Areas are noted for their places or worship, some large, others small, yet nevertheless representative of the need for `finding oneself and having a chat with the 'hierarchy'.
If we talk `small' then we don't need to go further than Aldercar's Church of St John’s. Built in the 19th century by the Wright family, local landowners who lived at Aldercar Hill, the church served both them and their workers. Prior to its commissioning, family and workers were obliged to travel to St Lawrence Church at Heanor in order to worship, Langley Mill and surrounds being part of Heanor Parish.
St John's was built as a daughter church and is known as the Chapel of Ease. A small, but beautifully proportioned building, stone built with a slate roof, it has many fine features.
When wandering around you will note its two particularly interesting stained glass windows sighted east and west. The west window depicts the biblical tale of The Good Samaritan; the west one significant in that it characterizes three Saints. By scrutinizing it carefully you will find that the middle Saint has a much younger face than that of the other two. Strange you may say, but this represents the picture, in glass, of a former Vicar of the Parish who, at the beginning of the life of the church was on duty at the neighbouring village of Brinsley when he caught pneumonia and subsequently died. The window was installed in his honour, admirably capturing his likeness, a fitting tribute to someone obviously held in high regard by the parishioners.
Beneath this window stands a carved wooden panel done by a local man, Mr Buttery. It is known as a reredos, the Latin translation simply meaning 'an ornamental screen covering the wall at the back of an altar'.
“If anybody would like to expand to this series please do, I would just ask that you could let Sadexploration know first at churchmicro@gmail.com so he can keep track of the Church numbers and names to avoid duplication.
There is also a Church Micro Stats & Information page found via the Bookmark list”