All Saints Parish Church

Built under the Church of Rome and following ancient Sutton parish roots at Saint Mary Magdalene, Anglican church leaders under their Southwell Diocese recognised growing needs to begin separately accommodating growing numbers of its Hucknall-under-Huthwaite parishioners during the 19th century.

Allocating a Hucknall Huthwaite aisle attempted to satisfy rising demands made from these remoter parish boundaries.   Influencing construction of Huthwaites first National school house allowed Rev Bellairs to introduce Sunday services into this villa. But even 1873 funds to promote our own curate seem a slow reaction against strongly established Methodist factions already building village chapels.

Vicar of Sutton in 1896 was a Rev J B Hyde, who identified need and successfully adopted plans to establish Huthwaite with its own parish church.   The local Unwin-Heathcote family generously donated a large land plot atop Common Road before proposed plans drawn up by Mr Whitcombe of London were made suiting given site.

Both Duke and Duchess of Portland honoured ceremonial laying of foundations for this sacred edifice.   A grand days occasion treated like a public holiday in Hucknall Huthwaite according to detailed reports.   The stone laid into the west facing wall dates that occasion to 22 November 1902 with its inscription, and although now well weathered just remains visibly legible.

Church facing is of Mansfield stone, but construction uniquely used a dense local rock, dug and hauled off Deep Hard workings by coal miners at New Hucknall pit.   Colliery directors gave permission for workers to freely claim that material in their own time.   Their influential manager Simeon Watson then additionally provided a pulpit, lectern and choir stalls.   Later on, Rev W H Warrington supplied a processional cross.

Doors into All Saints church became opened on Saturday 12 December 1903, marked with dedication service provided by Dr Ridding, Lord Bishop of Southwell diocese.   Huthwaite was made a separate ecclesiastical parish April 1905 and this building was consecrated that following 4th November by the Bishop of Derby, a Dr Were.   He also instituted Huthwaites first vicar named as Francis Newbold Beswick, with whom our prosperous village became a district chapelry into April 1906.   The priest was a Huthwaite resident for some 6 years prior and the church displays memory of his services into 1918.

These magnificent postcard scenes of All Saints Church date back into years when still addressing Hucknall Huthwaite circa 1905.   Often noted is the proportionally short bell tower, whereas proposed plans did offer a taller structure traditionally befitting most parish church.   Old rumours suggest raised funds were lost, allegedly due one workers weakness for alcohol.   Strange perhaps how no additional funding even for covering installation of larger bells never seems to have further materialised anyway.

Comparable photographs reveal little external changes after 100 years loyal service. A fully enclosing stone wall later separated grounds from better surfaced roadway and pavements, and pictorial stained glass windows were fitted following more generous donations.   Installation of a large organ did occur 1910, costing some £430 by Compton and Company.   Conducted opening by Mr R W Liddle, organist for Southwell Minister, enabled Alban Wilders of Blackwell to begin his fuller appointed duties here in Huthwaite as All Saints Church choirmaster and organist.

Huthwaite parish reunited with Sutton-in-Ashfield again in 1934, along with adjacent Teversal and Skegby. Perhaps our church exterior offers less architectural interest than found among those older manors, but its stone construction does remind proud ex-miners of their local colliery heritage.

For some families All Saints church forms their central focus for community life. An additional church hall did host clubs, groups and parties until lost by fire in October 2002.   That sad event did not dampen planned centenary celebrations held through 2003, when adding extra historic interest by offering a variety of internal displays along with outdoor activities.

Internal views may better justify any true glory and stature of this building stood among todays modest village setting. It has witnessed marriages and baptisms recorded though the years, while a few less pleasant events added historic intrigue behind reasons for significant restorations. Representing the last chapter of changes are new doors into a replaced hall or Centre opened in 2006.

Produced 26 Oct 2002 - Revised 23 Jan 2008