Church of St Mary and All Saints, Chesterfield

The Church of St Mary and All Saints is the Parish Church of Chesterfield, in Derbyshire, England. It is Grade I listed, and is a famous landmark due to its twisted spire. The Church mostly dates back to the 14th Century. [ [http://www.chesterfieldparishchurch.org.uk/ Chesterfield Parish Church] ]

The spire is both twisted and leaning, twisting 45 degrees and leaning 9 feet 6 inches from its true centre. The leaning characteristic is believed to be the result of the absence of skilled craftsmen (the Black Death had been gone only twelve years prior to the spire's completion), insufficient cross-bracing, and the use of unseasoned timber.

There have been other explanations:

One is that the spire was so shocked to learn of the marriage of a virgin in the church that it bent down to get a closer look. Should this happen again, it is said that the spire will straighten and return to its true position. Another is that a Bolsover blacksmith mis-shoed the Devil, who leaped over the spire in pain, knocking it out of shape.

Tours

The spire is open to the public on some days and can be climbed part way up. The views from the top of the Tower on a clear day stretch for miles. The Spire which is used as a symbol of chesterefield can often be seen from the surrounding hill poking out of a sea of mist, on a winters morning.

References

External links

* http://www.derbyshireuk.net/chesterfield_church.html