Author: Transformation
St Wilfrid’s church – a high position in the Trent Valley
April 10, 2021In Anglo-Saxon times, churches were situated on a prominence that made the building visible from a distance away. St Wilfrid’s church sits on a knoll above the Trent valley, not only as a place of prominence, but also to keep the building above the flood waters that inundate Church Lane each year. Each entrance to […]
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An early alabaster Effigy – is this the oldest of its kind?
February 26, 2021The effigy of a priest in St Wilfrid’s was a prime subject for conservation and research. Having learnt that the effigy was possibly the oldest known alabaster effigy of a priest in the country, we decided to call in a well-known firm of conservators, Skillingtons, and under the care of Dr David Carrington, and Laura […]
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Heating the church – the story of creating a comfortable building
February 19, 2021Over its life, St Wilfrid’s church was probably a very cold place in which to be, or to worship. Box pews were installed in the 16th century as a crude form of keeping warm. If you didn’t bring your own form of heating or extra clothing with you, such as heated stones or fur blankets, […]
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Shedding light in the church
February 12, 2021Until the early 20th century, the lighting in the church was by candlelight. The building would have been a very dark place in the winter months, and candles shone out of the porch windows to light the way for visitors, and keep away evil spirits! There were no lights in the churchyard and visitors would […]
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A new church floor – a mixture of discovery and delight!
February 5, 2021The base floor of the church building is earth, and contains much heritage that we have been very careful not to disturb. In the early years of the church, in Anglo-Saxon and Mediaeval times, it was usual for people to be buried under the church floor. Evidence of this lay on the surface of the […]
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