ELTON. CHURCH : ALL SAINTS
Elton is a lovely village, which can be found between Oundle and Peterborough, just off of the old A605. The village boasts a Stateley home, Elton Hall, two public houses, no fewer than two village greens, a few shops, a chapel and All Saints church.
I first visited Elton at the end of a mini tour of East Northants on what was to be the first days shooting for this site back in September 2006.. This started off with a visit to Nassington, before moving on to the beautiful and historic Fotheringhay, Tansor and Cotterstock. Have since made several visits to Elton, and photographs on the page are from three or four different visits.
All Saints is set in lovely surroundings, with the church set back from the main road a little. Looked as if the grounds had suffered from some subsidence over the years, with some of the gravestones resting at a variety of angles in places. Some very fine quility carvings on some of the gravstones, with a very fine deaths head stone, pictured second from the bottom on the right of this page, catching my eye. Quite rare in this area and was delighted to see this! Some of the finest 18th Century graves within the catchment area of this site are to be seen in the grounds at the back of Elton church.
The church was open and welcoming, with a postcard of the interior available for purchase. I didn’t see a history booklet available. Very attractive inside with the latish afternoon Sun streaming in through some plain glass windows making a very pleasant effect inside. Very attractive tower, with some gargoyles surrounding the top and a sundial with the legend "The Hour Is Come" carved over the top.
Thanks to Julian Fairweather, who saw my Elton page and said "Where is a picture of the Saxon Graves". I didn't know that there were any in the grounds but a return visit and a very helpful church warden took me to where they were. Picture now enclosed and I am told that the crosses date from about 970 AD.
There are a fair few bits and pieces of Saxon work to be found within the catchment area of this site. Even in Stanground, right on the edge of the city of Peterborough itself, there is a Saxon Cross. There are plenty of Saxon carvings to be seen but these are the only two graves from that time that I have seen. Remarkable!
There was mention of a church at Elton in the Domesday Survey of 1086.Just a couple of fragments of the earliest building remain. Inside, the Chancel arch dates from 1270.
The tower is built in the Perpundicular style and dates from 1500. This was built with stones taken from the nearby quarry at Ketton. Other parts of the building date from the same period.
The Sanctuary is dominated by the great Te Deum east window of 1893 dedicated to the 4th Earl of Carysfort. The stonework is mid 14th century reset in the modern East wall. There are 52 main figures depicted and many lesser ones. The Communion Table is constructed from wood, the carved legs of which were once part of a 15th century church roof believed to have originated in Peterborough. The pulpit was erected by the hymn writer Frederick William Faber who was Rector of Elton from 1843-45.
I always visit Elton on cycle. It is a more pleasurable ride going than coming back! This is due to a steep hill about a mile from Elton! The first few times that I tried to cycle up it I gave up half way and ending up walking. A great sense of achievement when I managed to get all the way up for the first time, albeit with some language uttered that is not really in keeping with a church website!
If you click on the photograph at the bottom left of this page, you will be directed to the website that covers Elton church...as well as Chesterton, Alwalton, Water Newton and Stibbington.
All Saints at Elton is a delight, and is well worth a look at if you are in the area.
To visit the website for All Saints Elton, St Andrews Alwalton, St Michaels Chesterton, St Remigius Water Newton and St John The Baptist Stibbington please click on the photograph above.
