All Saints, Oakham, Rutland
Description
The church of All Saints, seated on rising ground, by the site of the old castle, at the north-east end of the town, is a cruciform building of stone, chiefly in the Perpendicular style, consisting of chancel, ante-church, nave of four bays with clerestory, aisles, transepts, south porch and a western tower with four pinnacles and an octagonal spire, relieved by three tiers of spire lights and containing a clock and 8 bells, which were re-cast in 1910 and re-hung in a steel frame; the organ was erected in 1872 and enlarged at various dates up to 1910: the reredos, a fine structure of alabaster, the gift of C. K. Morris esq. was erected in 1898, and brass altar rails, presented by the Earl of Lonsdale, and a marble pavement were added in the same year: the pulpit, lectern, reading desk, chancel benches and screens are all of carved oak, in the Decorated style: the ceiling is also of oak, panelled: there is a memorial window to Colonel the Hon. Henry Cecil Lowther, of Barleythorpe M.P., D.L. d. 6 Dec. 1867: at the west end of the church there is a monument to Ann, the daughter of Andrew Burton esq. of Oakham and Fellow of Gray's Inn, ob. June, 1642; there are other memorials to the Freer family, and a tablet to John Bullivant Lieut. 76th Regiment, who served under General Sir John Moore at Corunna and elsewhere, and died 2 May, 1825; there is also a brass recording the centenary commemoration of the foundation of Sunday schools: in 1858-9 the church was thoroughly repaired, refloored and reseated and new carved screens erected, at a cost of £6,086: there are 850 sittings, most of which are appropriated to the inhabitants.
The Roman Catholic church, in Mill street, built in 1883, under the direction of Father Van Dale, and dedicated to SS. Joseph and Edith is a small and plain structure of brick with freestone facings and has a turret containing one bell.
The Congregational chapel, in High street, founded in 1662, has 320 sittings.
The Baptist chapel, in Melton road, founded in 1770, will seat 350. There is another Baptist chapel (Providence) in New street.
There are also Wesleyan Methodist and Primitive Methodist chapels.
Church Records
The parish register dates from the year 1564.