The interior of St. Leonard's consists of a nave, side aisles and chancel, with the tower at the west end. The side aisles are separated from the nave by three pointed arches, supported by octagonal pillars with plain capitals^[1]. In 1909 there were extensive alterations and improvements to the interior of the church. A new organ chamber and two new vestries were added, costing £600. The chancel was raised by two feet and a new pavement added. This was thanks to an "in memoriam " gift by an anonymous donor. There was also a new inner porch for the west door^[2]. The above image shows the interior was still lit by gas lamps.

A fee used to be charged for burials within the church and Shirland's chancel floor had been paved before 1909, with gravestones amongst the paving^[3]. The wish to be buried inside the building was often mentioned in someone's will and three early examples of requests for burial inside St. Leonard's can be found in the Wills of Knyveton (1629) and Margaret Clay (1631) as well as that of William Newton (1589), all of Higham^[4]. Gladwyn Turbutt (1978) was to later suggest that there may still be a number of old gravestones underneath the chancel floor.

The Lysons brothers, writing an historical account of the county in 1817, mentioned some of the monuments that then existed inside the church at that time.

"In the parish church is a handsome monument for one of the Grey family, Sir Henry de Grey, of Shirland, who was summoned to Parliament as a Baron in the reign of Edward III. In the chancel are several monuments of the family of Revels, of Shirland and of Ogston in the adjoining parish of Morton ; and that of Jonathan Burnham, 1797"^[5]. In another section of their work the Lysons record that the Grey monument was "under a richly-ornamented arch on the north aisle" and was probably dedicated to Sir Henry Grey (died 19 Rich II). Whilst the knight's effigy was mutilated by 1817, it was "richly ornamented with scrolls of foliage and "the side is covered with shields of arms"^[5]. The recess is of greater age than the present building^[1]. The effigy disappeared many years ago and all that remains today is a large ogee recess in the chancel's north wall that contains the chest with the shields^[6].

A large sixteenth century alabaster table tomb, with two incised figures on the top, is in the north aisle. It has been moved twice, according to Gladywn Turbutt. In 1848 it was moved to the east end of St. Catherine's Chapel (see below), where there had been an altar (of which there is no trace) but in 1936 it was returned to its original position and a new stone altar was placed under the window instead^[8]. It is the tomb of John Revell of Shirland (d. 1538) and his wife Margaret (nee Eyre), who was his first wife. Revell himself described this part of the church as "Saint Kateryn" in his will^[7]. He is clad in 16th century armour with a skirt of mail, but is not wearing a helmet, and his sword is suspended at his left side; there is a dog at his feet. His wife is dressed in a flowing gown, described by Dr. Cox and others as a long flowing mantle with close fitting sleeves "gathered into small knots on the lower edge and terminating in wide cuffs"^[1]. There is a marginal inscription on three sides - in black - and the figures of the couple's three sons and five daughters are placed below their parents' feet; the sons are below their father whilst the daughters are below their mother^[1].

"Johes Revell de Shirlande mil' qui obiit die Novembris Anno Dni MCCCCC tricesimo septimo et Margareta uxor ejus obiit Mensis Ano Dni MCCCCC quorum animarum proprietur Deus. Amen."^[1]

One of the escutcheons on the base bears the arms of Eyre and another of the Derbyshire Revels. Thomas Revell of Hygham (Will of, dated 2 April 1474) bequeathed 100 marks for buying lands for a priest and founded a chantry here whilst his second son Robert (Will of, dated 12 May 1495/6) "willed the issues of his lands at Thathwayte and the Hill (North Winfield) to fynde a priest to say and singe masse in the churche at Sherlande by the space of four score and nineteen yeares"^[1].

The Revell Chantry was at the east end of the north aisle and became St. Catherine's Chapel^[8]. In 1936 the chapel was restored and was then dedicated by Rev. Crick, Assistant Bishop of Derby and Vicar of Ashbourne. He also dedicated the new stone altar and tabernacle in the chapel and blessed oak panelling from Ilam Hall and other items^[9].

Of personal interest to the web mistress are two other marble memorials, one below the other beside the altar in the chancel. They commemorate two of the Burnhams, Jonathan (mentioned by the Lysons) and his wife Hannah:

Near this place rests / the mortal part of / JONATHAN BURNHAM Esq / who died November 29th 1797 / aged 75 years / By honesty punctuality and / indefatigable industry in London / he acquired an affluent fortune / He was a good husband / and hospitable neighbour.

HANNAH BURNHAM / his widow / Truly respected for her tender regard / and / the part she filled in / their domestic concerns / died 11th of Aug 1798 / aged 83 years.

Jonathan had been christened in Alfreton in 1722; Hannah (Ann), the daughter of Sam Brian of Alfreton, was slightly older than him. The couple were married at St Andrew, Holborn, in 1744 and returned to Derbyshire when Jonathan decided to retire. He had been, according to obituary notices, an eminent distiller. "Probity and punctuality distinguished him as a man of business ; he was remarkable for his cheerfulness of temper ; he was generous and active as a friend, and his charity to the poor proves his general benevolence^[10]."

There were no surviving children of the marriage but the pair were extremely generous to their relatives and acquaintances. Whilst no relationship to my Bryon/Bryan ancestors and relatives who are buried in the churchyard at Shirland has yet been proved, Jonathan Burnham would have known my 4x g grandfather John Bryon very well. They were both members of the South Wingfield Association (Shirland), for example, a group existing at the end of the 18th century. John's wife was also one of Jonathan Burham's beneficiaries.

In the south aisle of Shirland parish church is a more personal memorial, a marble tablet dedicated to the memory of the 3 x great grandfather of the web mistress and his two married daughters.

In affectionate /remembrance of the late / JOHN CLAY Gent of Shirland / who departed this life / January 29th 1865 aged 74 years / also MARY daughter of the above / JOHN CLAY and the beloved wife of the / Rev ISAAC HENSLEY BRAY Rosliston / who died September 22nd 1855 aged 31 years / also SARAH daughter of the above / JOHN CLAY and the beloved wife of / WILLIAM LEE Esq. Bayswater London / who died August 21st 1858 aged 32 years / and are all interred in this churchyard^[11].
[The web mistress comments: John Clay was the fourth generation of the Clays who lived in Shirland or Higham.]

On the wall to the left of the lectern, seen in the above picture, is a handwritten Roll of Honour to the 24 men of Shirland and Higham who died in the 1914 -18 war. Their names are also on a plaque on the memorial gates as well as on the memorial shelter. They were:

There are a number of other memorials inside Shirland church^[12].

Ault Hucknall

Bonsall

Crich

Dethick

North Wingfield

Shirland

Our Genealogy includes an image of the crest my Clay family used. It is the same crest as the coat of arms confirmed to John Clay of Crich under the hand of Sir William Dethick in 1588.
See more on Crich Parish Church & Mr. John Clay, Gentleman
The direct Clay ancestors of the web mistress moved from Shirland following the untimely death of my 2x geat grandfather in 1872.
See the Matlock & Matlock Bath section of this web site.

Shirland is mentioned in the following on-site transcripts:

	Derbyshire's Parishes, 1811, Parishes P-S, which has more about the village. The Gentleman's Magazine Library - Derbyshire to Dorset, includes Shirland and its Church. Derbyshire, Shirland - Trade Directory extracts of Shirland names, including Higham, Hallfeld Gate, Stretton, Stonebroom and Toadhole Furnace over the years. Kelly's 1891 Directory, Shirland
	The Wolley Manuscripts, Derbyshire - Charters, Documents & Deeds : Places S - T, mentions Shirland (two entries) - Names G - L | Names R - S | Names T- Z - Wills, Revell

List of the Rectors of Shirland's parish church. The first Rector at Shirland was appointed over a thousand years ago. Who they and their patrons were.
South Wingfield Association, 1796, for the prosecution of felons. Also included Shirland and Higham and other nearby parishes or townships as part of the group. Both Jonathan Burham and John Bryon were members.
Shirland: Poems about the village. Three poems.

References:

^[1] Cox, J Charles (1875) "Notes on the Churches of Derbyshire, Vol I, Hundred of Scarsdale", Chesterfield: Palmer and Edmunds, London: Bemrose and Sons, 10 Paternoster Buildings; and Derby.

^[2] "Derbyshire Times,", 4 December 1909. Shirland's beautiful church. Extensions dedicated.

^[3] Churchwarden's accounts 1743/4 by James Hopkinson, taken from Gladwyn Turbutt's book (see reference ^[8] below).

^[4] Taken from copies of old will owned by the web mistress. There people are included in her various family trees.

^[5] Lysons, Rev Daniel and Samuel Lysons Esq. (1817) "Topographical and Historical Account of Derbyshire" London: Printed for T. Cadell, Strand; and G. and A. Greenland, Poultry.

^[6] Neither Cox nor Pevsner provide a date, just noting that it had disappeared many years ago.
(Cox, John Charles, (1915, 2nd edition, revised), "Derbyshire" - Illustrated by J. Charles Wall, Methuen & Co., London.
Pevsner, Nikolaus (1953), "The Buildings of England, Derbyshire", Penguin Books.)

^[8] Turbutt, Gladwyn (1978, reprinted 1997), ""A History of Shirland and Higham" Higham Press p.93 ISBN 0 9504692 1 1".

^[9] "Derby Daily Telegraph", 29 May 1936. Chapel Dedicated. Assistant Bishop of Derby at Shirland.

^[10] "Derby Mercury", 7 December 1797.

^[7] Will of John Revell, TNA, PROB11-27-31, written 28 October 1538. He requested to be buried with his first wife. His second wife, Isabell, was still alive when he died. Amongst those he mentions was Francis Earl of Shrewsbury whom he beseeches to be good Lord to his executors and the act as supervisor. His executors were his sons Robert and Leonard, Richard Snape parson of Morton, Richard Sclyock[?]. His sons and daughters and their husbands then living were named including one whom he described as "unkynde". Witnesses were named as John Corshope parish preest, John ffransworthe [Farnsworth], John Oldam, Thomas Heyre and Henry Haberersham with others.

^[8] Turbutt, Gladwyn (1978, reprinted 1997), ""A History of Shirland and Higham" Higham Press p.93 ISBN 0 9504692 1 1".

^[9] "Derby Daily Telegraph", 29 May 1936. Chapel Dedicated. Assistant Bishop of Derby at Shirland.

^[10] "Derby Mercury", 7 December 1797.

^[11] The mason of the Clay memorial was Petts of Fritchley. Isaac Petts, born at Crich, was shown as a 35 year old stone mason in the 1861 census and was still there 10 years later.

^[12] To check the surnames of those commemorated at Shirland, please see the list provided by the Derbyshire Ancestral Research Group on the GUKUTILS website.
Alternatively, transcripts are available from the Derbyshire Family History Society (see Links, Derbyshire on this web site).