Thrumpton All Saints

Features and Fittings

Altar and Reredos

Altar and Reredos

The alabaster reredos is later than the restored chancel. (This can be seen by its encroaching beyond the base of the window.) It is constructed of various veined alabasters which resemble locally mined stone, with the exception of the sculpture which is pure white and came from further afield, possibly Newark or Chellaston where pure white alabaster is available.

Altar rail (north)Altar rails

The two altar rails are far from what would have been decreed by Bishop Laud as they consist now of a round top rail with wrought iron type vertical stands supporting each end. The iron gates in the chancel screen are of a similar design and have a modern feel to them.

The pulpitPulpit

The current pulpit dates from 1870 and was designed by George Street.

Woodsford, another local historian, records that the old pulpit was from the reign of Charles II and when demolished in 1870 a scrap of paper was found which said:

A proud parson and a humble squire
Bade me build this pulpit higher
Current font
The old font
now outside

Font

The current font was also designed by George Street and built with a dry well, the remains of which are evident in the bowl, although no longer used. This may be the fourth font to have been placed here and the details are:

1st Font  

13th Century or earlier made from sandstone with arcades carved in relief. Removed prior to 1795 and now resting in the churchyard. (It has its own Listing Description.) This is reputed to have been turned out of the church in the time of the Commonwealth (1650 to 1659).
2nd Font  

Unknown date – stone with a lid. Probably dating from 17th Century and removed from church in 1795. Recorded as being used in the churchyard as a water trough by Stretton in 1819 and has now disappeared. The lid and fittings would have been on the orders of making churches “decent” by Archbishop Laud of Canterbury.
3rd Font  

3rd FontPlaster (alabaster) bowl with stone pillar probably 18th century. Recorded by Stretton in 1819 and Glynne in 1866 and removed 1870. Now has disappeared.
4th Font  

Current font.

Godfrey reported that in 1880, two fonts were standing in the churchyard. The displacement of the second font remains a mystery as is the fate of the one displaced by the current font.

LecternLectern

The Lectern is possibly of late nineteenth century, decorated brass construction, and contemporary with the church’s restoration. It holds a traditional church bible  fitted with clasps and bindings.

Seating

Below the south window at the eastern end of the chancel is situated a low stone seat which may have been a substitute for sedilia. Godfrey states that the piscina and any sedilia were removed in 1795 when the walls were re-plastered.

The pews were renewed in 1871. The choir stalls are consistent with the design of the pews in the nave, having a decorated gothic pattern similar to the window design.

Flooring

The floor tiles are of a “quarry” type interspersed with decorated tiles and beads. The kerbs are of a very dark, heavily grained alabaster almost of marble quality. The floor tiles throughout the church are also of the quarry variety and would have been laid when the church had its rebuild in 1871. Some wooden floor blocks are laid in herringbone fashion to the west end of the nave.

Chancel screenChancel Screen

The Chancel screen and gates are of a wrought iron style, decorated with scrolls and gilt painted.