Christianity came to Derbyshire in the 600s AD but today, we have only tantalising glimpses of that time – little survived the onslaught of the Norman invaders who rebuilt churches and suppressed local traditions in favour of their own.
Since then, these places of worship have continually evolved and changed. None are as they were originally and even the oldest should not be seen as a lifeless monument, but as a tapestry of the community's history where each generation has left its mark.
Highlights include Tideswell's beautiful ‘Cathedral of the Peak' and the shrouded effigies of Thomas Beresford's alabaster family tomb at St Edmund's in Fenny Bentley. Look out for Saxon and Norman fonts with distinctive carvings of stylised humans, animals or dragons with fishy tails.
There are 14 churches featured in the Peak Experience guide, Peak Churches – From Cradle to Grave, available from Visitor Centres and participating businesses, and a further 17 detailed on our partner website, Peak Experience. All are beautiful buildings with hidden surprises to discover inside.
Download From Cradle to Grave (2.4Mb pdf)
< Click the icon for more information on Peak Churches on our partner site, Peak Experience.
