St Wilfrid

The early C14 chancel has a reticulated window of 3 lights in the north wall, and 2 to the south, all with moulded hoods.

On the south side is a C14 low side window.

Beyond the south porch is a late C17 4 light mullioned and transomed window with cyma moulded cornice.

The C16 gabled south porch is surmounted by a parvise room.

Nave arcades, C14, 4 bays, octagonal shafts with floriate capitals, double chamfered arches.

The C16 tower arch has octagonal responds and triple chamfered arch.

At the east end of the original north aisle is a C16 4 centred continuously moulded doorway to north chapel with above a 3 light panel traceried window.

In the south wall is a C14 triple sedilia.

All fittings and font are C19 apart from the rood screen and pulpit.

The late C14 screen is of 5 bays with pierced panel tracery in upper and lower parts with cusped ogee arches, bearing traces of original paint.

The richly decorated Jacobean pulpit panels remain with C20 base and steps.

One panel is arched with grotesque figures and the other is in a panelled design.

In the chancel and north chapel north windows are panels of C14 stained glass decorated with foliage.

The stained glass in the east window is by Sir Ninian Comper.

In the chancel a large standing alabaster monument surrounded by its original wrought iron railings, to Sir Robert Christopher, d. 1668, and wife, of Alford Manor House.

"Here lyeth the body of Sr Robert Christopher Knt who finished this life on the 16 day of february 1668 in the 63'd yeare of his age And of Dame Elizabeth his wife who dyed on the 21st day of November 1667, in the 50th yeare of her age. They had issue Elizabeth their onely childe now wife of the Right Noble Bennett Lord Sherard of Stapleford in the County of Leicester" Christopher was a well-to-do landowner who lived at the Manor House in West Street, Alford, and died in 1667, leaving bequest which founded the town's almshouses. This great Derbyshire alabaster altar tomb carries a slab of fine black marble on which are placed the pair's recumbent effigies. He is shown in armour holding his sword and wearing the elaborately curled "periwig" then fashionable among the men of wealth and position; she is also garbed in the fashion of the time with her hair covered in a hood. Traces of colour and gilding remain and the whole is surmounted by the Sir Robert's heraldic achievement, whilst the tomb chest itself is enclosed by contemporary piked iron railings. The monument has been attributed to Edward Strong. However, as he was only born in 1652, there is considerable doubt about the veracity of this, although it is possible that the work was not started until several years after Christopher's death.

© J.Hannan-Briggs

In the south aisle is a scrolled cartouche wall monument, surmounted by a female bust, probably late C17, possibly a member of the Tiptoft family.

In the nave is a ledger slab with full length portrait in low relief and black letter inscription to a priest, Richard de Watton, d.late C14.

The church was rebuilt by William of Tothby on the site of the old church which was pulled down c.1350, and the North Chapel was founded as a chantry chapel by the Tothby family in 1396.

The parvise was first used as a Grammar School, founded by Francis Spanning in 1566.