Christ Church, Holloway

Christ Church stands in the quiet village of Holloway, Derbyshire, as a Grade II* listed parish church of the Church of England. The stone building was designed by Percy Heylyn Currey of Derby and built by W. Wildgoose of Matlock. Its foundation stone was laid on 2 November 1901 by Victor Cavendish, MP for West Derbyshire, in the presence of the Bishop of Derby. The church was dedicated on 21 February 1903 by the Bishop of Southwell, the Rt. Revd. George Ridding. A tower was added in 1911 in memory of William Walker of Holloway and dedicated on 11 November that year. The church belongs to a joint parish that also includes St Giles’ Church in Matlock, St John the Baptist’s Church in Dethick and St John the Baptist’s Chapel in Matlock Bath. Inside, visitors find a pipe organ installed in 1903 by Andrews of Bradford. The first recital on the organ was given by Gordon L. Salt, grandson of Sir Titus Salt, on 28 June 1903. In 1966 the instrument was enlarged by Groves of Nottingham. The church’s interior shows the craftsmanship of its time, with stonework and fittings that reflect the early 20th century. The tower rises above the village rooftops, offering a landmark visible from nearby lanes. The organ remains a focal point, its pipes standing against the west wall. The building’s dedication stones and memorials recall local people and events from the Edwardian period.