St. Helen’s, Grindleford

St. Helen’s, Grindleford

St. Helen’s is a rather strange but delightful church. The chancel and south side chapel date from 1910 and the nave was added later in a different style – perhaps funds were short after the Great War? The south chapel now houses a community shop where I was able to buy my lunch. They serve teas etc here as well and were very friendly and welcoming. The church itself is open every day and is simple and rather lovely. There were no guides but some post cards and WW1 prayer cards. That was it. I have to rate it as just about Ok  but it could be so much better with a little thought, especially as people are calling in the shop. At least it is open.

There was a very poignant memorial on the Chancel wall to a solitary WW1 casualty killed, like so many others, on the first day of the Battle of the Somme – 1st July 1916. The church website is at http://www.grindleford.com/links/st-helens-church/ and says that St. Helen’s is open every day.