All Saint’s Church

2467 Reviews

Star Travel Rating

3/5

Review type

Things to do

Location

Date of travel

2013

Product name

Product country

Product city

Travelled with

Husband

Reasons for trip

Elston is a small village just off the A46. Earlier this year, we had visited the tiny Norman Chapel on the edge of the Village but hadn’t had chance to visit the parish Church. This is in the centre of the village, set back from the road and screened by trees. It is easy to miss. Parking is along the edge of the road.

Set in the churchyard, it has a very tall narrow spire. This is 13thC although the base is thought to be Saxon, explaining how narrow it is. It was heightened in the 17th and 19thC for the clock and now has very tall pinnacles at the corners. The church is quite short with a battlemented nave and side aisles. The ends of the nave also have tall pinnacles and there is a stone cross in the centre. The chancel is lower with a tiled roof.

Entry is through the south porch with a simple archway and war memorial on the wall inside.

The inside of the church was restored extensively in the 19thC. It is simple with white washed walls and wooden ceiling. A single octagonal pillar with a pointed arch separates the nave and side aisles. Above the pointed chancel arch is a royal coat of arms. Stained glass windows are 19thC.

The chancel has a simple altar with a green cloth. On the north wall is a splendid organ with linen fold panels covering the front. There are more panels along the east wall.

On the west wall above the tower arch is an early 17thC stone memorial slab to John Lascelles, with a helmet and shield above and a long (and illegible) inscription. Members of his family are buried beneath the tower.

The main reason to visit the church are for the memorials of the Darwin family who lived in the nearby hall and which cover all the walls. Pride of place is the memorial to Erasmus Darwin, grandfather of the more famous Charles Darwin, along with his bust placed here in 2002 to mark the 200th anniversary of his death.

Call in if you are passing but don’t bother to make a special journey unless you are desperate to pay homage to Erasmus. Visit website. And more information about the memorials click here

Silver Travel Advisor

Join the club

Become a member to receive exclusive benefits

Our community is the heart of Silver Travel Advisor, we love nothing more than sharing ideas, inspiration, hints and tips between us.

Come feel the love on a Princess cruise. You’ll enjoy the MedallionClass experience others simply can’t, and it’s exclusively for everyone. Visit incredible destinations and be involved in the best experiences around each one of them.

Experience more with Princess and connect effortlessly with the world around you, spend time away with loved ones, take a moment for yourself, and fall in love with your holiday of a lifetime, every time.

With over 20 years of experience, Wendy Wu Tours has mastered the art of creating exceptional, fully inclusive tours which showcase the very best of each destination.

Each tour is led by a world-class guide, who will highlight the very best of their homeland, and includes authentic cultural experiences so you are not just seeing the sights, but truly immersing yourself in local life.

Say hello to ease at sea. Ambassador’s purpose is simple: they want to inspire every guest to experience authentic cruising, effortlessly and sustainably. Passionate about protecting our oceans and destinations, their ships comply with the highest industry emission standards and there is no single-use plastic on board.

On your voyage, you will receive the warmest of welcomes from the Ambassador community as you sail upon the friendliest ships afloat.

This is a global co-operative co-owned by local partners using real local experts and guides, which supports local communities, environments and wildlife. It offers travellers quirky places to stay, activity holidays and learning experiences. Not In The Guidebooks gets travellers off the beaten track into local culture with day experiences and longer, immersive adventures.

From wild wellness breaks in Wales to painting in Portugal, sustainable adventures in Mauritius to food safaris in Brazil, this is immersive, exciting travel.

Seabourn’s five intimate ships carry guests to the heart of great cities, exclusive yacht harbours and secluded coves around the world, while two new purpose-built expedition ships will combine exhilarating adventures in remote destinations with the sophisticated amenities of the world’s finest resorts at sea.

From the luxury of all suite accommodations to complimentary fine wines and spirits, and a no tipping policy, Seabourn exemplifies the definition of travelling well.