Chesterfield Parish Church | |
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The Parish Church of St. Mary and All Saints, Chesterfield | |
53°14′10″N 1°25′27″W / 53.236111°N 1.424167°WCoordinates: 53°14′10″N 1°25′27″W / 53.236111°N 1.424167°W | |
Location | Chesterfield, Derbyshire |
Country | England |
Denomination | Church of England |
Churchmanship | Liberal |
Website | Official Website |
History | |
Dedication | St. Mary and All Saints |
Architecture | |
Status | Parish Church |
Functional status | Active |
Completed | 14th century |
Listed Building – Grade I
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Official name | Parish Church of St Mary and All Saints |
Designated | 15 July 1971 |
Reference no. | 1334708 |
Specifications | |
Number of spires | 1 |
Spire height | 70m |
Materials | Lead |
Administration | |
Parish | Chesterfield |
Deanery | Chesterfield |
Archdeaconry | Chesterfield |
Diocese | Derby |
Province | Canterbury |
Clergy | |
Vicar(s) | Patrick Coleman |
Laity | |
Churchwarden(s) | Mr Colin McKenna Dr Malcolm Wilkinson |
Chesterfield Parish Church is an Anglican church dedicated to Saint Mary and All Saints, located in the town of Chesterfield in Derbyshire, England. Predominantly dating back to the 14th century, the church is a Grade I listed building and is most known for its twisted and leaning spire, an architectural phenomenon which has led to the church being given the common byname of the Crooked Spire. The largest church in Derbyshire, it lies within the Diocese of Derby, in which it forms part of the Archdeaconry of Chesterfield.
The church is largely medieval with Early English, Decorated Gothic and Perpendicular Gothic features built of ashlar. It comprises a nave, aisles, north and south transepts and the chancel which is surrounded by four guild chapels.
The north transept was rebuilt in 1769 and George Gilbert Scott carried out a restoration in 1843, when a new ceiling was installed and a new east window inserted with stained glass by William Wailes of Newcastle. A new font was donated by Samuel Johnson of Somersal Hall. The church reopened on 9 May 1843.
On 11 March 1861 the church spire was struck by lightning, which snapped the gas lighting pipes in the tower, starting a fire in a beam next to the wooden roof of the chancel. The fire smouldered for three and a half hours until it was discovered by the Sexton on his nightly round to ring the midnight bell.