Particular features of this church are the doorway with its unusual tympanum (the stone within the arch) and its/ font which are early .Norman.,., dating from the last half of the 12th century. Worth noting on the doorway is the typical Romanesque beak-headed moulding, two small heads on the capitals, and the dog-tooth pattern on the rounded arch. The tympanum is very crude and various interpretations are given to it. It depicts a bishop with his crozier, the holy Lamb, some birds and various beasts, including a pig. While the jambs and arch are the work of an itinerant mason, the crudity of the tympanum suggests it was the work of the village blacksmith.

The base of the tower with its three lancet windows, its shallow buttresses, and the nave arch suggest a transition from Norman to Early English in style, from 1200, a little later than the doorway and font. The two upper floors are of a different stonework and were most likely re­built with the massive supporting buttress in the late 15th century.

At first, this church was a Chapel of Ashbourne. As such it would have no rights of baptism, marriage or burial. The villagers would have had to go to Ashbourne for these ceremonies.

By the end of the 13th century it had become a parochial chapelry, that is to say, it had its own parish where these rites and services could be held. So for 700 years the villagers of Hognaston have buried their dead in the churchyard. Because of that, the floor of the old church was lower than the ground outside and had to be raised when, amongst other things, a north aisle was added to form the present church in 1879. This was somewhat to the consternation of the villagers whose ancestors were buried there.

The nave of the old church was considerably smaller. It had a flat ceiling and gallery at the west end hiding the interesting Early English style archway. This was approached by an outside staircase.

One other relic of this ancient church is the slimmer of the two bells hanging in the tower. Expert opinion states that, “without doubt it was cast in the early years of the 13th century, say between 1200 and 1220”. The other bell to be seen is inscribed ‘H. BUCSTON N. BRADLEY 1670’. Both bells have retained their good tones, but they were replaced by the present clock and three bells. They were presented in 1911 by John Smith of the famous Derby firm of clock-makers in memory of the first John Smith, a native of Hognaston.

The restoration is mainly of fine­grained Hopton limestone. Three features may be noted: one is the pulpit with its Blue John bosses; a second is the unusually fine emblematic tiles in the sanctuary; and the third the East Window. The figures depicted, left to right, are St Bartholomew, the Crucifixion, and St Joseph. The East Window is believed to be the work of Karl Parson or one of his pupils in the 1920’s. Look at the intricately painted Hieroglyphics behind the figure of St Joseph. A plaque on the south wall of the • chancel gives details of the dedication.

St Bartholomew was one of the twelve apostles and was involved in missionary work from Ethiopia to Armenia, where he was martyred in AD 71. His festival is on the 24th August, but the patronal festival takes place on the first Sunday after the 4th September.

During 1989-1991 the Victorian pipe organ was restored by Mr J H Poyser of Derby with money raised in the village.

The base of the Norman /font was renewed by Linford-Bridgeman Ltd of Lichfield in January 1992.

This information was compiled by Miss Sophie Garrett from J W Allen’s

‘Notes on Hognaston’ and ‘Churches of Derbyshire’ by J C Cox Volume II (pub. 1887).

June 1993

Of modest size today, the original church was smaller, rectangular in shape with its existing single central aisle flanked by box pews.  An unusual feature in an Anglican church is the gallery, which stands on cast-iron columns at the western end, giving the interior a slightly Non-conformist look. Later additions are the vestry built in 1870, the chancel added in 1961, and a vestry enlargement giving kitchen and toilet facilities completed in 1995

Major benefactors of Christ Church have been the Borough family, local landowners. In 1837 the land on which the church stands and the surrounding church yard were given by Thomas Borough, son of John Tempest Borough, the builder of nearby Hulland Hall. The chancel, taking a year to build and costing nearly £4000, was donated by brothers Mr Reginald Borough, then of Market Lavenham in Wiltshire and Canon Roland Borough, former Vicar of Bradbourne.

The two beautiful stained glass windows in the chancel were erected by J C B Borough in 1853 in memory of his mother and 1863 in memory of his sister.  Both windows were moved to the new chancel in1961.  The East window depicts Christ with Lazarus, Martha and Mary; the South-east window represents Faith and Hope.

The large and ornate octagonal marble font with carvings on each of its sides was presented to Hulland in 1919 by the Vicar and Churchwardens of its namesake, Christ Church Sunderland.

An iron moulding of ‘The Last Supper’ made by the Coalbrookdale Company in 1851 hangs on the wall near the font.

The oak baluster-type communion rail was installed to mark the centenary of the church in 1938, as were the two mural tables of the Ten Commandments in gold lettering fixed either side of the east window.

Near the piano is a stone plaque in memory of those who gave their lives in the Second World War. (The First World War memorial is in the churchyard near the gate).

A wooden hatchment bearing the Borough arms hangs on the north wall of the chancel.  It was painted in memory of the church’s benefactor, Thomas Borough who died in 1838. It is believed to have hung in church from around the time the church was consecrated.

Hatchments are large diamond shaped heraldic paintings.  They emerged in the seventeenth century from the earlier medieval practice of erecting the shield and other military accoutrements over the tomb of military knight. Hatchments were hung over the door of the country house of the deceased for 12 months to inform visiting gentry. 

The hatchment has recently spent several months away from the church being restored. It has now been returned looking much improved and is now hanging in its original position in the chancel.