All Saints' Church is the parish church of Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, England. It is a grade II* listed building. The church is inclusive and supports women's ordained ministry and equality for LGBTQIA+ people within the church.
Built in the Gothic Revival style in the 19th century, it has been described as "one of the largest Church of England parish churches, rivaling many cathedrals in size."[1] It is located in the centre of the town, just south of the River Leam in what was the old core of the town.
Historyedit
The Domesday Book of 1086 reports that there was a priest present in "Lamintone", (an old name for Leamington) although there is no specific mention of a church. The earliest record of one was from the 12th century when Leamington was still a tiny hamlet in the parish of Leek Wootton.[2] A west tower was added in the 14th century whilst a south porch was put added in the 18th.[3] The first spring (of many that made Leamington famous) was located just outside the main entrance of the church of land owned by the Earl of Aylesford.
It was however in 1843 that the church began to take its current form and shape.[4] By this time the church was no longer in open fields just to the north of a hamlet, but was in the centre of a bustling spa town. (Two of Leamington's town founders, Benjamin Satchwell and William Abbotts, are buried in the churchyard.)
The main construction took place between 1843 and 1869, overseen and largely funded by vicar John Craig.[5] Designs were drawn up by architect J.G. Jackson of Leamington, but Craig is reported to have been largely his own architect.[6]
In 1867 the south transept was added by the architect TC Barry.[7]
The last major works to take place to the church, after Craig's death, were from 1898 to 1902 by the architect Sir Arthur Blomfield, when two western bays to the nave and a south western bell tower were added.[8] The seating capacity was increased to around 2000. From September 2007 to February 2008 the church precincts were redeveloped and a new sculpture, entitled 'Spring', was installed on the site of the original Leamington spa spring.
The church todayedit
The church remains in active use as a place of worship, with Sunday and other major services accompanied by the surpliced choir.[9] Despite the fragmentation of its parish during the 19th century, All Saints is still known and used as Leamington's Parish Church. The church hosts and promotes organ recitals and concerts,[10] as well as the annual All Saints' Arts Festival.[11] It also runs a group for LGBTQIA+ Christians called LGBTXians.[12] There is a lively Ukrainian cafe inside the church, which opens Tuesday-Saturday.
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All Saints Church is the parish church of Leamington Spa Warwickshire England It is a grade II listed building The church is inclusive and supports women s ordained ministry and equality for LGBTQIA people within the church All Saints Parish Church Leamington SpaAll Saints Parish Church Leamington SpaDenominationChurch of EnglandChurchmanshipLiberal Anglo CatholicismWebsitewww wbr allsaintschurchleamington wbr org wbr ukHistoryDedicationAll SaintsAdministrationProvinceCanterburyParishLeamington PriorsClergyVicar s Fr Christopher Wilson Mus B Hons MTh Oxon AssistantRevd Anne MorrisLaityDirector of musicAlex SilvermanOrganist s Christopher Beaumont MA FTCL Contents 1 Background 2 History 3 The church today 4 Vicars of Leamington from 1823 4 1 Directors of Music 5 Organ 5 1 List of organists 6 ReferencesBackground editBuilt in the Gothic Revival style in the 19th century it has been described as one of the largest Church of England parish churches rivaling many cathedrals in size 1 It is located in the centre of the town just south of the River Leam in what was the old core of the town History editThe Domesday Book of 1086 reports that there was a priest present in Lamintone an old name for Leamington although there is no specific mention of a church The earliest record of one was from the 12th century when Leamington was still a tiny hamlet in the parish of Leek Wootton 2 A west tower was added in the 14th century whilst a south porch was put added in the 18th 3 The first spring of many that made Leamington famous was located just outside the main entrance of the church of land owned by the Earl of Aylesford It was however in 1843 that the church began to take its current form and shape 4 By this time the church was no longer in open fields just to the north of a hamlet but was in the centre of a bustling spa town Two of Leamington s town founders Benjamin Satchwell and William Abbotts are buried in the churchyard The main construction took place between 1843 and 1869 overseen and largely funded by vicar John Craig 5 Designs were drawn up by architect J G Jackson of Leamington but Craig is reported to have been largely his own architect 6 In 1867 the south transept was added by the architect TC Barry 7 The last major works to take place to the church after Craig s death were from 1898 to 1902 by the architect Sir Arthur Blomfield when two western bays to the nave and a south western bell tower were added 8 The seating capacity was increased to around 2000 From September 2007 to February 2008 the church precincts were redeveloped and a new sculpture entitled Spring was installed on the site of the original Leamington spa spring The church today editThe church remains in active use as a place of worship with Sunday and other major services accompanied by the surpliced choir 9 Despite the fragmentation of its parish during the 19th century All Saints is still known and used as Leamington s Parish Church The church hosts and promotes organ recitals and concerts 10 as well as the annual All Saints Arts Festival 11 It also runs a group for LGBTQIA Christians called LGBTXians 12 There is a lively Ukrainian cafe inside the church which opens Tuesday Saturday Vicars of Leamington from 1823 editRobert Downes 1823 1839 John Craig 1839 1877 The Hon J W Leigh 1877 1884 Walter Furneaux 1884 1896 Cecil Hook 1896 1906 W Armstrong Buck 1906 1916 Frederick Feist 1916 1933 G C Rolfe 1933 1943 R C Streatfield 1943 1959 Anthony Rouse 1959 1963 Idwal Jones 1963 1980 Ian Campbell 1980 1991 J Gareth Miller 1991 1993 Interregnum 1993 1995 George Warner 1995 2002 Priest in Charge of All Saints and of Holy Trinity Christopher Wilson 2003 present Priest in Charge later Vicar of All Saints and of Holy Trinity Directors of Music edit Peter Smith Simon Tayton BA MSc FCMI Bea van der Kaaij Julian Parkin 2008 2013 David Williams FRCO 2013 2014 Simon Lawford BA MA FRCO 2014 Richard Cook BA 2014 Simon Tayton BA MSc FCMI 2014 2017 Suzanne Green BA MA 2018 2019 Suzanne Green amp Alex Silverman Job Share 2019 2022 Alex Silverman 2022 presentOrgan editThe church has a pipe organ by William Hill amp Sons dating from 1879 There have been subsequent rebuilds by Hill Norman and Beard in 1926 and Longstaff amp Jones in 1981 The organ is described in the National Pipe Organ Register 13 List of organists edit Henry T Elliston 1820 Henry Matthews 1864 Thomas Bladon 1876 Frank Spinney FCO 1878 Walter Spinney 1888 W H Bellamy 1894 Lionel Wiggins Hon RCM FRCO ARCM 1922 Robert Dickinson BMus FRCO LRAM 1951 Hugh Large FRCO ARCM 1956 Neil Wade ARCM ARCO 1964 Graham Steed BMus FRCO 1965 Alan Jones 1967 Derrick Stiff 1968 Keith Sedgebeer BA 1970 David M Palmer 1972 Robert E Munns FRAM ARCO ARCM 1983 John Wilks BA BMus FRCO 1987 Colin Druce GBSM FRCO ARCM 1988 Sean Montgomery ARCO 1998 Jeremy Meager ARCO 2007 Cynthia Hall MA FRCO 2009 David Williams FRCO 2012 Christopher Beaumont BMus hons MA FTCL 2019References edit Some information on the church from Warwickshire County Council Archived from the original on 17 May 2011 Retrieved 14 March 2008 A Warwickshire churches history page Archived from the original on 24 February 2008 Retrieved 14 March 2008 History of Leamington on british history ac uk Information from Warwick District Council PDF Archived from the original PDF on 16 October 2005 Retrieved 14 March 2008 Nostalgia The Leamington priest who built a church The Courier 29 April 2015 Retrieved 16 September 2020 Information for record number MWA1388 Church of All Saints Leamington Spa Timetrail Warwickshire County Council Retrieved 16 September 2020 Historic England 30 November 1999 19 Nov 1953 Church of All Saints Bath Street Grade II 1381145 National Heritage List for England Retrieved 16 September 2020 Info from A Church Near You website Choir All Saints Church Leamington Retrieved 23 September 2020 What s On All Saints Church Leamington Archived from the original on 5 November 2018 Retrieved 23 September 2020 All Saints Arts Festival 2013 All Saints Church Leamington Archived from the original on 16 July 2018 Retrieved 23 September 2020 LGBTXians All Saints Church Leamington Retrieved 23 September 2020 National Pipe Organ Register 52 17 10 N 01 31 56 W 52 28611 N 1 53222 W 52 28611 1 53222 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title All Saints Church Leamington Spa amp oldid 1182956882, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
