Somercotes Derbyshire
Church of St Thomas, Apostle & Martyr, Somercotes Derbyshire built of brick and stone, consisting of chancel and nave, it seats 450
The guide says this is an Anglo-Catholic parish, which places a high importance on all seven Sacraments, and worship which reflects "the beauty of holiness". Regular Sunday School during the Parish Mass, and Beavers, Cubs, Rainbows, Brownies and Guides meet in the Hall beside the church.
Somercotes was, until 1835, part of the parish of Alfreton and the parish Church was St. Martin of Tours. As the population of the area began increased many in the congregation who lived in Riddings and Somercotes found the travelling to Alfreton unsatisfactory, and after a campaign to have their own parish and church, the ecclesiastical parish of Riddings was created in 1835 and the newly built Church of St. James opened. However by the mid-19c, the population of Somercotes was becoming much larger than Riddings and it was then necessary to establish a Chapel of Ease under the direction of St. James.
The present church started lie as a Wesleyan Chapel built in 1849 , near which was a tract of land which could be utilised as a burial ground. Dissensions had arisen in the Wesleyan community and the members agreed to sell this chapel to the church wardens of Riddings for a sum of £400.
It was then adapted for Anglican worship om 1952 when a stone chancel was added to the existing brick built square chapel , paid for by subscription, assisted by a grant from the Incorporated Church Building Society & the receipt of a £800 donation from Thomas Haden Oakes J.P. of Riddings House who also financed the chancel east stained glass window.
Consecration of the church took place on 22nd July 1854 "Divine service commenced at 11 o’clock, the Lord Bishop and the clergy walking in procession at that hour from the west door to the communion table, repeating alternately the 24th Psalm. The service of consecration was performed by the Lord Bishop of Lichfield, Dr Lonsdale, assisted by the Rev. T. Lund, the prayers and lessons being read by the Rev. J. Mee. The Bishop selected for his text the 25th chapter of Numbers, and the 12th and 13th verses: ‘Wherefore say, behold I give unto him my covenant of peace; and he shall have it and his seed after him, even the covenant of an everlasting priesthood; because he was zealous for his God, and made an atonement for the children of Israel.’ A collection was made, amounting to £34 17s 4d. The musical portion of the service was very efficiently performed by the Riddings choir. On the conclusion of the service, the Lord Bishop, with the clergy, proceeded round the adjoining burial ground, and consecrated it.”
The building was restored in 1878
As the population of Somercotes continued to increase more pressure was placed on the accommodation and In 1887 further modifications were made in order to increase the capacity which resulted in its temporary closure. It re-opened at the beginning of October that year, in time for Harvest Festival celebrations. The Derbyshire Advertiser & Journal reported "an outer porch has been erected, and pitch pine seats for the choir placed in the chancel. By this means the church will seat a greater number of persons. Crowded congregations were present at each service, and collections were taken to defray the cost.”
For many years the ministrations at this church were carried out under the supervision of the Vicar of Riddings until 1892, when the Rev. B. Davies was placed as Curate-in-Charge here.
The movement to support both the new church and the establishment of their own parish gathered pace and funds were raised through collections, bazaars, afternoon teas and dances, as well as substantial donations
The new parish was founded in 1898 , Rev. Mahony becoming its first vicar The parishioners contribution was £1000 which was raised through functions, events & donations.. The old church only accommodated about 270, and a new church was absolutely necessary. The Ecclesiastical Commissioners agreed to the rebuilding of a new larger church . Over £4000 was needed.
On 22nd of August 1901, the Vicar and churchwardens were empowered to take down the nave, and build a new one with north and south aisles, south porch, and vestries for clergy and choir. Plans were drawn up by Mr. Percy H. Currey, of Derby,. The amount of the contract was £3912, with c £120 needed for chancel alterations. With other expenses it is estimated that the total outlay will reach about £4300.
When completed it would accommodate 412 worshippers.
The new nave is 57ft. long and the width of the nave and the aisles is 48ft. The nave is seated with chairs, and the pulpit, font and choir seat etc. are those which were formerly in use at the old church.
In October 1902 the Bishop of Southwell consecrated the new church. There was a large congregation. The Choir and the clergy entered by the south door, and the congregation joined in singing “All people that on Earth do dwell”. This Vicar presented the Bishop with the petition for consecration, which he handed to the registrar, who read it aloud. The Bishop, having assented to it, he and the clergy, preceded by the churchwardens with their wand of office, walked in procession through the church repeating the 24th Psalm. The Vicar then presented the deeds of conveyance and endowment to the Bishop, who laid it on the Alter. The Bishop afterwards delivered the sentence of consecration, which was read by the registrar and signed by the Bishop, who ordered it to be registered in the Registry of the Diocese. The Rev. F. C. Mahony then conducted a short-ended evening service, the lessons being read by the Rev. C. Harrison and the Vicar. The Bishop gave an address, in the course of which he said that though the war was not desirable he ventured to think that it had produced many lessons which would make for the advancement and the prosperity of the nation, which had been awakened out of its lethargy and its sleep, to a point of thoughtfulness, progress and enthusiasm. There was a need for the nation to wake up in intellectual things, in educational things and secular things. As a nation they were called upon to work. They had reached a point of contentment and self-complacence, when they were not willing to work the hours they once did, and which they were once proud of doing. Just now there was a movement which concerned them all. Years ago their forefathers had fought for religious education, which now appeared to be attacked. Religion was one of the fundamentals of the greatness of the Empire. Were they to lose that religious aspect of their education? There was a need for waking up from sleeping in order to maintain the spirit in the schools. An offertory was taken for the building fund and the sum of £33.7s.10d was the result. The choir rendered capable musical help, under the direction of Mr. E. Moore, the organist being Mr. S. Marriott.
After the service there was a tea in the National Schools, which was attended by over 100 people.
In 1945 electric lighting was installed in the church.
Sadly on the night of the 30th January 1980, the church was devastated by a fire that gutted the roof and destroyed the organ. The damage was estimated at £200,000. It is ironic that the year prior to the fire the congregation had raised £10,000 to install new lighting and heating etc and the main aim of the refurbishment was for fire prevention. The insurance did not cover the total cost of repairs and additional money had to be raised to meet the total cost. The Derbyshire Times Extra, of 12th February 1980 reported: “Although St. Thomas’ Church is insured, thousands of pounds still need to be raised. Examination of the building revealed that a new base needed to be laid, and this is not covered by insurance. An appeal fund has been launched and letters are being sent to pubs, shops and places of employment in the area, in a bid to raise the money needed”
The flames of the fire were so fierce that they could be seen as far away as Swanwick. Many local people recalled the fire and the bravery of the congregation who formed a human chain, while the fire burned, to rescue as many of the furnishings as they could. The parish worked hard to raise funds for the rebuilding took over a year, during which the Parish Hall was used for Sunday morning services. The Church finally re-opened at Easter in 1981.
Somercotes Derbyshire
Church of St Thomas, Apostle & Martyr, Somercotes Derbyshire built of brick and stone, consisting of chancel and nave, it seats 450
The guide says this is an Anglo-Catholic parish, which places a high importance on all seven Sacraments, and worship which reflects "the beauty of holiness". Regular Sunday School during the Parish Mass, and Beavers, Cubs, Rainbows, Brownies and Guides meet in the Hall beside the church.
Somercotes was, until 1835, part of the parish of Alfreton and the parish Church was St. Martin of Tours. As the population of the area began increased many in the congregation who lived in Riddings and Somercotes found the travelling to Alfreton unsatisfactory, and after a campaign to have their own parish and church, the ecclesiastical parish of Riddings was created in 1835 and the newly built Church of St. James opened. However by the mid-19c, the population of Somercotes was becoming much larger than Riddings and it was then necessary to establish a Chapel of Ease under the direction of St. James.
The present church started lie as a Wesleyan Chapel built in 1849 , near which was a tract of land which could be utilised as a burial ground. Dissensions had arisen in the Wesleyan community and the members agreed to sell this chapel to the church wardens of Riddings for a sum of £400.
It was then adapted for Anglican worship om 1952 when a stone chancel was added to the existing brick built square chapel , paid for by subscription, assisted by a grant from the Incorporated Church Building Society & the receipt of a £800 donation from Thomas Haden Oakes J.P. of Riddings House who also financed the chancel east stained glass window.
Consecration of the church took place on 22nd July 1854 "Divine service commenced at 11 o’clock, the Lord Bishop and the clergy walking in procession at that hour from the west door to the communion table, repeating alternately the 24th Psalm. The service of consecration was performed by the Lord Bishop of Lichfield, Dr Lonsdale, assisted by the Rev. T. Lund, the prayers and lessons being read by the Rev. J. Mee. The Bishop selected for his text the 25th chapter of Numbers, and the 12th and 13th verses: ‘Wherefore say, behold I give unto him my covenant of peace; and he shall have it and his seed after him, even the covenant of an everlasting priesthood; because he was zealous for his God, and made an atonement for the children of Israel.’ A collection was made, amounting to £34 17s 4d. The musical portion of the service was very efficiently performed by the Riddings choir. On the conclusion of the service, the Lord Bishop, with the clergy, proceeded round the adjoining burial ground, and consecrated it.”
The building was restored in 1878
As the population of Somercotes continued to increase more pressure was placed on the accommodation and In 1887 further modifications were made in order to increase the capacity which resulted in its temporary closure. It re-opened at the beginning of October that year, in time for Harvest Festival celebrations. The Derbyshire Advertiser & Journal reported "an outer porch has been erected, and pitch pine seats for the choir placed in the chancel. By this means the church will seat a greater number of persons. Crowded congregations were present at each service, and collections were taken to defray the cost.”
For many years the ministrations at this church were carried out under the supervision of the Vicar of Riddings until 1892, when the Rev. B. Davies was placed as Curate-in-Charge here.
The movement to support both the new church and the establishment of their own parish gathered pace and funds were raised through collections, bazaars, afternoon teas and dances, as well as substantial donations
The new parish was founded in 1898 , Rev. Mahony becoming its first vicar The parishioners contribution was £1000 which was raised through functions, events & donations.. The old church only accommodated about 270, and a new church was absolutely necessary. The Ecclesiastical Commissioners agreed to the rebuilding of a new larger church . Over £4000 was needed.
On 22nd of August 1901, the Vicar and churchwardens were empowered to take down the nave, and build a new one with north and south aisles, south porch, and vestries for clergy and choir. Plans were drawn up by Mr. Percy H. Currey, of Derby,. The amount of the contract was £3912, with c £120 needed for chancel alterations. With other expenses it is estimated that the total outlay will reach about £4300.
When completed it would accommodate 412 worshippers.
The new nave is 57ft. long and the width of the nave and the aisles is 48ft. The nave is seated with chairs, and the pulpit, font and choir seat etc. are those which were formerly in use at the old church.
In October 1902 the Bishop of Southwell consecrated the new church. There was a large congregation. The Choir and the clergy entered by the south door, and the congregation joined in singing “All people that on Earth do dwell”. This Vicar presented the Bishop with the petition for consecration, which he handed to the registrar, who read it aloud. The Bishop, having assented to it, he and the clergy, preceded by the churchwardens with their wand of office, walked in procession through the church repeating the 24th Psalm. The Vicar then presented the deeds of conveyance and endowment to the Bishop, who laid it on the Alter. The Bishop afterwards delivered the sentence of consecration, which was read by the registrar and signed by the Bishop, who ordered it to be registered in the Registry of the Diocese. The Rev. F. C. Mahony then conducted a short-ended evening service, the lessons being read by the Rev. C. Harrison and the Vicar. The Bishop gave an address, in the course of which he said that though the war was not desirable he ventured to think that it had produced many lessons which would make for the advancement and the prosperity of the nation, which had been awakened out of its lethargy and its sleep, to a point of thoughtfulness, progress and enthusiasm. There was a need for the nation to wake up in intellectual things, in educational things and secular things. As a nation they were called upon to work. They had reached a point of contentment and self-complacence, when they were not willing to work the hours they once did, and which they were once proud of doing. Just now there was a movement which concerned them all. Years ago their forefathers had fought for religious education, which now appeared to be attacked. Religion was one of the fundamentals of the greatness of the Empire. Were they to lose that religious aspect of their education? There was a need for waking up from sleeping in order to maintain the spirit in the schools. An offertory was taken for the building fund and the sum of £33.7s.10d was the result. The choir rendered capable musical help, under the direction of Mr. E. Moore, the organist being Mr. S. Marriott.
After the service there was a tea in the National Schools, which was attended by over 100 people.
In 1945 electric lighting was installed in the church.
Sadly on the night of the 30th January 1980, the church was devastated by a fire that gutted the roof and destroyed the organ. The damage was estimated at £200,000. It is ironic that the year prior to the fire the congregation had raised £10,000 to install new lighting and heating etc and the main aim of the refurbishment was for fire prevention. The insurance did not cover the total cost of repairs and additional money had to be raised to meet the total cost. The Derbyshire Times Extra, of 12th February 1980 reported: “Although St. Thomas’ Church is insured, thousands of pounds still need to be raised. Examination of the building revealed that a new base needed to be laid, and this is not covered by insurance. An appeal fund has been launched and letters are being sent to pubs, shops and places of employment in the area, in a bid to raise the money needed”
The flames of the fire were so fierce that they could be seen as far away as Swanwick. Many local people recalled the fire and the bravery of the congregation who formed a human chain, while the fire burned, to rescue as many of the furnishings as they could. The parish worked hard to raise funds for the rebuilding took over a year, during which the Parish Hall was used for Sunday morning services. The Church finally re-opened at Easter in 1981.