Our Lady and All Saints, Chesterfield
Our Lady & All Saints, Chesterfield
One of the most recognisable churches in the country with it’s famous twisted spire. Even the local football team are known as ‘The Spirites’ and feature the spire on their badge. This is a church well worth visiting and visitors receive a friendly welcome here. It is open every day and the signs outside say as much.
Inside there is a well stocked gift shop with a very friendly lady in attendance. They get many visitors here and are very well set up for them. The visitors book contained too many entries to count them. Guides and cards etc are on sale and a children’s guide by Bessacar also. There is a display of children’s work.
There are regular tours up the tower which is not suitable for those afraid of heights! These cost £4 and were well patronised at the time of my visit.
As it was St. Oswald’s day I said a prayer at his little chapel.
There is so much to see here that it is a job to sum it up in a few words. A votive stand can be used.
There are several chapels and one is called the Holy Cross Chapel. It is a peaceful place to sit and meditate.
It also features a large LED cross – the first I have ever seen in a church.
The prayer board here is very well used.
There is much of interest here and I rate Our Lady & All Saints as excellent for visitors – a real example of what can be done in a large historic building.
churchtourismstudy 
Thank you for your comments – you seem to have a really gruelling schedule of churches to visit, and drawing out the best of each one, including our own ‘Crooked Spire’ – and thanks especially for noting the very hard work so many parishioners and others put in to making the church a place of welcome. May we link to your comments from our website?
Patrick – thank you. I am enjoying it and last week was a good chance to ride around your wonderful county. I try to be as objective as I can and have a sytem of recording each place so that it is consistent. The reults are fascinating, especially when churchmanship is taken into account. Please do link it as I think you are doing a grand job in Chesterfield.
With every blessing
Nigel
Thanks Nigel – though as I’ve only been Vicar here for three weeks, the grand job is down to my predecessors and notably to the great lay teamwork during a long vacancy, supported by a valued and special colleague!