Peak Experience

Tideswell church is known as the Cathedral of the Peak.  It owes its beautiful and harmonious appearance the fact that it was built over a very short period of 60 years during the 1300s, replacing an earlier Norman church.

 

A picture of the church at Tideswell

 

Inside you can see carvings by Advent and William Hunstone and by Tooley of Bury St Edmunds.  Advent Hunstone created the famous pew ends, which form a set depicting the seven sacraments – baptism, confirmation, communion, marriage, absolution, ordination and the last rites.

 

A picture of a carving  A picture of a carving  Another picture of a carving A picture of carved lion  A picture of a stained glass window

 

Tideswell is also known for Samuel Slack (born 1757), the most popular bass singer of his time.  He sang before George III and for a Cambridge college choir.  Local legend says his voice was so powerful that he scared off a charging bull with his roar.  It seems Slack was proud of his Derbyshire roots.  He is said to have retained his Derbyshire dialect to the end.  He retired to Tideswell where he became the leading light of the local Catch and Glee Club.

 

A picture of the bell tower A picture of Tideswells stained glass

 

Tideswell is well provided with shops and tearooms within easy distance of the church, which is generally kept open.