All Saints' Church, Oakham

File:Oakham Adam and Eve.jpg

The spire of Oakham parish church dominates distant views of the town for several miles in all directions. The impressive west tower and spire, built during the 14th century in the Decorated Gothic style, are slightly earlier in date than most of the rest of the exterior of the building, which (apart from some Victorian restoration) is in the Perpendicular style. Oddly, the south doorway and its porch seem to be the oldest parts of the church, the doorway probably dating from the early 13th century with the porch having been added later that century.

In the light, spacious interior there is more evidence of the mature Decorated style of the 14th century. The tall, slender columns of the nave have intricately carved capitals showing animals, birds, figures, foliage and scenes from the Bible including Adam and Eve, the Expulsion from the Garden of Eden, the Annunciation and the Coronation of the Virgin Mary. There is also a fine Green Man.

The church was restored in 1857 to 1858 by Sir George Gilbert Scott. It is a Grade I listed building.{{cite web | title=Church of All Saints | work=historicengland.org.uk | url=https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1073305 | accessdate=2006-10-01}} The church formerly housed a library of books donated by Anne Harington in 1616.Lesley Lawson, Out of the Shadows (London, 2007), p. 3. The remaining collection was transferred to the University of Nottingham in 1980.Anne L. Herbert, "Oakham parish library", Library History, 6:1 (1982), pp. 11. {{doi|10.1179/lib.1982.6.1.1}}[https://sites.utexas.edu/ransomcentermagazine/2017/10/19/a-baroness-and-her-bookshelves-in-an-english-parish-church-2/ "A baroness and her bookshelves in an English parish church", Ransom Center Magazine, 9 October 2017]

During the church restoration in 1858 the first stage of the tower was fitted with a new ringing floor and the bells were rehung in a new oak frame. Two bells were re-cast by Mears of London.{{cite news |author= |title=Restoration and Re-opening of Oakham Church |url=http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000400/19231215/182/0010 |newspaper=Leicester Journal |location=England |date=12 November 1858 |access-date=20 October 2016 |via = British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription }}

There is a ring of eight bells cast by Gillett & Johnston in 1910, and a priest's bell of 1840.A History of the County of Rutland: Volume 2 (1935), pp. 5–27

On 9 December 1923 the tenor bell broke loose from the headstock but fortunately was captured in the bell frame and did not penetrate into the ringing room.{{cite news |author= |title=Remarkable Mishap at All Saints' Church Oakham |url=http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000400/19231215/182/0010 |newspaper=Grantham Journal |location=England |date=15 December 1923 |access-date=20 October 2016 |via = British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription }} The bell frame was still in a poor condition in 1937 which prevented it being used to ring for the Coronation of King George VI.{{cite news |author= |title=Oakham Bells to Remain Silent |url=http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/BL/0000400/19370501/396/0015 |newspaper=Grantham Journal |location=England |date=1 May 1937 |access-date=20 October 2016 |via = British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription }}

File:Organ in All Saints' Church, Oakham 02.jpg

An organ by Brindley & Foster was installed in 1872Grantham Journal – Saturday 6 April 1872 in the Lady Chapel at a cost of £750 ({{Inflation|UK|750|1872|r=0|fmt=eq|cursign=£}}).{{Inflation-fn|UK}} It was enlarged in 1896. In 1937, Roger Yates improved and electrified it, and moved it to the north west corner of the Church, with the console in the Trinity Chapel. This organ was removed in 1994.

The new two manual pipe organ dates from 1996 and is by the builder Kenneth Tickell and Company. A specification of the organ can be found on the [http://www.npor.org.uk/cgi-bin/Rsearch.cgi?Fn=Rsearch&rec_index=D02710 National Pipe Organ Register].

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• Mr. Gadsby 1872 –
• Henry Nicholson 1877 – 1922
• John Barham Johnson 1923 – 1925
• George Newell 1925 – 1927
• George F. Austin 1927{{cite news |author= |title=Appointment of Organist of Parish Church |url=http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000400/19270129/242/0010

|newspaper=Grantham Journal |location=England |date=29 January 1927 |access-date=20 October 2016 |via = British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription }}

• A.H. Allsop 1927 – 1930{{cite news |author= |title=New Appointment for Oakham Church |url=http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000400/19300111/248/0010

|newspaper=Grantham Journal |location=England |date=11 January 1930 |access-date=20 October 2016 |via = British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription }}

• Victor Brook 1930{{cite news |author= |title=Oakham |url=http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000400/19300510/239/0010

|newspaper=Grantham Journal |location=England |date=10 May 1930 |access-date=20 October 2016 |via = British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription }} – 1932

• John Dalby 1932 – 1936{{cite news |author= |title=Oakham Organist Leaving |url=http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000400/19360222/310/0014

|newspaper=Grantham Journal |location=England |date=22 February 1936 |access-date=20 October 2016 |via = British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription }}

• Stanley Nolan 1939{{cite news |author= |title=From Beeston to Oakham |url=http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000321/19390607/055/0007

|newspaper=Nottingham Evening Post |location=England |date=7 June 1939 |access-date=20 October 2016 |via = British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription }} – ????

• Russell Arthur Missin 1950 – 1956 (later organist of Newcastle Cathedral).
• Derek Thomas 1958 – 1984
• Ivan Linford 1996 – 1999
• Kevin Slingsby 2005 – 2021
• Dr. August Guan 2021 – 2023 (later sub-organist of Brecon Cathedral)
• Harry Jacques 2023 –

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Oakham Parish Church is in a team ministry with:

• St Andrew's Church, Hambleton
• St Edmund's Church, Egleton
• All Saints' Church, Braunston-in-Rutland
• St Peter's Church, Brooke, Rutland
• Church of St Peter and St Paul, Langham
• St Andrew's Church, Whissendine
• Holy Trinity Church, Teigh
• St Mary's Church, Ashwell, Rutland
• Church of St Peter and St Paul, Market Overton

Image:Oakham_Church_and_cottage.jpg|All Saints' Church seen from Northgate

Image:Oakham Church Interior.jpg|Interior of All Saints' Church; view from north aisle looking southwest towards font

Image:Oakham Capital fox and geese.jpg|Early 14th-century capital, showing fox and geese and other creatures

Image:Oakham Church capital Angel Gabriel.jpg|Early 14th-century capital, showing the Angel Gabriel (part of the Annunciation scene) (left), and Adam and Eve between Christ and the Jaws of Hell (right)

Image:Oakham Green Man capital.jpg|Early 14th-century capital, showing a Green Man

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Category:Grade I listed churches in Rutland

Category:Church of England church buildings in Rutland

Category:Oakham