The pre 1859 edifice was a curious mixture of styles. Stephen Glover was to write in 1830 that "The handsome gothic tower
church is built in a limestone rock, on a considerable elevation, and is a picturesque object.[1]"
He added that the ancient tower was "surmounted by pinnacles, whimsically decorated with grotesque figures of animals for
spouts." The Rev. Dr. Holkham (sic, Holcombe) had been the Rector for many years, though was often not in Matlock,
and Rev. Henry Sim was the curate at the time. Dr. Holcombe was then receiving "the small and great tithes which amount
to about £320, per. annum, and the rental of 40 acres of glebe, besides the surplice fees"[1].
The tower was, indeed, handsome and remains so to this day.
But what about the rest of the church at that time? As we can see in this series of images, its south wall was "embattled
on the top"[2] but the building was spoiled by the windows, the staircases and the
porch. There was an entrance to the west gallery - or singing loft - via steps near the tower, seen on the second image. Indeed,
the interior of the church must have been extremely crowded at this time as there were galleries on the north, south and west,
all supported by iron pillars[3]. The porch door was described as "spacious,
but ill-designed, projecting several yards outside the south-west door, and on its east side adjoining the main flight of steps"
to the south gallery[2], which could only be reached by these steps. Glover, Charles
Cox[4] and Benjamin Bryan[2] were all
unimpressed by the pre-1870 design and layout.
There are few pictures of the south side of the church at the time. Fortunately, William Nathan Statham[5],
the Matlock photographer and a churchwarden for many years, had access to at least two of them. The top photograph, taken
in or before 1859, was used for the Christmas card that he and his wife sent out in 1903.
Orlando Jewitt's woodcut of the parish church, about 1830, was first published by Glover [1].
Adam went on to publish the image in his own guides from 1843 onwards (this one from 1856); he tactfully noted that
" the Church was a good structure, embattled with a handsome square tower" [6].
There is little evidence of housing behind the church on Matlock Bank at the time.
The chancel was rebuilt in 1859. W. N. Statham was to later comment that "the chancel was then in an unseemly condition,
with rotting timbers and a leaking roof[3]."
"The alteration had been contemplated and much desired from the dilapidation and uncouth state of the old chancel, and
75l. had been collected for the purpose two years ago. ... Mr John Knowles .... undertook the entire management, and
he well executed his task, pulling down the old church and rebuilding a handsome and solid structure in its stead".[7]
 See : The Nineteenth Century Lists: Church
Fundraising, 1859, 1886 - 1895. Restoration of Matlock Parish Church, 1859.
Knowles was not the only person involved, of course. A slab on the inner side of the south wall recorded:—
"This chancel was rebuilt A.D. 1859. W. R. Melville, Rector. John Knowles, Knowleston Place ; Natham Statham, Matlock
Green, Churchwardens"[4]."
View of the south Front, 1862, showing the recently rebuilt chancel on the right [3].
The church was to close again, for further restorative work to be undertaken, at the beginning of 1871[8],
the last service being held on New Year's Day, 1871. Charles Cox commented that the whole body of the church was taken down, because
"restoration" was found to be out of the question after the shameful way in which it had been treated in the last century[4].
Funds to pay for the major building work that was planned had been raised by public subscription and Benjamin Wilson was appointed
as the architect. He advertised for builders to work on the renovation and rebuilding project shortly before the closure[9].
The church re-opened later the same year and the first service in the rebuilt church was held on 25th October[8].
On 4 May 1873 a new organ, built by Brindley and Foster of Sheffield, was dedicated by Bishop Abraham, the old one being sold to the United
Free Church on Snitterton Road[3].
According to Benjamin Bryan[2], all the seats in the new church were free and unappropriated,
which was the opposite of what had previously occurred. Before 1871 there had not been an unappropriated seat in the
entire church[10].
One of the features sometimes missed out when writing about churches is information about its clock, though the clock was very important within
the community. A diamond shaped clock face can be seen on the tower in the first three images. In 1861 Rev. W. R. Melville, John Knowles and
Nathan Statham had installed a new clock in the tower, which faced north and south[3].
This clock, which was made by T. E. Lomas of Sheffield, only appears on the third image. A few years later the diamond shaped faces were replaced
by circular ones, seen in the final image, below.
Old Church, Matlock [2]. Published in the Imperial Album.
Curiously, this view shares many features with an engraving published by Newman & Co. Ltd, of 48 Watling
Street, London in March 1869. Same people, fences, trees, chancel and tower. The centre of the church, so the porch,
the south wall and the roof had completely changed because of the rebuilding work undertaken in 1871.
So this picture is an 1859 image with post 1871 amendments.
You may like to view more onsite information:
Rectors of St Giles' from 1300
Matlock Parish Church Baptisms, Marriages & Burials
Memorial Inscriptions - a Surnames Index
Matlock St Giles', MIs in the Church.
Matlock & Matlock Bath: Inspiration of Poets. A poem by
M. S. about the churchyard in 1874.
View even more about the church by clicking on the images below:
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References:
[1] Glover, Stephen (1830) "The Peak Guide; containing the topographical, statistical, and
general history of Buxton, Chatsworth, Edensor, Castleton [sic], Bakewell, Haddon, Matlock, and Cromford" ...
Edited by T. Noble, pub. Derby
[2] Bryan, Benjamin (1903) "History of Matlock - Matlock, Manor and Parish" London
by Bemrose & Sons, Limited.
[3] Statham, W. N. (1925) "History of Matlock Parish Church", Geo. Hodgkinson:
Matlock
[4] Cox, J Charles (1877) "Notes on the Churches of Derbyshire Vol II" Chesterfield:
Palmer and Edmunds, London: Bemrose and Sons, 10 Paternoster Buildings; and Derby.
[5] W. N. Statham first advertised in Kelly's 1891 Directory.
He was living on Church Street with his widowed mother in the 1891 census and
in 1901 was on Dale Road. He advertised in the 1908 programme of the
Operatic Society. His father was Nathan Statham, one of the two churchwardens
who worked with the vicar on the 1859 restoration. He can be found with his family in the 1871 census.
[6] This version of Orlando Jewitt's engraving was published in William Adam's
1843 edition of "Gem of the Peak". This version comes from Adam, W. (1857, 6th edtn.)
"The Gem of the Peak; or Matlock Bath and Its Vicinity". ...
John and Charles Mozley, Derby and 6, Paternoster Row, London; Bemrose .... (own copy).
[7] "The Derby Mercury" 28 December 1859. Opening of the new chancel at Matlock Church.
[8] "ibid.", Wednesday, November 1, 1871. Reopening of St. Giles' Church, Matlock
Town.
[9] "ibid.", Wednesday, November 30, 1870. There were at least three advertisements
during November and December 1870 for builders to contact the Architect about rebuilding the nave of the Parish Church.
[10] Bryan was quoting a letter from Rev. W. R. Melville, the then Rector, about the seating. Melville's
letter was published in "The Derbyshire Times" on 27 Apr 1872.
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