Chancel: Church of St James, (Crosshill Church) Condor, Derbyshire

The Church of St James was consecrated by the Bishop of Lichfield on 10th October 1844, and was built by public subscriptions and grants for £2000. In 1888-1890 a two-bay chancel with vestry and north porch was added to the designs of John Holden FRIBA of Manchester. 

The foundation stone of the chancel was laid on !0 July 1890. Beneath the stone was placed a glass bottle containing a copy of the parish magazine, a newspaper, various plans of the church, several coins and a document reading:  The Church of Saint James, Codnor, in the Diocese of Southwell. This stone was well and truly laid to the glory of God and in His service on the 10th day of July, in the year of our lord one thousand eight hundred and ninety, by Sir Thomas William Evans (Baronet), of Allestree Hall, in the presence of the undersigned and of others. The additions to the church, which are represented by this stone are the chancel, vestry, and north porch, and the chancel arch, the pulpit, reading desk, choir stalls, and the whole of the seating in the body of the church. The original building and the present altered building are shown side by side on the drawing attached to this document. The district connected with this church at this date is a very poor one, consisting mainly of miners, iron workers, and other operatives, and the amount required to justify the commencement of works now under contract has been collected in small sums by the vicar, wardens, sidesmen, and others interested. It is hoped that the balance required will be forthcoming, so that the building may be re-opened at the completion of the works free from debt. Signed-William Bates (vicar), Herbert Wright Bates (curate), Thomas William Evans, Bart., Frederick C. Corfield, William Taylor (wardens), Thomas Farnsworth, Samuel Peake, John Woolley, Samuel Severn (lay representatives), Thomas Rowe, John Shelton, James Meakin, William Thorton, (sidesmen), William Floyde Pine, Arthur Floyd Pine, John Holden (architect), Manchester, and Samuel Warburton (contractor), Manchester.

Reference           Derby Mercury 16th July 1890

It has also emergd from correspondence held on file by Smith of Derby Ltd., clockmakers, that John Holden undertook a wider restoration of the parish church in 1890: [letter to John Smith & Sons, Midland Clock Works, 27, Queen Street, Derby, April 1890] Information from Maxwell Arnold, John Bradley Craven by e-mail