Thursday 16 September 2010

Wentworth Old Church

We were lucky last weekend when we decided to walk around Wentworth on Sunday to find that the old church was open (for the Heritage Weekend I think). It is not used as a church anymore and is run by the redundant church commissions. You can arrange to look around it, and it is really worth a good look around.









The graveyard is well worth a look if the church is shut. I have a booklet with some interesting stories about the occupants. They include some of the staff from the big house including butlers and housekeepers, and a young Chinese boy that some sea captain brought back from the far east!




There are also some sad indications of how life was hard before moderm medicines. Its amazing to think how many people, especially children died of simple infections and plain old high temperatures.




The musicians were playing what looked and sounded like latter day vuvuzelas!



Inside the church is as well kept as the outside.







There is the Fitzwilliam family crypt under the church and on open days, they take you down there - its very eerie and has a resident toad living there!!



I love the different displays that they put out for you to look at. My grandad worked for the Fitwilliam family for a while (as a woodman) but he would have been there later than this.



They also had on display the Fitzwilliam family tree.




Very intriguing and controversial. The family line seems to be dying out, but there are lots of claims of illegitimate children.




My favourite items in the church are the stained glass windows that are the most delicate shades of grey and yellow.







Ive got a very busy weekend planned with diverse activities!! I shall reveal all later of course.

13 comments:

Deb from WhatsInMyAttic said...

I search out stained glass and would love to see some as old as this beautiful example. Simply stunning! My favorite is always when it is intact in it's original "home."

Looking forward to your "what I did over the weekend" report!

menopausalmusing said...

I love a church and gravestones. I went to our local church on Heritage weekend. When I came home I "Googled" it and was surprised to see it has a website complete with interactive churchyard! You can take an ariel view of the graves and there is even a drop down list of names of people buried there so that you can pinpoint the exact location and then look at the gravestone. So unexpected for such a tiny church! Eeh, the wonders of technology!! :O)

Gilly said...

Looks really interesting - now I shall have to get my map out to find Wentworth!

and stir Mr. G to go places sometimes!

Fiona McKenzie said...

Great to see these photos - the church is actually preserved by the Churches Conservation Trust (which used to be known as the Redundant Churches Fund), which is funded by Government and the Church Commissioners. Their website is http://www.visitchurches.org.uk.

harmony and rosie said...

I love looking round old graveyards but it's always heartbreaking to see that so many died so young. Lovely stained glass windows, unusual too. Enjoy your diverse weekend xx

A garden just outside Venice said...

The graveyard looks so interesting!
xxx

topchelseagirl said...

How interesting and I love that the inscriptions on the headstones are so well preserved.

Rosie said...

That was fascinating, Diane, I love wandering around old churches and churchyards. I love listening to early music, too. I think they are renaissance flutes or maybe cornets not sure - love the crumhorns - they sounds like bees in a bottle! The stained glass is wonderful:)

The Patchwork Heart said...

These are most unusual church windows, love the colours
Heather

Lisa said...

What an interesting visit. I don't fancy the crypt, too creepy!
Lisa x

Unknown said...

I loved reading this post Diane.


Look forward to hearing what you've been upto over the weekend.

x

The Churches Conservation Trust, Wentworth said...

Good Afternoon,

With regards to your photographs of the Fitzwilliam Family Tree, Family Crest (which is part of the tree) and the Male Outdoor Staff at Wentworth Woodhouse, each of these exhibits are subject to copyright, and should not be reproduced or published in any way without prior written consent of the copyright holder.


The other pictures are fine; however, The Churches Conservation Trust does not hold the copyright on the other above mentioned exhibits.

Therefore, at the request of the copright holder could you please either remove these images as are they are an infringement of copyright OR add an acknowledgment to M. Wiles.

Thank you.

Yorkshire Pudding said...

I have just finished reading "Black Diamonds" by Catherine Bailey. It is a "must read" for anyone who is remotely interested in the Fitzwilliams of Wentworth Woodhouse. Thank you for the photos. I must go back to Wentworth before very long.