History of All Saints Church, Wellingborough

Window in the Chancel designed by C.E. Kempe

Window designed by C.E. Kempe

1866 - Foundation stone laid by Rev Henry Vivian Broughton, vicar of Wellingborough.

1867 - During construction arches on the south side of the building and part of the roof collapsed.

1868 - Consecration by Rt Rev Dr Jeune, Bishop of Peterborough. The church cost £4,000 to build and the Architect was Mr A Buckeridge

1872 - Constitution of All Saints as a separate parish. 1st Vicar, Rev Frederick Willis, instituted and inducted.

1883 - Organ built by Hill & Son installed.

1887 - 3 of the East Windows installed, designed by Charles Kempe.

1889 - Vestry (now the Lady Chapel) built.

1890 - Narthex and western extension to the nave dedicated.

1897 - Apse panelling designed by Kempe in solid oak with mahogany canopies and gilded detail installed.

1898 - Alabaster altar piece, carved with emblems of the Passion designed by Kempe installed.

1903 - Final 2 East Windows installed, also designed by Kempe.

2003 - Millennium Flame

1911 - Old heating chamber converted into the Choir Vestry.

1918 - Church Golden Jubilee. The Rood Screen made of oak and designed by Talbot Brown installed.

1920 - First World War Memorial dedicated by the Bishop of Peterborough.

1922 - The Rood figures added to the Screen.

1927 - Oak clergy stalls in the Chancel installed.

1932 - Oak choir stalls in the Chancel dedicated to Canon William Terry were installed. Pulpit in memory of Agnes Annie Smith and designed by F Howard installed.

1964 - Organ rebuilt.

1968 - Centenary.

1974 - Church Hall built.

1990 - Nave Altar constructed of oak and wrought-iron by students of Wellingborough College installed.

1997 - Church reordered.

2003 - Millennium Flame arrived for a year and a day. Major appeal to raise funds to repair roof and upper masonry launched. (All Saints' Church was guardian of the Flame for a year and a day. The Flame was originally kindled at the beginning of the new millennium and used by the Queen to light the first of her Golden Jubilee beacons. The Millennium Flame will tour the UK until the Queen's Diamond Jubilee in 2012 raising funds for charities.)

2007 - After 2 years of work, major repairs to the roof and upper masonry were completed.

2009 - Organ refurbished by M C Thompson Organ Builders Ltd.

This is a summary of some of the more important dates in the life of All Saints Church to date.