Bamford Anglican Church dedicated
to St John
the Baptist is unique in Derbyshire, being the only church in the county designed by the renowned gothic architect, William
Butterfield, who designed many churches and chapels notably St Paul’s Anglican Cathedral,
Melbourne Australia, Keble College Oxford
and Rugby School.
The Church is delicate and slender. Seen from the outside the
spire reaches high into the sky and inside there is a feeling of great space and airiness; the long chancel being slightly
non rectangular to increase the impression of length. The décor and furniture
were all designed by Butterfield giving a harmonious feeling to the building.
Built in
1860 by the Moore family, who owned Bamford Mill, the church still has a direct descendant
of the Moores as its patron.
Originally
the Parish Church of the village, it became St John the Baptist, Bamford with Derwent when the Derwent dams were built and
Derwent and Ashopton villages submerged in the 1940s; then
in 1999 Bamford became part of a joint benefice with Hathersage; and now in 2007 the benefice is being further expanded to
include Grindleford. All three churches share Revd Katie Tupling who lives in
Hathersage. Assisting Katie with regular services are Readers John Brunskill
and Roger Mather.
Katie moved
to the Hope Valley
in 2007 and service patterns in the three churches are still being worked out as she settles into the role of Priest in Charge. Bamford has a twice monthly 8 am communion service (1st and 3rd
Sundays) and an 11 am service which may be Communion or Morning Prayer. We are
also trying to do more together, so we will be having joint benefice services in one of the three churches; and also joint
services with the other Bamford churches are becoming more common.
The church notice board is the place to watch for week
by week details.
The
Church plays an important part in village life with the usual special services for Remembrance, Mothering Sunday, Harvest
and Christmas but in addition there are services at the times of Carnival and Sheepdog Trials.
Sharing
with the other Christian groups, Roman Catholic, Quakers and Methodists is growing all the time through the Christians Together
in Bamford initiative. We have joint worship several times in the year and the
Churches work together for the open air gatherings: Christmas Eve carol singing and Blessing of the Crib, and the Well Blessing
in Carnival week.
We host
many visiting campanologists (bell ringers!), as we had new bells and a bell frame fitted for the Millennium celebrations. There is a ring of 6 bells, fairly light since the steeple is slender. They are rung
every Sunday and on special occasions. Practice night is Wednesday at 7.30 pm. There is a dedicated team of ringers who are
always willing to share their enthusiasm and expertise with others.
From the
hills all around, Butterfield’s church stands out in the centre of the village, rising well above all the other buildings;
a reminder of the central importance of faith and spirituality in today’s materialistic culture.
Contacts
Rector:
Revd Katie Tupling
Reader:
Roger Mather
Wardens: Elaine Frost
Carol
Cotton
Bells: Elaine
Frost
Forthcoming Events
Sunday April 22nd at 2.30 pm Hathersage
Church, - Licensing of Revd Katie Tupling as Priest in Charge
Saturday May 19th at 10am to 12 noon
- Plant Sale and Coffee Morning
Saturday June 2nd at 7.30 pm - Abbeydale Singers
Saturday June 16th - Summer Fair
Saturday June 23rd - Wedding of John and Joanne
Saturday July 14th - Carnival Queen crowning
Sunday July 15th - Blessing of the Well
Friday July 20th - Wedding of Stuart and Helen
Saturday August 25th - Wedding of John and Jenny
Saturday October 27th - Tideswell Male Voice Singers
