History
St Matthew's Church is a grade-1 listed building situated in a beautiful mature churchyard.
It is likely there was a church on this site at the time of Norman Conquest but the earliest parts of the current building date from the twelfth century. The building was significantly rebuilt in the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries.
The Church is celebrated for its significant collection of late medieval glass, monuments, memorial brasses and tiles. Art historian Nikolaus Pevsner called it, "the most rewarding place in the country to study late medieval stained glass" and more recently Simon Jenkins included St Matthew's in his book "England's 1,000 Best Churches".
The historic and architectural merits of the Church and its many treasures attract many visitors each year. Those wishing to visit are encouraged to contact the churchwardens to arrange a visit.
Tending the Future 2024-25
In light of the heritage significance of the Church, it has recently been awarded a grant from The National Heritage Lottery Fund. This is the Church's first Heritage Fund project - an earlier award having been made to The Mausolea and Monuments Trust to restore the Sacheverell-Bateman Mausoleum in the churchyard.
In 2024/5, the Tending the Future project will focus on the conservation and restoration of four of the church's medieval windows. The windows, dated 1482, were removed from nearby Dale Abbey at the Dissolution of the Monasteries and as rare survivals it is wonderful that they will now be able to receive the attention they deserve.
Along with essential conservation work on these very important windows, we will run a series of workshops with our expert glazier Jim Budd and other craftspeople working on the project, for groups and individuals from our community and further afield.
The Tending the Future project will also look at the other historic features of the Church and better interpret them for the many people with an interest in history, heritage, ecclesiastical art and architecture who already visit the Church, and for 'remote visitors' via additions to this website.
The project has been made possible thanks to generous funding and support from: The National Heritage Lottery Fund, The Worshipful Company of Glaziers, The Leche Trust, The Pilgrim Trust, Diocese of Derby Bishops Fund, PCC St Matthews Morley.
