All Hallows Church - Great Mitton - A Beautiful medieval Church

All Hallows Church, in Great Mitton, is a wonderful medieval Church. It is an active Anglican parish church in the deanery of Whalley, the archdeaconry of Blackburn, and the Diocese of Blackburn that has been a place of worship since 1270 to the present day. I had a very pleasant half an hour in the company of Michael who helps care for the building, and who gave me wonderful insights to the this beautiful church and read out the engravings around the alabster tombs which referred to the Shireburn family. After the visit I also had the pleasure of meeting Reverend Ness Starkey, who arrived to re-affirm the vows of a couple due to arrive at the church. The nave of the present church, with its Early English Gothic style, was built in or about 1270. The chancel was added in about 1295. In 1439 a chapel was added on the north side of the Church. This was pulled down in 1594 when Sir Richard Shireburne arranged for the present Chapel to be built as a family mausoleum. The Shireburne Chapel, divided from the chancel by the Elizabethan screen, contains memorials of the Shireburne family. On the north wall is a monument with kneeling figures facing each other across a prayer desk. This is dedicated to Sir Richard’s son, also Richard (d.1629), and his wife Catherine, (née Stourton). Three linked altar tombs along the north wall are to the next succeeding generations: Richard (d.1668) and Richard (d.1689) and the latter’s wife Isabel (née Ingleby, d.1693) and their son, also Richard. Some of the memorials are classed as outstanding examples of recumbent figures. The alabaster tomb (the work of Roiley of Burton-on-Trent) is that of Sir Richard Shireburne (d.1594) and his wife, Dame Maud (née Bold). Sir Richard died in the same year that the chapel was rebuilt. The music - "O vos omnes" performed here by VOCES8 is frequently sung in Anglican churches. It is a popular, poignant motet, particularly during Holy Week and Passiontide (services leading up to Easter) though is not technically a hymn, but rather a Latin motet or responsory. All Hallows history: https://www.allhallowsmitton.org.uk/h...