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A History of the Parish Church of Boulton by Derby |
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Introduction |
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Definitions of Words and Phrases used in the History Pages Time Chart of National and Local Events Historical Notes on the Parish of Boulton-by-Derby Transcript of the 1684 Judgement in favour of The Rev'd Joseph Cope History of the Church from an account by the Rev. Harold Spencer, 1922 A History of Boulton Church by Royden Greene 1953 Clergy of St. Mary's Boulton from 1843 |
We shall probably never know when the first Christian service of worship took place at Boulton by Derby. What is known however is that this event happened a very long time ago. The present stone Church is of Norman origin and construction almost certainly began soon after William the Conqueror, Duke of Normandy, defeated the Saxon King Harold at the battle of Hastings in the year 1066. From this date Norman rule and culture was imposed on the people of England. Boulton is situated about four miles south of Derby and the people of Boulton in the year 1066 are thought to have been Anglo-Saxons who had settled in this fertile area at around 550. They had crossed the North Sea in open boats and sailed inland via the rivers Humber, Trent and Derwent. The Roman occupation had ended in 410 and this led to the country being largely undefended and a prime target for settlers from the European mainland. Boulton was Bola's village and in a similar manner Alvaston was Alhwald's and Elvaston, Aelvold's. The town of Derby had its origin in the year 874 but prior to this date there was a Saxon settlement called Northworthy on the banks of the Markeaton Brook just south of the present day Derby City centre. Boulton was within the Saxon kingdom of Mercia with nearby Repton being a place of considerable importance. In the year 874 the Danish King Guthrie advanced with his army into the region and burned the monastery at Repton. The Danes also began building their own town of Derby or Deorby as it was called, meaning town of the deer. Deorby was immediately north of the Saxon village of Northworthy which it eventually absorbed. It is possible that the Anglo-Saxon people of Boulton were of the Christian faith before the Norman invasion and they may have had a church here. If this were so, no remains are visible today. Saxon churches were usually constructed of wood and if a structure existed at Boulton, it would have been dismantled and the Norman stone church built in its place. Those who wish to know more of English History at this period may wish to visit the Website Anglo Saxon Britain, Viking raids and the Norman invasion . There is a wealth of historical material available to the Church and it is intended to assemble some of this material on to pages of this Website. The task is likely to take some time and separate pages will be added as and when they become available. Acknowledgements I would like to thank the following people for their generous help in compiling this History of Boulton St. Mary:- Roy Christian Joyce Colledge Rachel Coupe, Church Administrator, St. Peter's, Derby Carol Watson The Staff of Derbyshire Record Office, Matlock and The Local Studies Library, Derby.
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