| All Saints' Church, Leamington Spa | |
All Saints' Church, Leamington Spa
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| Denomination | Church of England |
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| Churchmanship | Broad Church |
| Website | www.allsaintsleamington.org.uk |
| History | |
| Dedication | All Saints |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Leamington Spa |
| Diocese | Coventry |
| Province | Canterbury |
| Clergy | |
| Vicar(s) | Revd Christopher Wilson |
| Priest(s) | Revd Anne Morris |
| Laity | |
| Organist(s) | Cynthia Hall MA FRCO
Assistant Organist David Williams MA FRCO |
All Saints Church is the parish church for Leamington Spa town centre, England.
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Built in the gothic style in the 19th century, it has been described as "one of the largest Church of England parish churches, rivaling many cathedrals in size."[1] It is located in the centre of the town, just south of the River Leam in what was the old core of the town.
The Domesday Book of 1086 reports that there was a priest present in "Lamintone", (an old name for Leamington) although there is no specific mention of a church. The earliest record of one was from the 12th century when Leamington was still a tiny hamlet in the parish of Leek Wootton.[2] A west tower was added in the 14th century whilst a south porch was put added in the 18th.[3] The first spring (of many that made Leamington famous) was located just outside the main entrance of the church of land owned by the Earl of Aylesford. It was however in 1843 that the church began to take its current form and shape.[4] By this time the church was no longer in open fields just to the north of a hamlet, but was in the centre of a bustling spa town. The last major works to take place to the church were from 1898–1902, when two western bays to the nave and a south western bell tower were added.[5]
The church can comfortably seat 600 people but it can hold up to 1000 people. There are seven services a week, three on Sunday, one on Wednesday, one on Thursday and two on Friday. The Cafe Within (currently closed) was a small cafe in the church which served snacks and light meals. It was open at lunchtimes between Wednesday and Sunday.[6] Two of Leamington's town founders, Benjamin Satchwell and William Abbotts are buried in the churchyard. From September 2007 to February 2008 the area at the front of the church was redeveloped and a new sculpture, entitled 'Spring', was installed on the site of the original Leamington spring.
The church has a pipe organ by William Hill & Sons dating from 1879. There have been subsequent rebuilds by Hill, Norman and Beard in 1926, and Longstaff & Jones in 1981. A specification of the organ can be found on the National Pipe Organ Register, and further information about the extensive musical life of the church can be found on the All Saints' Music website.
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