Church History
On the chancel floor is a monument dating from the 17th century, commemorating the life of Lydia Gore. A verse inscribed upon it reads "floods are due unto this stone", referring to the tears that fell through her life when five of her children died. There is a figure representing her son Charles, six years old when he died, kneeling in prayer in a recess in the wall of the church.
St Giles is remembered on 1 September -
According to legend, Giles withdrew to the forests of southern France where a hind deer became his sole companion for many years and sustained him on her milk. The story goes that a king out hunting discovered the deer, pursued her to the saint's retreat and tried to shoot her with an arrow. He missed and instead wounded the hermit who was at prayer. The king was horrified by what he had done and sought to recompense Giles, building him a monastery at a place known today as Saint-
Its abbey church later became a centre of pilgrimage for a cult that spread far and wide during the Middle Ages with many churches across western and central Europe being dedicated to the saint including St Giles Cathedral in Edinburgh, and of course St Giles Alderton. There are links within the church to a deer including this on the exterior of the left hand side of the main window and the stained glass window.
There are a number of carved corbel heads for the south aisle roof, 24 in total, that were restored during the 19th century rebuild. Many of the original stone carvings were incorporated into the doors, windows and water flows of the tower, during the rebuild.
Five of the chest tombs within the graveyard are also Grade 11 listed.
Alderton Parochial Church Council
St Giles Church, The Street
Alderton SN14 6NL
Administrator: Alison Withers
01666 825019
stgilesalderton@outlook.com
6 year old Charles Gore
Lydia Gore lost five of her children
Three of the restored corbel heads from the south aisle
Original carving from the East window
Original carving from the main door
Chest tomb c1800 Grade 11 listed
Chest tomb late 17th century Grade 11 listed
Two Chest tombs c1800 Grade 11 listed
Chest tomb c1850 Grade 11 listed