of the old church. My Clifford family ancestors worshiped in the old church in the 1840’s-1850’s.
I really ought to! Will do some walking when Christmas is over. Best wishes, Peter
I recently visited this churchyard as I have been studying my ancestry. My great great grandparents are buried there and I did find the grave of George Ride, my great great grandfather. Sadly I couldn’t find his wife Ellenora Ride or his daughter Alice, who died at the age of 4 weeks in 1898. My great gran was Alice’s twin sister and went onto live to the ripe old age of 103, she was born in the village, christened and married in this church and I like to think that she lived a long life to make up for her twin’s short one. Her brother Ernest Ride was killed in action in WW1 and is named on the memorial, which was lovely to see. I’m still hunting for a photo of him!