Anglican Church

Parish Church of All Saints - (Diocese of Southwell & Nottingham)
Vicar: Rev David Henson (tel: 01427 890270)
Churchwardens: Sue Pearce (tel: 01427 891125), Brenda Marsden (tel: 01427 890954) 
Treasurer: Hazel Duffner (tel: 01427 890877)

Access
The Church is open during daylight hours. There is one small step into the Church; a portable ramp is available on request. An induction loop has been installed. 

Services
1st Sunday: Holy Communion, 10.30am
2nd Sunday: Morning Worship, 9.00am 
3rd Sunday: Morning Worship & All-age Service, 10.30am
4th Sunday: Holy Communion, 9.00am
5th Sunday: Holy Communion, rotating round the churches of the United Benefice, 10.30am

Wednesdays: Holy Communion (said), 9.30am.

Weddings, Blessing of Civil Weddings, Baptisms, Funerals, and other special services
Contact the Vicar.

Intercessions
The names of relatives and friends who are ill, experiencing personal difficulty, or who have died are remembered in prayers during the Sunday services. If you would like a name included in Intercessions, contact the Vicar or add it to the list kept at the back of the Church.

Meetings of the Parochial Church Council
1st Wednesday in the month, Church Room, 7.30pm.

Parish News
A monthly magazine, Misterton & West Stockwith Parish News, gives details of all church and village news and events. It is available on sale in the Church or from the Co-op store (please ask at the check-out). To advertise, or submit editorial, contact Hazel Brand (tel: 01427 891376).

Room hire
The Church Room is available for hire. It has access (and a WC) for disabled people, and a modern, fully-equipped kitchen. It comfortably seats 40 (theatre style), 36 (cabaret style), or 20 (boardroom style). There is adequate parking. Room hire is £5/hour. For bookings, contact Karen Hewitt (tel: 01427 890958).

Promised giving
In addition to a collection during the Sunday service, All Saints’ Church runs a promised giving scheme and benefits from tax refunds. If you would like to contribute to the Parish Church’s work and the upkeep of this listed building, please contact the Treasurer, Hazel Duffner (tel: 01427 890877).

Memorial Book
A Memorial Book is on display in the Church, in which local people have remembered births, deaths, achievements, and special occasions. The pages are turned daily. To put an entry in the Memorial Book, contact Hazel Brand (tel: 01427 891376).

History of the Church
The name Misterton, originally (in the 11th century) Minsterton or Ministretone, is normally interpreted as denoting that in pre-Conquest times there was a church served by a community of clergy, a sort of mission centre for the area. Alternatively, it may mean that it was an early dependency of York Minster, but there is no independent evidence for this.

Misterton was mentioned in the Domesday Survey in 1086, there named Munstretton. At that time, it certainly possessed a church. Most of the village was then in the hands of Roger de Busli, or Builli, as part of the large extent of lands, many of them in Nottinghamshire, granted to him by William the Conqueror. Roger died circa 1098, his only surviving son shortly afterwards, and, by grant of Henry l, the Busli estates passed to William de Lovetot, already a major shareholder in Hallamshire, whose ancestors are said to be Busli's feudal dependants.

At a date traditionally stated as 1103, but more probably 1119, the church of Misterton was one of the endowments given by William de Lovetot to his foundation of Worksop Priory. 

Worksop Priory continued to hold some land in Misterton until its dissolution in 1538. But in the first half of the 13th century, the Prior of Worksop, and the Abbott of Newstead Abbey, jointly relinquished Misterton church to the Archbishop of York. 

In response to petition from the then Archbishop of York, Alexander Neville, and the Dean and Chapter jointly, permission was given to the Archbishop to make over (appropriate) the church of Misterton for the benefit of the fabric fund for the building of the Minster choir.

The effect was that the rector's annual income from tithes, etc, went to the Dean and Chapter. Out of this they paid a vicar his fixed stipend, and other parochial expenses, retaining the remainder for the fabric fund. The first appointment of a vicar is recorded in 1403 (1339-1403), and York has exercised the patronage until modern times.

In 1957, the living of Misterton was united with West Stockwith, which was in the patronage of the Bishop of Southwell. Since 1960, the Bishop, and the Dean and Chapter of York, have presented alternately to the United Benefice of Misterton and West Stockwith. 

The original church was an ancient stone structure dedicated to All Saints - previously the Saxon title, All Hallows - although there seems a distinct possibility it may at some time have been called the Church of the Holy Cross, or Holy Rood. It evidently had been constructed from the ruins of a former edifice. About 1200, it consisted of a nave, north aisle and chancel, but of this nothing remains other than the western respond of the north arcade of the chancel.

In 1824, a hurricane blew from the church roof about two tons of lead, which, in its fall, broke down the south-east end of the building. This damage was repaired at a cost of £300, raised by a parochial rate, except for £50, which was given by the Dean and Chapter of York. In 1847/48, extensive repairs were carried out by the rebuilding of the north aisle and tower, to which was added the broach spire in place of the parapet and pinnacles of the old tower. This work cost £1247. (There are very few spires in this district. The height of the spire is 100'). Evidence is seen today of ancient fragments in the dog-tooth in the tower windows, stones in part of the broach spire, and in the hung canopies of the spire.

Tour of the Church
Visitors enter through a 12th century doorway (the door itself is dated 1800-1850), into the tower and baptistery. To the left is a hagioscope (an oblique window), which it is thought may have been a leper's squint, through which a leper could see and hear mass being celebrated without coming into contact with the congregation.

Three bells hang in the tower. The earliest (undated) is pre-Reformation, with the inscription Personat hic Jesus dulcima vox Gabrielis (Let Gabriel's sweetest voice sound forth Jesus). The next is dated 1613 and bears the names Israel Shacklock Rob Tonge wardens M Yats Minester. The third, dated 1623, is inscribed Jesus be our speed. 

The font has a 13th century base; the bowl is dated 1662. The nave features three fine arcades: the 14th century arcade was built or altered to its present form with carved foliage capitals of late decorated style some time after 1380. Two great heads, of the same period, support the end arches: one has curled hair, the other has grotesque ears (into which it has become a tradition to place tomatoes at harvest time), with a beard round a smiling face. One of the 15th century windows in the north wall has fragments of Flemish glass, thought to have come from Lincoln Cathedral, and depicts St Hugh.

The south arcade has been restored. Looking up to the clerestory, the 15th century windows can be seen. The royal arms over the chancel arch, dated 1721, and executed in Doncaster, were a symbol of loyalty to the Crown. The arch and pillars of the north-east arcade leading to the chancel chapel (Holy Cross Chapel), supporting three ogee arches, are the oldest remains circa 1200. They were rebuilt in the 15th century on new piers.

The restoration of 1847/48 included new pews, pulpit, prayer desk, and lectern of oak. Some carving from a former pulpit seems to be let into the panels of the present one.

The huge east window in the sanctuary has remarkable tracery, which dates from about 1230. The window shows the Last Supper, and commemorates the reign of Queen Victoria. On either side are 12th century niches.

The Holy Cross Chapel is early English style and has a stone altar. It is thought to be the original Saxon mensa, displaced by Cromwell's soldiers in their reign of terror. It was used as part of the stone floor for centuries. During renovations in 1965, it was replaced and rededicated. 

The east window here was designed by John Piper OM and made by his glassmaker, Patrick Reyntiens. (The two worked together on the baptistery window in Coventry Cathedral). It shows the Tree of Life with the five wounds of Jesus Christ.

A recent, further renovation of the Holy Cross Chapel was completed in 2001. This was made possible by a bequest by Harry Sherlock in memory of his parents, William Henry Sherlock and Margaret Mary Williams, who had married in All Saints’ Church in August 1908. Work included moving the stone altar forward and re-mounting it; two new stained glass windows; a wall hanging; and statue of the Madonna and Child. Much of the work was done by local craftsmen.

The windows in the south wall were designed and made by EC Kempe, who used a wheatsheaf for his trademark and incorporated it into his work. The memorial to Rev RE Briggs is the oldest: 1905. 

In the south aisle is the stained window commemorating the men who gave their lives in the First World War, dated 6 September 1925. It has three lights, depicting the three martyrs, St Stephen, St Alban, and St Oswald. It, too, was made by Kempe and Tower as their mark shows. 

Over the altar at the east end of the south aisle, now called the Mothers' Union Chapel, is an old board containing the figures of the saints (contemporary models), which may have been part of an ancient reredos or rood screen. 

Outside the church, on the north side, are some seven striking gargoyles looking out from the parapet: grotesque animals with manes, creatures with bearded faces, and the body of a bird with claws and arms.

This information is taken from a guidebook, available in the Church.