Whether there was a church of any sort in Clowne at this time, we do not know. As we have already seen, no church was mentioned in the Doomsday Book, so there probably was not. But nearby churches at Barlborough, Elmton, and Staveley were noted in the survey.
Twelfth Century.
The present church in Clowne was built during the reign of Stephen (1135-1154), and was then known as All Saints.
Architectural experts see in the design and pattern of the church, sure evidence of it being constructed at this time. There is also a Norman doorway, Norman font, and Chancel Arch.Also can be seen Norman remains of a priest's piscina and a priest's doorway from this period. Outside is a large flat gravestone that experts have dated to this time, although it bears the date of 1650 on it.
Thirteenth Century.
This century gives us this first definite information of Clowne Church.In the reign of Henry 111 (1216-1272), the church of All Saints was conferred by the king to Worksop Priory.In the 1291 Taxation Roll however indicated that Worksop had only been given the "advowson" (the right to dispose the living) together with an annual pension of £2.Clowne is entered in the roll as an "ecclesia"(which gave it the rights to have burials on it's land) had an incomeof £6 13s 4d per annum. The pension to Worksop was £2, so it follows that it's control was only partial.
Fourteenth Century.
During this century repairs to the roof were effected, the artisans who performed this task, certainly knew their trade as the 14th Century timbers are still in place to this day!
It was during this century, 1348-1350, that the Black Death struck the country. Derbyshire was particularly badly hit. The number of clergy who died, as their numbers were recorded was used to calculate the scale of the disease. In Derbyshire that figure, between 1349-1350, was 77 from a total of 108. This was well over two thirds of the priests in the county, and it is believed laymen died in the same proportions.
Fifteenth Century.
The church tower was added in this century, to what had been a simple Norman church. The embattled tower with four pinnacles is supported by buttresses. The bell chamber, which contains three bells, has plain windows and is reached by a small cramped staircase. The lower part of the tower opens into the main church through a high archway rising from carved corbels.
Sixteenth Century.
The 16th century saw more changes than at any time since the Norman Conquest; many of these changes still affect us today. The greatest of these changes came with the Dissolution, which began, in the early 1530's, when much of the church's land was given to individuals. In 1528, one William Inskip became rector. He remained in that position through the reign of five different monarchs, beginning with Henry VIII through to Elizabeth I, a total of 54 years. He was buried in the church 30th November 1582.
In 1591, a new bell, made by a Henry Oldfield, and bearing the inscription "God save his church", was hung.
