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  Our Church is a Grade 1 Listed Building in the heart of the Thornhill Conservation
Area.  It is mentioned in Simon Jenkins book 1000 Best English Churches as a warm and welcoming place.  This applies to our witness and worship as well as our building.

   Thornhill Parish Church

Statement of Significance

 Is dedicated to St Michael and All Angels and stands on the south side of the Calder valley, two miles South of Dewsbury. There has been a church on the site since Anglo-Saxon times.  Since the late l4th century its history has been closely linked with that of the important Savile family.  The church is of interest both as an historic building, for the important monuments and outstanding medieval stained glass which it contains and for its important place in the community today.  It is a Grade 1 Listed Building in the heart of the Thornhill Conservation area.  It is listed in Simon Jenkins’ book “ England’s Thousand Best Churches”- as a warm and friendly building.

The development of the church

The church is first mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086, but the fragments of Anglo-Saxon memorials - crosses and a grave slab - indicate that there has been a church here since at least the 9th century.  Fragments of stones carved in the Norman and Early English styles mark rebuilding or extensions in the l2th  and l3th centuries, the oldest surviving parts of the church are the 15th-century tower, chancel and chancel chapels. Inscriptions on the stained glass windows give  precise dates for the chancel and the chapels. The Savile Chapel on the north was first built in 1447 and extended eastwards in 1493.  The South Chapel was built in 1491 and the chancel was remodelled ,'clerestoried and arched' by 1499.

The nave of the church, probably an Anglo-Saxon or Norman structure modified and enlarged in the l3th century, was pulled down in the l8th century. In 1777 the medieval nave was rebuilt as a 'preaching box', in a mixed gothic and Classical style  The dedication slab of the 1777 nave survives, as does a photograph of the nave.  The Victorians condemned the 1777 nave as 'Churchwarden's Gothic' and 'in poor style'. It was rebuilt (with aisles again) in 1877-9 by the architect G.E. Street.  The style of the architecture which he used was the l4th-century Decorated style; this was chosen because it was the one style not represented in the building or among the fragments of architectural stonework. Street, also added the present south porch and vestry, the latter projecting beyond the cast end of the church.  The 20^th century added a fine organ in the North Aisle with a detached console.

                           The building was restored in 2001 with a new stone floor, a re-display of the runic stones, a new entrance lobby and new kitchen and toilets.  In the West Tower is a dedication slab with the carved words “Be still and know that I am God”.  The new glazed entrance lobby has engraved glass representations of angels.

 (Part of display of runic stones)

 

The Glass     The medieval stained glass has been called the finest display in the north of England, outside the City of York.  In the Savile Chapel two windows in the north wall have glass of 1447, one with a crucifixion, and the other including the figures of Thomas and Lady Savile, along with a request for prayers for their souls. The third window in the same wall, of 1493, shows scenes from the life of the Virgin.  The east window of the chapel is a 'Doom’ window. The great east window of the Chancel, thought to be the work of French or Belgian craftsmen, shows another common medieval subject, the Tree of Jesse, illustrating the human descent of Christ from Jesse, the father of King David.  The glass here was restored in the year 2000 and protected inside and outside.

 Picture: the famous Jesse Window In 2009 our great concern is with the Savile Chapel windows and particularly the condition of the glass in the East window. Commonly called 'doom' but perhaps more accurately 'Resurrection' window. We have recently commissioned and received a conservation report on these windows from Jonathan & Ruth Cooke and are considering the way ahead for repair and conservation.

See the link below for a recent article on the East window .  We do not think there was ever coke heating in the church  as suggested in this article-- we are almost on top of local coal mines and coal was delivered free as required.

 The earliest monuments in the church are the 9th-century Anglo-Saxon stones displayed in the Savile Chapel , most are fragments of crosses, four with inscriptions  In the Savile Chapel are also several important tombs.  An effigy of a knight in chain mail, thought to be Sir John de Thornhill (d. 1322).   An alabaster tomb chest with eighteen 'weepers' (small kneeling figures) around it and effigies thought to represent Sir John Savile (d. 1481) and his wife.  An oak tomb-chest set up in 1529 to commemorate alater Sir John (d. 1504) and his two wives.  The tomb of Sir George Savile (d. 1614) and his wifeAnne, marked by a massive Renaissance monument. An alabaster effigy of a later Sir George (d. 1622)carved by the famous sculptor Maximilan Colt.  A monument to Sir George Savile of Rufford(d. 1743)  Also displayed in the Savile Chapel are three earlier medieval cross slabs found in 1990 when the monument of the earlier Sir John was dismantled for conservation.  Two show pairs of shears, a common female emblem, and a third a pair of scissors, perhaps denoting a tailor.

Acknowledgment to WY Archives Services’ History of the church for much of this text.

click here for the above document

Obituary George Halifax Lumley-Savile, Third Baron Savile

 photo Yorkshire post copyright

Lord Savile. (NS)

By Claire Armstrong

A PRIVATE family service for Lord Savile, one of Yorkshire's biggest landowners who has died aged 89, takes place on Monday.George Halifax Lumley-Savile, the third Baron Savile of Rufford, was the elder son of the second Lord Savile, who died in 1931.
The family has been prominent in the region since the 16th century, holding estates at Thornhill, Hebden Bridge, Rishworth and Elland, and the lordships of the manors of Ovenden, Skircoat and Elland. Savile Town was also named after a member of the family.
The Saviles held a seat at Thornhill from the 14th century until the Civil War, when Thornhill Hall was besieged and demolished by Cromwell's forces.The family estates now cover thousands of acres and include moorland surrounding Hardcastle Crags and Hebden Bridge.Other land owned by the family is in Thornhill, Hanging Heaton, Soothill and Emley. Lord Savile never married.
He was a magistrate at Dewsbury for many years and enjoyed attending the House of Lords, of which he was a member for 60 years, until hereditary peers were unseated in 1999.
During the Second World War Lord Savile was a captain in the Duke of Wellington's Regiment and later attached to the 1st Battalion the Lincolnshire Regiment, which saw service in Burma during the campaigns of 1943 and 1944.
After being demobbed he bought Gryce Hall, Shelley, near Huddersfield, to serve as the principal family seat.

He was a keen shooter of grouse and opposed wind farms on his land.
A devout Anglican, Lord Savile worshipped for more than 60 years at Emley Parish Church as well as at Thornhill Parish Church  and was also a patron of Whitley Lower Parish Church.
There will be a private family cremation for Lord Savile on Monday.
On July 17 there will be a service of thanksgiving at Thornhill Parish Church, Church Lane, Thornhill, at 11am.
Books of condolence have been opened at Thornhill Parish Church, St Michael's Church, Emley, and the Savile estate office at The Town, Thornhill.
Lord Savile's heir is his nephew, John Anthony Thornhill Lumley-Savile, who lives in Cornwall.

The full article contains 349 words and appears in Dewsbury Reporter newspaper.

Page 1 of 1

• Source:  Courtesy of Dewsbury Reporter

_________________________________________________ 
Published Date: 13 June 2008

 

 

The church today         We are fortunate to have a building such as this but it carries long term major repair and maintenance responsibilities which can hinder the work of the church.The major repairs and restoration of the building at the turn of the millennium did, however, give an impetus for the Renewal of the work and witness of the people in this place. As well as being the centre for Anglican worship in the community it is widely used by the community for weddings, baptisms and funerals.  Work with babies, families and young people is developing.  The church promotes many artistic activities to place it in the heart of the community.  In many ways it has reverted to the historic role of a church building as a place in which many activities were held.  Unusually, perhaps, the annual Bazaar and Summer Fair are held in it.

 

LISTING

 Set out below is a copy of the text of the list description of this
Grade I listed building (Church of St Michael & All Angels, Church Lane,Thornhill, listed 30/6/49).
Church.    Perpendicular west tower, probably C15, though the base may be earlier.    North chapel (Savile chapel) 1447 extended by one bay1493.   Chancel and South chapel 1490.     Nave vestry and some restoration work 1877 by G. E. Street in Decorated style.   Ashlar Stone slate roofs with roll-top copings to parapets.4-bay nave with clerestorey, north and south aisles, south porch, west tower.  3-bay chancel with clerestorey and north and south chapels, vestry added to east end of south chapel.    Aisles are buttressed and have tall 2 and
3-light traceried windows.    Gabled south porch has elaborate frieze to parapet carved with 8 angels and Christ in the apex.      Moulded doorway with 3 engraved colonnettes with foliage capitals. Ribbed and vaulted internally.    The square tower is in two tall stages with reducing diagonal buttresses. West door with moulded surround, west window probably C19.    8-light mullioned and transomed bell-chamber openings with 5-foiled lights and traceried heads crenellated parapet on corbel-brackets and 8 crocketted pinnacles. The north chapel east window is of 5 lights with cambered head. The tall chancel east window is much restored and of 6 lights Both have Perpendicular tracery.
Interior: Important collection of monuments to the Savile family in theSavile chapel:    long effigy of a cross-legged knight in chain-mail with shield and sword, has head under a canopy, the face restored, thought to be of Sir John de Thornhill (c. 1260-1322); a tomb chest with alabaster effigy to Sir Thomas Savile (d. 1449) and his wife, the chest is divided into 18 ogee-headed panels with weepers; an oak tomb chest, 1529, formerly under a four-poster canopy, with effigies to Sir John Savile (d.1503) and his two wives, Alice Vernon and Elizabeth Paston. 
The chest is panelled with elaborate quatrefoils; a large monument, between this chapel and the chancel, to Sir George Savile (d.1614) and his wife Anne, sister of Sir Thomas Wentworth.   Paired columns to each side support a segmental arch with large achievement and figure to each
side and to top.    At the foot of this on the north side is the
kneeling figure of their 2nd son, and on the chancel side a reclining
figure of their 1st son, holding a book and a skull, who died whilst
studying at Oxford; on the north side a dresser tomb to Sir George
Savile (d.1622) attributed to Maximilian Colt, an alabaster effigy in
armour with columns to left and right supporting an entablature with 2 cartouches, shield and crest, good detailing; in the north-east corner, a black marble sarcophagus on large square base, to Sir George Savile of Rufford (d.1743), signed by William Barlow.      The back supports a pediment and has scrolled support; a small alabaster baby lying on its back and holding a basin for a font, to the 2nd Lord Savile (d.1931) by Amy Lewis.   This was brought from Rufford Abbey in 1948. In the south chapel are C18 wall memorials to the Elmsall family and,an empty tomb recess in the south wall.  At the base of the tower is a good mid C18 wall memorial, consisting of a cartouche with supporting cherubs, and a skull and wings at the base.Much original glass survives.    In the Savile chapel a window on the north side has the name Thome Savill and the date 1447 (restored 1972). 
The east window of the chapel, a 'doom window' and very faded, hasthe name Wiliam Sayvile and the date 1493 (restored 1953).     The chancel east window bears the tree of Jesse, and was donated by Robert Frost, parson, and is dated 1499.   Considerably restored in the C19.  Other windows have fragments of early glass.    Set in the screen between the chancel and south chapel is a stained glass escutcheon of Phillip Waterhouse (d.1614) bearing the motto BEE FAST.
The chancel is arcaded on octagonal piers, with C19 oak screens.    The nave is arcaded on clustered piers.    North chapel roof is panelled and original.   Excellent chancel roof of C.1877 with traceried panelling and cusped and traceried bracings to the 6 irregularly placed tie-beams each of which ends in a well carved angel.    Nave roof is arched braced.  Octagonal panelled stone font with oak ribbed and crocketted cover c.1866.   Elaborate stone pulpit.   Organ placed in north aisle c.1981.

N. Pevsner, The Buildings of England, 1967.
B. Nuttall, A History of Thornhill (inc. The Church of St. Michael &
All Angels), 1970.


Family History  our Parish Registers for the following dates are lodged with West Yorkshire Archives Service Newstead Road Wakefield WF1 2DE 

Baptisms  1580 1986

Marriages 1580-1986

Burials  1580- 1959

Reference is WDP14  

Some of these are available on microfiche- ring to make an appointment on 01924 305980

their web site is  www.archives.wyjs.org.uk/

The Wakefield Family History Society has several indexes which will be useful

their web site is  www.wdfhs.co.uk

We do have copies of some of these at church along with all our Grave books. Contact Tony Ridley for more information ( see Contacts page) 

War memorial

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rev John Michell  BD FRS   1724-1793

 Memorial to John Michell in tower of the church

 

Blue plaque to commemorate the work of John Michell.

The plaque was unveiled by the Mayor of Kirklees Cllr Jean Calvert on the morning of Saturday September 8th.  The plaque was provided by 'Dewsbury Matters'  At the ceremony, Chris Butlin, from the Institute of Physics, gave an address ©. click here to view He was dressed in the style of Henry Cavendish (a friend of Michell )and spoke as if he was Cavendish -.

 There is also a pamphlet available written by Chris Butlin  click here to view  You may view this document but © copyright is retained ask permission to re- use  from ChrisAButlin@aol.com

A talk by Chris Butlin and a power point presentation is available with  © copyright restrictions as above.  click here to view  

Dignitaries at unveiling 

l to r.

Cllr Ahmed;Chris Butlin;Margaret Watson, Mayor, Head Science College- David Powell, ?  Lindsay Dew (Rector)

Publications    Nuttall, Barbara, History of Thornhill and guide to the Church of St Michael and All Angels Published by Kirklees Cultural Services and Thornhill Parish Church .  ISBN 0 0900746 61 0  3rd edition 1995.  Price £5.00 P&P £1.50.

Nuttall, Barbara  the Savilles of Thornhill- Life at Thornhill Hall in the reign of of Charles !.  Published by the Author 1986.  ( all copies of this book remain with the Church )  Price £5.00 P&P £1.50

We also have various postards of the East Window and of the Church itself for sale.

contact webeditor@thornhillparishchurch.org.uk  for further information or send cheque for above amounts to Brian Pearson, 66 Henley Avenue Thornhill Dewsbury WF12 0LN England  ( cheques payable to Thornhill Parish Church. 

 

The Organ   Click here to read the organ brochure and specification

organ case Binns 1

 

BELLS - see under the 'Our Activities section for the publication about the bells and under the photographs section for the installation  in 1980

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

• Church Lane
• Thornhill
• Dewsbury
• West Yorkshire
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