The information here is largely taken from published histories: The Church of St Werburgh Blackwell, by S Storer and HG Cresswell published in the 1950s, and The Parish and Parish Council of the Parish of Blackwell by Edgar Storer of 1994.
Who was St Werburgh?
St Werburgh to whom the church is dedicated, lived in the 7th Century, granddaughter of Penda, the last heathen king in England.
The Saxon Cross and Church
The earliest record of a church on this imposing site, lies in the remains of the Saxon Cross in the entrance porch, and said to date perhaps from about 650 AD. The local population would probably have met with missionary preachers around the cross, leading to the building of a Saxon Church in wood with a straw thatched roof. The Cross has lost it’s cross piece, and the shaft alone remains. It has interlaced spiral knots and Staffordshire knots carvied into it. The Domesday book tells of a priest at Blackwell around 1085.
The Ancient Church
A stonebuilt Church was erected in Norman times, and a pillar from this stands preserved inside in the north wall and is the only fragment remaining of the ancient church. It was reported to be “one of the oldest in our County of Derby” when a rebuild of the church was planned in 1825.
The Old Church
The Churchwardens were pressured by the Archdeacon of Derby to rebuild the church in 1823; this was eventually undertaken and completed in 1827, but by 1878 it was too small for the increased demand of the growing population of Blackwell due to the deep coal mines; improvements were considered, before a decision to rebuild the church with the exception of the Tower.
The Present Church
A closing service was held for the Old Church on July 14th 1878, and the reopening service just 13 months later on August 13th 1879. The church structure which stands here today is little changed from that date, with the exception of the stained glass windows and decorations, many installed as memorials to various saints, parishioners or historical events.
The Bells & Bellringers
The Choir