"There is fine modern craftsmanship in the oak stalls, the organ case, and the pulpit" (Mee, 1937)^[1].

This photograph of the church interior, showing two of the three items described by Mee, would have been taken not long after the 1908 dedication service following the installation of a new organ and the canopied choir stalls^[2]. If you look carefully at the clerk's desk in front of the reading-pew you can just about make out the carved figure of St. Giles on the side closest to the pulpit. The stalls had been paid for by Miss Margaret Harrison of Dean Hill, a very generous benefactress of both the church and the community. She died on 6 Mar 1918 and amongst the many bequests in her Will was one of £1,000 for the augmentation of the endowment of St. Giles'^[3]. An oak pulpit was installed a few years later (see below), replacing the more modest one shown above.

The chancel had been rebuilt in 1859^[5], when William Rylance Melville was the Rector. J. C. Cox observed that before then "the level of this church had been so interfered with by divers alterations, that there was actually a descent of a step or two from the nave into the chancel"^[6].

View of the interior of the chancel, 1850^[4].

Mr. Statham tells us that the view of the chancel, above, "is from a water colour painted by myself from a small sketch made by a Miss Royal, who about that date presented it to the Rev. W. R. Melville, Rector". Rev. Melville gave him "special instructions as regards the accuracy of the drawing, as also were others then living who remembered every detail. From this it can be seen that the east window possessed no tracery at that time", in marked contrast to Farrington's drawing and engraving. He noted the descent of four steps to the altar table and observed that both the Churching pew and the Rector's pew in the chancel were obscured by very high pew backs and a curtain, so it was impossible to see inside to see out^[4]!

Statham mentioned there had been steps down; the newspapers of the time recorded that worshippers had to descend three feet to reach the communion table. The chancel floor had to be raised a foot above that of the rest of the church, and the altar raised even higher^[5].

The east window donated and installed then was the gift of Lady Paxton (wife of Sir Joseph), "and is of three lights in the geometrical decorated style. It is to be filled with stained glass representing the Transfiguration, the Resurrection and the Ascension^[5]. At Lady Paxton's request the stone used was from the celebrated Darley Dale Quarry. It was dedicated to the memory of her parents - her father was one of the Bowns of Matlock^[7]. Mrs. Greaves also commissioned a window at this time^[5].

The interior after the 1897-8 alterations when the south aisle was widened, but before the
1908 additions. The picture dates from about 1903. Note the organ pipes in the north transept.

The internal layout of St. Giles' was changed, and considerably improved, by the building work carried out in 1897-8. Benjamin Bryan described what it was like in 1903, approximately when the above picture was taken. "It comprises nave of three bays, chancel, north and south aisles, with transepts ... The north transept is utilised for the organ with, in its rear, a vestry for the choir. East of this, abutting on the north chancel wall, is the clergy vestry, an entirely separate apartment. The south transept is commonly spoken of as the south chapel"^[7]. He added that "the available space in the chancel was increased by pushing back the rearmost choir stall on either side into the opening of the arches".

This fourth image is of a slightly later date as the new pulpit had been installed and canopies had been added to both sides of
the chancel arch. This was done in 1913 (see below).

Following the 1897/8 alterations, when the south aisle was added and the area that is now the Lady Chapel was built, Miss Harrison gave the church the magnificent solid brass lectern surmounted by an eagle we can see on the right in the image above. She also gave the brass altar rail and the white marble pavement installed in the sanctuary"^[7]. The chancel was tiled with marble by the family of Mr. and Mrs. Nathan Statham as a memorial to their parents"^[7]. The changes to the church at this time provided approximately 140 additional sittings^[8].

In March 1919 John Henry Staples of Spondon Old Hall, another benefactor of the church, passed away at Daysmill Hydro. He had given the church a new bell, a safe built into the vestry wall, two windows, silver communion vessels, a complete set of dossals and altar frontals plus three large panelled oak cupboards that were being installed in the vestry at the time of his death^[9].

Enlarged section of the image above.
Perhaps these were the set of dossals and altar frontals given to the church by Mr. Staples and his wife.
However, the real surprise are the painted angels with golden halos on either side of the chancel window
and the decorative friezes below them. They seem to have disappeared in the 1950s^[10].

Before 1898 the chancel was undecorated and the walls were rough. By good fortune Mr. A. O. Hemming of London^[11] was working at Arkwright's church at Cromford and he agreed to decorate St. Giles' afterwards, so the walls were smoothed down and he began to paint the angels and friezes we can see both above and below. "These decorations are stated to be mainly after certain fourteenth century work at Canterbury Cathedral. They include the figure of an angel, symbolising the worship of Heaven as described in the Book of Revelations"^[7].

This view shows the 1908 organ with its carved oak case on the northern side of the chancel,
Miss Harrison's altar rail and Lady Paxton's memorial window. All the oak work had been designed
by the churchwarden and photographer William Nathan Statham
and the work itself had been carried out by Mr. Advent Hunstone, a Tideswell sculptor, and Mr. Statham^[12].
The pulpit had been installed in 1871^[13]. It was replaced shortly afterwards.

The beautifully carved pulpit, installed in 1913, was photographed by W. N. Statham.

Miss Harrison had asked William Nathan Statham to make drawings and designs for a new pulpit in 1913. It was to be carved in oak, with oak panelling and canopy work behind. Similar panelling and a canopy was to be erected on the south side of the chancel arch; it was to have steps and a platform for the lectern. Mr. Advent Hunstone carried out the work and it was dedicated on 7 Aug 1913 by the lord Bishop of Derby.^[12].

The Dedication of the Silver Lamp of Memory.
The chancel floor was covered in flowers.
Although the wall paintings are only partially visible they appear to be in good condition^[10].
However, some of the details of the Hemming paintings had been covered over by this time.

Shortly before the church was to reopen in 1871, following its restoration, it was reported that thoughts of a pulpit and font had been abandoned because of lack of funds. However, J. C. Arkwright instructed the architect to execute both items as speedily as possible, using designs he had already submitted. This font was of Caen stone and the carvings on it had been the work of Mr. Inker of Derby[13]. In 1876 Dr. Cox mentioned the Rector's discovery of the original font "some time before". It had been buried, in an inverted position, in heap of stones and amongst other rubbish. He described the font fitting over an octagonal stone with a hole bored through the centre, though the pedestal or base stone was of later date than the font itself. There were curious carvings on the font's base, though they were much defaced[6]. This original font was believed to be to be over 700 years old and to have been buried at the time of Cromwell to avoid destruction[14]. A number of other churches also hid church artefacts. This discovery must have been slightly embarrassing for Matlock church as "a post-reformation marble bason was displaced at the recent rebuilding" by a handsome font given by Mr. Arkwright. However, the ancient font wasn't immediately re-installed[6]. Frederick Charles Arkwright passed away in 1923 and the following year the old stone font was to be reconsecrated and finally brought back into use[14]. Mr. John G. Goodwin, a Churchwarden, had fitted a cast lead lining and a waste pipe[12]. He was providing also an oak cover in memory of his wife Mary Aston Goodwin and son[14]. The latter had been killed in France[15].

The ancient font, photographed in 1950[10].

An alabaster tomb in the south aisle is probably the most important monument in the church; it has engraved portraits of Anthony Wolley and his wife, with their four sons and two daughters below them. The Wolley children were John, Edward, Anthony, Thomas, Anne and Jane. Anthony senior "is clad in an ample a fur-lined gown, reaching to his feet, and having long hanging sleeves. His wife also wears a long robe, with sleeves of similar cut, open down the front, but with fastening ties [bows] at intervals". A close fitting Tudor cap is on her head^[16]. This tomb was moved about 1907^[17] from its former position in the choir vestry^[16].

A number of other stained glass windows have been added over the years, including several in memory of the Leacroft family^[18]

However, in the early morning of 4th March 1945 St Giles' became a casualty of war when "a North Midlands town" was strafed by bullets and canon shell. The vicar described the church as "fairly peppered" as a number of stained glass windows were smashed, pieces were knocked out of the stonework and a shell went through the roof and penetrated a pipe of a disused organ. Curiously, he did not know the church had been hit until he went to take the communion service at 8a.m. the following morning^[19]. This also possibly explains what happened to the Paxton window.

Stained glass in memory of the Bailey family was added to the east window in 1969^[20]. At the same time dark oak panelling was removed, stonework was cleaned and there was some redecoration^[21].

The nave and chancel, 1955.

There are also three gritstone tablets commemorating those who fell in the First World War. When the memorial was discussed at a Vestry Meeting in May 1919 it was felt that all the parishioners would want the most permanent memorial possible placed in the church, quite apart from other memorials erected in the town^[22]. The Rector at that time, Canon Kewley^[23], had made a huge effort to ensure that the names of those who died during the conflict were recorded which later proved helpful in providing the names for the church memorial and the town memorial on top of Pic Tor.

Finally, we will return to Mee who believed that "The most engaging small possession of the church is hanging on the wall of an aisle, a set of six paper garlands"^[1] (click on the black and white image immediately below for more information).

View even more about the church by clicking on the images below:

Garlands	1817	Before 1870	1890s	About 1903	Before 1908	Early 20th C
	Church & Old Matlock	Church & Green 1914	Lych Gate	Canon Kewley	Rectory party

References (coloured links are to transcripts or more information elsewhere on this web site):

^[1] Mee, Arthur (ed.) (1937) "Derbyshire: The Peak Country", The King's England Series, Hodder and Stoughton Limited, London.

^[2] There is more about the carving and the new organ on St. Giles' Church in the First Decade of the Twentieth Century. The dedication service was reported in the "Sheffield Independent" of 10 February 1908 and the "Derbyshire Courier" of 15 February 1908. The oak carving of the stalls seem to have been designed by the people's warden, William Nathan Statham, as the carving was mentioned in his obituary but the dedication reports do not mention this. It is also quite probable that he took the photo for this postcard as he definitely took another one of the church (see Photographers, Statham) which was published by Loca-Vu and it cannot be a co-incidence that this particular picture shows his work. As an obituary in the "Derbyshire Times"19 January 1940 noted "There is much in the old church that provides a permanent record of Mr. Statham's association with it".

^[3] "Derbyshire Courier," 26 April 1919.

^[4] Statham, W. N. (1925) "History of Matlock Parish Church", Geo. Hodgkinson: Matlock

^[5] "Derby Mercury", 30 November 1859 and "Derby Mercury", 28 December 1859. Also see : The Nineteenth Century Lists: Church Fundraising, 1859, 1886 - 1895. Restoration of Matlock Parish Church, 1859. There is no inscription for Lady Paxton's window inside St. Giles' today, although that commissioned by Mrs. Greaves survives. Lady Paxton's memorial window was last mentioned in Kelly's Directory, 1932 and I have been unable to find when or why it was removed. However, it is quite possible that the damage done in the 1945 bombing raid was the culprit. Please get in touch if you have any further information.

^[6] Cox, J. Charles (1877), "Notes on the Churches of Derbyshire, Vol. II "pub. Chesterfield: Palmer and Edmunds, London: Bemrose and Sons, 10 Paternoster Buildings; and Derby.

^[7] Bryan, Benjamin (1903) "History of Matlock - Matlock, Manor and Parish" London by Bemrose & Sons, Limited.

^[8] "Derbyshire Times", 21 May 1898. Matlock Parish Church. Opening of New Aisle and Chapel. The lectern was in memory of Miss Harrison's late brother.

^[9] "Derbyshire Advertiser and Journal", 5 April 1919. Report of death and funeral and "Derbyshire Courier", 12 April 1919. He was survived by his wife Constance, nee Leacroft, who also shared the giving.

^[10] The web mistress owns a copy of the Souvenir of The Patronal Feast for 1950, which contains the picture of the font published on this page. Inside it is a newspaper cutting relating to the Dedication of the Silver Lamp of Memory, known to be from this time as Rev. C. H. Ferris was the Rector, and the wall paintings were still in situ.

^[11] Alfred Octavius Hemming (1843-3 June 1907) was a well known artist specialising in stained glass. At the dedication service at Cromford St. Mary in 1898 it was said that he was about to begin working at Matlock Parish Church ("Derbyshire Times", 16 April 1898). His work at Arkwright's Cromford Church has, in recent years, been carefully restored thanks to the Arkwright Society.

^[12] "History of Matlock Parish Church ", W. N. Statham, (1925) Printed by Geo. Hodgkinson.

^[13] "Derbyshire Advertiser and Journal", 9 November 1871. In 1928 Statham recorded the donor as Miss Arkwright^[12].

^[14] "Derbyshire Times", 15 November 1924.The "Sheffield Daily Telegraph", 17 November 1924 confirms that the font had been reconsecrated the previous day. A new baptistry, to the memory of the late churchwarden Joseph Sladen, was dedicated at the same time, as were several oak seats.

^[15] See both the Names on Matlock's War Memorial : WW1, Surnames A - J and the dedication commemorating him and his mother on a memorial plaque on the cover of the ancient church font.

^[16] These monuments were recorded by Bryan, Benjamin (1903)^[7]. There is also a description of the Wolley monument in Mee^[1]. The transcript of this memorial and others for the Wolley/Woolley families can be found in the list of MIs in the church. Also see the three Wolley Pedigrees.

^[17] "Derbyshire Courier", 3 August 1907. Referral to the Derbyshire Archaeological Society.

^[18] See the Leacroft MIs in the church: ch18 | ch19 | ch24 | ch25 | ch38 and also that of Mrs. Greaves- ch32. Their relationship can be seen in the Pedigree of Leacroft.

^[19] "Derby Daily Telegraph", 5 March 1945. Raiders Gun and Shell North Midlands Town. Because it was still wartime, the newspapers could not divulge the identity of the town that was strafed but there were enough clues - the names of people who were affected, for example. Also "The Night 'They' Machine-Gunned Matlock", "Peak Advertiser", 28 August 1989, with thanks to the Maureen Smith collection.

^[20] Memorial Inscriptions in the Church, item 23.

^[21] "Matlock Parish Church, Derbyshire" (1969) Pictorial Guide and Souvenir, The Church Publishers, Ramsgate.

^[22] "Derbyshire Courier," 3 May 1919. Names on the walls. Proposed Memorial at Matlock Parish Church.

^[23] Rev. Kewley became a Canon in 1915. "Derbyshire Courier", 27 March 1915.