Here's a photo when driving us through Bamford one day late in the year when the leaves had gone from the trees just to show you the location of St. John the Baptist parish church. There are usually more cars parked on the left outside the cottages and the road is quite narrow with no pavement on the right by the church wall. Last Saturday there was a parking space so it was easier to walk over to the church entrance to see if the church was open. Thankfully it was as one of the parishioners was setting up a display of produce and other items for the Harvest Festival the following day. He took time to talk and gave me a leaflet about the church from which I've taken some notes about the history with some details of what a visitor can see inside and around about.
Apparently before the church was built local people had to walk to the nearest village of Hathersage to attend church services so the vicar of Hathersage talked to the cotton mill owner about the provision of a church in Bamford. The mill owner, William Moore, engaged a famous Gothic Revival architect, William Butterfield, to design the church and it was partly funded by Moore together with subscriptions and grants. Butterfield designed most of the internal fixtures in the church and also the stained glass for the windows. Local Derbyshire fossil grey marble, limestone and terracotta was used as Butterfield favoured subdued colour schemes in his designs. The church spire The narrow tower with its stone spire rises to 108 feet topped by a cap and weather vane.
Inside the porch is a small door that leads to the bell tower. The six steel bells made in Sheffield were replaced in the late 1990s as the originals were too big for the narrow tower. The new bells now hang in two levels on a new frame with the largest above the others. They're rung every Sunday before the church service.
The stained glass of the porch window had the coat of arms of William C. Moore and is inscribed "For the glory of God and his people, this church was provided by William Cameron Moore AD MDCCCLX" (1860).
Before entering the church by the door on the left you walk from the porch of the tower into a covered area called a narthex. At the end is the choir vestry and this and the narthex was added in the 1920s.
One of the old steel bells is displayed in the narthex.
the chancel, choir stalls and sanctuary
The 1860 east window above the altar
depicts the Ascension of Jesus, apostles,
disciples and angels.
The parishioner told me more about the layout of the church. Apparently the small altar is wheeled across as the steps up to the main altar can be a challenge for elderly people.
To the left of the nave is the Lady Chapel, organ and a children's corner (not shown). The vase of twigs with birds is for hanging prayer offerings and requests.
one of the tapestry prayer kneelers
Looking back towards the entrance door is a rose window. It's one of three rose windows designed by Butterfield. It's difficult to see because of the light shining through but the emblems depict the four evangelists, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.
The font near the entrance door with a display of produce
and dried food gifts ready for the Sunday harvest festival service.
The churchyard has views of the hills of the Hope Valley in the distance. In 1940 graves from St. Henry's Church, Derwent, were moved to Bamford during the construction of Ladybower Reservoir.
the garden of remembrance
The Angler's Rest Community Hub/Pub/Café/Post Office
tempting home made cakes
the exhibition of the artist James Green's art work
a view of the village school, the Methodist Church and Hope Valley hills
from the outdoor seating area of The Angler's Rest
The spire of the church can be seen over the roof tops of the village houses.
