Below are the dates for the services for Wardlow and St Giles’ up to end of December 2024.
St Giles’, Great Longstone
All services at 11am unless stated otherwise:
Sun 3rd Nov Parish Eucharist
Sun 10th Nov Morning Worship
Sun 17th Nov Parish Eucharist
Sun 24th Nov Parish Eucharist
Sun 1st Dec Parish Eucharist
Sun 8th Dec Morning Worship and Toy Service
Sun 15th Dec Parish Eucharist
Sun 22nd Dec Parish Eucharist
Sun 22nd Dec Carol Service at 6pm
Wed 25th Dec Parish Eucharist
Sun 29th Dec Morning Worship
Good Shepherd, Wardlow
All services at 9am unless stated otherwise:
Sun 3rd Nov Parish Eucharist
Sun 10th Nov Morning Worship
Sun 1st Dec Parish Eucharist
Sun 8th Dec Morning Worship
Wed 25th Dec Parish Eucharist
The ancient Ecclesiastical Parish of Longstone includes five villages and hamlets: Great Longstone, Little Longstone, Rowland, Hassop, and Wardlow. Under the 1894 Local Government Act the five villages and hamlets were all made Civil Parishes, but they are still part of the Ecclesiastical Parish of Longstone.
The medieval Parish Church of St Giles is situated in the village of Great Longstone. It is listed Grade 1 because of its fine medieval roof and the quality of its restoration in 1873 by the architect, Richard Norman Shaw.
In the parish, there is also a 19th century Chapel of Ease in Wardlow, which is listed Grade 2.
For enquiries about baptisms (Christenings), marriages and funerals in the Parish of Longstone please contact the Churchwardens.
The Churchwardens of St Giles are:
Richard Carter – telephone: 07900 980967
Frank Hammond – telephone: 07935 873930
The church is open for visitors every day from around 9am till dusk. There are church guide books available.
Booklets and Cards in connection with the new 'Bosses Installation' are available to purchase - a card reader is available for purchases or Church donations.
An excellent record of the churchyard and cemetry memorials (and maps), produced by the Local History society, are available here:
http://www.thrower.org.uk/longstone/monunew.htm
The parish registers are now kept at the Derbyshire County Council Records Office in Matlock. Their records state the following about St Giles:
GREAT LONGSTONE, St Giles (D2373) includes townships of Little Longstone, Wardlow, Rowland (from mid 19th century) and Hassop (from c1910).
Originally parochial chapelry in parish of Bakewell.
Became separate parish 1852. No entries for baptisms, burials 1743-1764, marriages 1740-1754
They have original records and microfilms which cover slightly different dates. The records include:
Original Registers in the DRO
Baptisms 1637-1742 1765-1955
Marriages 1637-1739 1755-1812 1817-1968
Banns of Marriage 1868-1926
Burials 1637-1742 1765-1880
Microfilms in the DRO
Baptisms 1637-1742 1765-1955
Marriages 1637-1739 1755-1812 1817-1943
Banns of Marriage 1868-1880
Burials 1637-1742 1765-1856
Sadly, the Great Longstone Methodist Chapel in Station Road closed at the end of April 2020.
The main building was erected on land donated by Mrs Maria Furniss in 1843: a large stone that was originally on the outside of the church states that it was a Wesleyan Methodist Chapel. In 1937, the extension to the edge of Station Road was done by Mettam’s of Bakewell: electricity was installed to the entire building at the same time. The grand total for all this work was just over £230: it was noted that this debt was cleared within the year.
The halcyon days of the chapel were in the 1950s and 1960s when a congregation of often over 20 people attended evening worship. Mr & Mrs Mosley (Hubert and Molly) frequently provided meals for visiting preachers. There was also a striving Sunday School, led by Miss Greta Jardine – she was, I believe, the last headmistress of Bakewell Girl’s School.
Congregation numbers started to fall throughout the 1970s, and in 1993 (the 150th anniversary of the Chapel) the old pews were removed and replaced by 40 chairs enabling more diverse use of the building. In addition the main part of the chapel had fitted carpet put in place.
In 2004 a Local Ecumenical Partnership was entered into with St Giles’ Parish Church and United Services have taken place at different times over the years. More recently, the congregation has diminished and we now have a membership number that is too small to continue. Reverent Adrian Perry has been most supportive in helping us come to the difficult decisions we have had to make. It was hoped that our final service of thanksgiving would have taken place on Sunday 26th April 2020 at 6.30pm, when it would have been wonderful to have had a good attendance – but sadly this was not to be, due to the coronavirus directives.
Most of the “regulars” now worship at St Giles’, and I would personally like to express my heartfelt thanks and gratitude for the way we have been welcomed there by everyone.
Peter Shimwell
Autumn 2023
The Chapel is now in the process of being updated in preparation for it to be one of the overnight stays on the Peak Wesley Way Pilgrimage. The main worship area will be equipped with comfortable camp beds and throws, creating a warm and welcoming overnight stay (six people maximum per night). A shower and toilet will be established as well as a kitchenette. A basic DIY breakfast will be available before pilgrims walk on to their next Peak Methodist Chapel venue. Historical information about the Chapel and the village will be displayed.
Please ring Sheila Travis on 07763 473698 or email Sheila.travis@btinternet.com if you would like to be included on the rota to welcome pilgrims to our village, or would like to be considered as a part-time Pilgrimage Manager.
Sheila Travis