St Mary's Church, Wirksworth

St Mary the Virgin stands in Wirksworth, Derbyshire, as a Grade I listed parish church of the Church of England. The present building mainly dates from the 13th to 15th centuries, yet Anglo-Saxon remains show a church has existed here since at least the 8th century. It was restored in 1820 and again in 1870 by Sir Gilbert Scott. The churchyard holds the tomb of Matthew Peat, said to have lived to 109 years and 10 months. The church shares its parish with twelve other churches across the surrounding villages. The church is recognised for its Anglo-Saxon carvings and a large coffin lid found under the chancel floor in 1820. The lid, from the late 7th century, is mounted on the north wall of the nave. It also holds the oldest known image of a miner, “T’owd Man,” moved here from Bonsall church in 1863 for safekeeping. Early medieval fragments, including parts of stone crosses and grave slabs, are displayed in the transept walls. The church still practises the ancient custom of clipping on the first Sunday after 8 September. Inside, the nave roof was replaced in 2020 after leaks threatened the interior. The north aisle contains tombs of the Gell family, including a statue of Sir Anthony Gell who died in 1583. The chancel holds the tomb of Sir Anthony Lowe, who served four Tudor monarchs and died in 1555. Abraham Bennet, inventor of the gold-leaf electroscope, is also memorialised here. A new poem about the tower and bells has been commissioned for the church.