Silent Sunday…… A rather fine Old Derbyshire Church

Hartington Village, Derbyshire

The Parish Church of Saint Giles stands high above the village of Hartington. The foundations and main building date back to  circa 1250.  As always it is thought to have been built on an even earlier religious site.

Step inside. You are at the west end of the nave and you get the first impression of  not just the impressive size, but the importance to the village but the wider community.

Standing at the chancel you get an even better impression of the age of the church.

The massive stain glass window, behind the alter, is a relatively new addition.  Installed in 1848 and is the work of the Glass Artist Thomas Wilmshurst.

There are other decorated windows.  The one I think I like the best is this very simple window in the south transept.  Plain glass was once more common in church windows.  This has had a later addition.  I was not able to find its attributed to any artist but the angels are very much of the style of the main window.  The roundel lower down is even later and I am told made from much older glass  (recycled perhaps)

Finally before you leave Saint Giles, look up and admire some early wall decorations.  It was this style of wall décor that once graced not only all these walls but was a practice in many churches across the country

As always in these rather different times…

Please Remember ….

Stay Safe …. Be Kind…. Look After Each Other

17th May

(C) David Oakes 2020