About Us

St Mary Magdalene Church owes it’s existence to His Grace, the 6th Duke of Portland. On 7th May 1897 it was announced that His Grace was having plans drawn out for a church in Creswell and that he would build it and present it to the village at his own expense. This was at a time when the village was expanding due to the influx of miners and their families to the village following the sinking of the pit in 1894.

His Grace, who defrayed the total cost of some £5,000, laid the foundation stone of the Church in 1899. The Lord Bishop of the Diocese of Southwell dedicated the Church on 17th May 1900. The original church consisted of a chancel and nave. The vestry was enlarged in 1905 and, in 1913, 2 side aisles were added at a further cost of £1,400. The Church was now able to accommodate 600 persons, the population of the village having grown to 5,360.

There are reminders of the links between the church and the mining industry within the church. In the north aisle, at the entrance to the choir vestry, is the canteen clock, brought from Creswell Colliery on its closure in 1991. A converted miner’s lamp hangs in the chapel at the eastern end of the north aisle as a reminder of those who worked beneath the parish and the church, and of the dangers faced when carrying out their onerous tasks. A prominent feature of this chapel is the stained glass window in memory of the 80 men who lost their lives in the colliery disaster on 26th September 1950. Clare Dawson designed the window in 1952. A plaque listing the names of the men who died is to be found on the north aisle wall.  The miner’s lamp remains permanently alight to remind people of Jesus Christ in the Blessed Sacrament.

St Mary Magdalene Church Creswell Further information that might interest you. 

In 1922, a plan was initiated to construct a tower and install a peal of bells for the church, with an estimated cost of £3,000. Initial fundraising efforts were met with generous support. However, instead of costs decreasing as hoped, they rose significantly, prompting an increased target of £4,000. The idea of a tower had originally been included in the church’s plans 30 years earlier but was abandoned due to financial constraints. Over the years, various attempts were made to reignite interest in the project. A parish ballot overwhelmingly supported the initiative, galvanizing fundraising efforts. One notable event was a Daffodil Bazaar, opened by Her Grace the Duchess of Portland, who bought and sold daffodils from Welbeck. The day’s activities included side shows and an evening concert, blending hard work with enjoyment.

In 1927, the Lord Bishop of Southwell dedicated the completed tower and its eight bells, which were supplied by the renowned Loughborough firm, Messrs. John Taylor and Co. The final cost of the project reached £5,000. Details of the bells are displayed on a plaque inside the church.

A unique event occurred in 1933 when the Lord Bishop of Derby ordained George Busby, the parish curate, during a rare ordination ceremony.

At the eastern end of the north aisle lies the Chapel of St Michael and All Angels, dedicated in May 1948 by the Bishop of Derby as a memorial to those who fell in the Second World War. An oak case houses the Roll of Honour, a beautifully bound vellum book listing the names of Creswell men and women who served in the armed forces during the war, with the names of the fallen inscribed on the reredos of the altar. The chapel also holds a carved oak memorial commemorating those who served and died in the First World War. The Royal British Legion flags of the Men’s and Women’s Sections are displayed here. Since 1984, the chapel has housed an Aumbrey in the north wall, containing the reserved Sacrament for Holy Communion to be taken to the sick and housebound.

The oak pulpit is part of the church’s original furnishings. The carved oak lectern, donated by the Mothers’ Union in 1945 as a thank-offering, replaced the original iron and brass lectern, which was deemed incompatible with the oak furnishings of the chancel and sanctuary.

The High Altar, designed and installed in 1914, was later enhanced with oak reredos and panelling in 1929. These were crafted by Derbyshire craftsmen, Messrs. Hunstone Bros. of Tideswell, who also created the intricate oak carvings in the Chapel of St Michael and All Angels. The reredos features a central depiction of Christ on the Cross, crowned, flanked by the Blessed Virgin Mary and St John. St Mary Magdalene, the patron saint of Creswell, and St Peter, representing the mother church at Elmton, are also portrayed.

Above the altar is an unusual circular stained-glass window, installed in 1934. Designed by the Principal of the Edinburgh School of Art, it depicts the Risen Christ appearing to Mary Magdalene in the garden. At the top centre is the Holy Dove, and above each figure, angels hold crowns of glory. A scroll bearing the word “Rabboni,” meaning “Teacher” in Aramaic, appears in the lower centre panel. The design is interwoven with a vine motif, and in the early morning sunlight, the window scintillates like a precious jewel.

The South Aisle features a votive candle stand and a statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary, often used for private prayer. People light candles here to seek divine assistance, healing, or peace for the departed. A stained-glass window above the votive stand commemorates John William Eadson, a long-serving churchwarden and treasurer. At the western end of the aisle is the Baptistry, a charming children’s corner with oak-panelled walls and screens. A picture presented by the children of Lowestoft hangs here, marking the sanctuary provided to them in Creswell during their evacuation in the Second World War.

The church’s communion plate includes two elegant chalices gifted by the 6th Duke and Duchess of Portland. Over the years, St Mary Magdalene’s has received many gifts in memory of loved ones. In 1996, a portable nave altar was donated for use during Family Eucharist services, enabling children to witness the symbols, signs, and gestures of Holy Communion up close. A set of Stations of the Cross, presented in 1997, is used during Lent and Holy Week devotions. These offerings highlight the church’s role as a sacred space for prayer, reflection, and the celebration of the sacraments.