The origin of the name Wales may either have come from 'Weales' meaning foreigners, the name given by the Anglo Saxons to Britons, or alternatively from the word 'Waelas' meaning field of battle.
The parish of Wales is a long and slender 1320 acres. The Church was once one of several Chapels under the Mother Church at Laughton. It became a separate parish in 1868.
Lady Chapel was named in memory of Jesus' mother. At nearly 1000 years old it is easily the oldest part of the church. The original Norman church consisted of nave and chancel with walls that were beautifully decorated with pictures of Jesus' life and teachings.
There is no mention of the church in the Domesday Book, but it was probably
constructed during the reign of King Henry I (d.1135). Stand in front of the round Norman arch and you will notice it has primitive capitals and zigzag carvings. Can you spot the face? As you stand in God's house please remember that it is a house of prayer. It is possible that monks working the land from the nearby Cistercian Abbey at Roche would have prayed here, proclaiming the marvellous things that God has done for His people.
The 15th century tower has been a treasured feature of the Wales and Kiveton landscape for the past 600 years. Look out for the masons marks on the tower walls. The tower houses 3 bells. The oldest is dated around 1425 and may have been taken from Roche Abbey after the dissolution.
An inscription reads 'May this bell be blessed by the Holy Trinity'. The other 2 bells are more recent with one dating from 1618 and the other 1630 with the inscription, 'Jesus be our speed'. The 3 ancient bells continue to ring out calling the people of God to prayer.
The church is physically at the heart of this parish and it has the people of this parish at its heart. Nearly 8000 people live within the parish boundaries. Each day we pray for all who live in the area by road name and for the local shops, businesses, community groups and organisations.
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