St John the Baptist's Church, Winster

St John the Baptist's Church, Winster is a Grade II listed parish church in the Church of England in Winster, Derbyshire.

History
The tower dates from 1721. Matthew Habershon made alterations in 1840 to 1842, and A Roland Barker started some restoration in 1884. which was completed in 1885. The chancel was demolished and replaced with a larger one, with Minton tiles in the floor. Vestries for the clergy and the choir were constructed. Choir stalls were inserted, a new altar was added and the lighting was improved. The chancel south wall window is by Burne-Jones and was made by Morris and co in 1883.

Parish status
The church is in a joint parish with:
 * Mission Room, Over Hackney
 * St Mary the Virgin's Church, South Darley
 * St Helen's Church, Darley Dale

Incumbents

 * John Aslop 1710 - 1719
 * William Cooper 1719 - 1729
 * John Gramston 1729 - 1756
 * John Steeple 1756 - 1806
 * George Pearson 1806 - 1811
 * Bache Thornhill 1811 - 1828
 * John Carill Worsley 1828 - 1829
 * Walter Shirley 1829 - 1839
 * George Gayton Harvey 1840
 * William Dyke 1846 - 1865
 * Herbert Milnes 1865 - 1895
 * William Henry Nixon 1895 - 1926 (afterwards vicar of All Saints' Church, Matlock Bank)
 * Arthur William Dickens 1926 - 1929 (afterwards vicar of Wroxton, Banbury)
 * Andrew Phimister 1929 - 1932
 * Arthur J.H. Britton 1932 - 1949 (afterwards Rector of St Mary the Virgin's Church, Weston-on-Trent)
 * Austin Neville Ware 1949 - 1955 (afterwards vicar of St Barnabas' Church, Hull)
 * Bertram Thomas Abell 1955 - 1964 (afterwards Rector of Holy Cross, Upper Langwith)
 * Laurence Herbert Webster 1965 - 1973
 * Norman Arthur Gurney 1973 - 1981
 * Kenneth Servante 1981 - 1997
 * Anthony Carr 1997 - 2006
 * John Marshall 2006 - 2011
 * Stephen Monk from 2011

Organ
The church contains a pipe organ by Abbott. The organ comprised two manuals and pedal with 14 speaking stops and was erected at a cost of £350. The new organ was opened on 28 November 1888 by Arthur Francis Smith of Derby. A specification of the organ can be found on the National Pipe Organ Register.

Bells
The tower contains a ring of 5 bells. The 1st is of 1892 by John Taylor, the 2nd of 1846 by John Taylor, The 3rd of 1880 by John Warner & Sons, the 4th by Daniel Hedderly, and the Tenor by John Warner & Sons of 1860.

Churchyard
The churchyard contains memorials to five soldiers.
 * Private Charles Herbert Walker Boam, Pioneer Corps, died 14 August 1944 aged 39
 * Serjeant F.C. Taylor, Royal Garrison Artillery, died 6 December 1919 aged 37
 * Private George Dale, 5th Battalion Duke of Wellington’s West Riding Regiment, died 23 November 1918 aged 32
 * Private Thomas Arthur Needham, 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards, died 11 April 1916 aged 19
 * Driver R.A. Newton, 1st Reserve Brigade Royal Field Artillery, died 4 April 1916