In the year 1273 the Dean of Lichfield, as rector of Tideswell, gave leave for the erection of a chapel of ease at Wormhill. The villages were to continue to pay tithes to the mother church at Tideswell, returning there to worship at all important festivals, whilst keeping their own chapel in repair, furnishing it with books and ornaments and meeting expenses for its chaplain.

All traces of this ancient chapel were lost at a re-building of 1864, five years after Wormhill was constituted an ecclesiastical parish. But at least the remains of an ancient cross were left undisturbed on the south side of the churchyard. Set into a stone base above two square steps the shaft has long served time as a sun dial, its plate engraved ‘The Gift of Robert Meverill Gent. G. R. fecit 1670’. During rebuilding, the low west tower, incorporating decorative tufa stone at its angles, was raised and surmounted by the most unique roof in the Peak District. Known as a German - or Rhenish Helm, its spire-like construction is formed from four diamond-shaped sides rising between the pointed gables of the tower walls. The design is thought to be a copy of the well-known Saxon tower of the church at Sampting in Sussex.

This new tower was hung with a peal of six bells, originally cast as trade samples by Taylor & Co. of Loughborough they are famed as the smallest peal in existence. The heaviest bell at 1 cwt compares with that of Youlgreave which weighs 27 cwt.

MONUMENTS AND MEMORIALS St. Margaret's close neighbour is Wormhill Hall whose former residents, notably the Bagshawe and Deakin families, are well represented by monuments and memorial gifts inside the church. As early as 1758 Richard and Mary Bagshaw (sic) gave a silver chalice and paten to the old chapel. Presented more recently in memory of Captain Leonard Vale Bagshawe, killed in action in 1915, was the oak cover of the white marble font. Just one hundred years old, the font is supported on four pillars of dark marble, with four winged cherubs peeping out from beneath its bowl.

A nearby wall bears a brass tablet of 1883 to the Reverend A. A. Bagshawe, forty years vicar, whilst a successor, the Reverend Alfred Drake Bagshawe, is named on a plaque on the organ, installed by subscription in 1895. A brass bible rest was later given in his memory.

Two distinctive memorials decorate the chancel arch. In the form of painted arms is that to Gladys Godwin de l'Hall, daughter of Francis W. Bagshawe, and to Beatrice Muriel Westby. The other, a brass cross between two brass shields of arms was installed, together with the choirstalls, in memory of Francis Westby Bagshawe, who died in 1896, and his wife Caroline. Finely carved choirstall poppyheads complement other woodcarving.

Symbols of the Passion border the pulpit, vines and corn decorate the altar, with figures of St. Margaret, Dorcas, The Good Shepherd and St. Guthbergha carved in relief on the reredos alongside a picture of the Last Supper.

THE STAINED GLASS Stained glass of the east window, depicting the preaching Christ, was dedicated in memory of brothers William Leonard and Francis Westby Bagshawe. Other memorial windows were installed early this century by the Deakin family. A pair in the west wall, with figures of Christ and St John, were given by the widow and children of John Deakin. A brother of Edward Deakin gave memorial glass in the north wall, which also contains a single light window of the Good Shepherd. In the south wall a memorial window to Martha Deakin shows Christ amongst the children. An enamelled brass records the dedication of a nearby mid Victorian window, representing St. Mary, in memory of Catherine Maria Partridge.

Later gifts include the brass altar cross inlaid with gems, a memorial to Edith Saunders; a lectern desk and oak table dedicated, respectively, to the memories of Margery Gyte and Ernest Wainwright; a lectern bible given in memory of William Wilshaw, churchwarden for 28 years. Displayed on the west wall are three hatchments - painted commemorative heraldries formerly carried at the funerals of persons who bore arms. Informal by contrast is a monument of 1913 to John Jenkins, churchwarden and sidesman, and foreman of Miller's Dale station. Its warm epitaph ends with a biblical text and the words ‘A Merry Heart Goes All the Day’', from Shakespeare's ‘A Winter's Tale’.

St Margaret's Church will be open to visitors during Wormhill well dressings week, 25th August to 2nd September. [Ed: NB this refers to a week in 1990]

© Julie Bunting
From "The Peak Advertiser", 20th August 1990.