All Saints Church, Alrewas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids All Saints' Church, Alrewas |
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All Saints' Church, Alrewas
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| 52°44′05″N 1°45′11″W / 52.734764°N 1.753095°W | |
| Location | Alrewas, Staffordshire |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Anglican |
| Website | www.alrewasallsaints.church |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Heritage designation | Grade I listed |
| Designated | 20.11.1986 |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Style | Gothic |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Alrewas |
| Deanery | Lichfield |
| Archdeaconry | Lichfield |
| Diocese | Lichfield |
| Province | Canterbury |
All Saints Church, Alrewas is a historic church in the village of Alrewas, Staffordshire, England. It is located in the north-west part of the village, next to the Trent & Mersey Canal. This church is a very important building, listed as a Grade I Listed Building. This means it is of exceptional national interest. A church has stood on this spot since the 10th century. The building you see today was mostly built between the 13th and 19th centuries.
Contents
History of All Saints Church
A church has been on this site since at least 822 AD. The first building was likely made of wood with a roof of reeds. Alrewas was a busy place back then. It was owned by important people like Ælfgar, Earl of Mercia and later King John.
Norman Beginnings (11th-12th Century)
The Normans arrived in England and built a new church. They used local stone instead of wood. This stone church probably stood where the main part of the church (the nave) is now. You can still see parts of this old Norman church. These include the tower doorway and some heavy stone pieces in the north wall.
Medieval Changes (13th-16th Century)
In the 13th century, a beautiful new part was added. This was the chancel, built in the Early English style. It had tall, narrow windows called lancet windows. It also had a special sink (piscina) and seats for priests (sedilia).
The main part of the church (nave) and the south aisle were built in the 14th century. The old Norman doorway on the north side was kept. The impressive tower was also built during this time. The old Norman west door was moved to the base of the tower.
In the 16th century, more changes were made. Windows were added high up on the walls (clerestory windows). These let in more light. The lovely carved wooden roofs of the nave and south aisle were also built then.
Victorian Restorations (19th Century)
In 1866, the church porch was rebuilt. Above it, you can see an old sundial. There is also an ancient mass dial on a stone support nearby.
Major restoration work happened in 1877. The chancel was repaired and updated. A new stained-glass window was put in by Holiday. The walls and roof were fixed. The floor was covered with marble and tiles. A new carved stone screen was also added. The church reopened for services on November 21, 1877.
In 1891, the north aisle was built. This made the church look balanced on both sides. The architect for this work was Basil Champneys. The cost was about £1,600 in 1891 money (equivalent to £125,200 in 2021). The work took from March to November. The old Norman doorway was used again in the new north wall. A carved oak screen was put up in memory of a former vicar's father.
The stained-glass windows in the new north aisle were made by Charles Eamer Kempe. The chancel screen was put in place in 1892.
Notable Features
- Wall Paintings: In medieval times, the church walls were covered in colourful paintings. During the Reformation, these were painted over with whitewash. When the church was restored in the 1800s, some parts of these old paintings were found. You can still see a small piece on the north wall of the chancel.
- Ancient Chests: The church has two very old wooden chests. These were once used to store important village records. They probably date back to the 14th century.
- Octagonal Font: The font, where baptisms take place, is shaped like an octagon. It has four lions carved at its base and is from the 15th century.
- Carved Pulpit: The wooden pulpit, where sermons are given, was made in 1639. This was during the time of the English Civil War. It is one of the best examples of 17th-century wood carving in the area.
- Oak Altar Table: The main altar table, made of oak, dates from 1638.
- Church Bells: The church has 8 bells today. They were recast (melted down and made new) in 1922. Before that, there were bells from 1585, 1618, and 1711.
- Monuments: At the east end of the south aisle, you can find some beautiful monuments. Two are from the 18th century, and one is even older. This part of the church used to be the private chapel for the Turton family, who were important landowners.
- Organ: A new organ was installed in 1882 by Brindley & Foster. It originally had 16 "speaking stops" (different sounds). Now it has 19 stops. You can find more details about the organ on the National Pipe Organ Register.
- Turret Clock: A new clock was put in the tower in 1887. It cost £124 (equivalent to £9,900 in 2021). It has two clock faces and plays the Cambridge Chimes. It was built by Mr Smith of Derby.
Present
All Saints Church is still a very active part of the Alrewas community today. It holds Sunday services, including an 8 am Holy Communion and a 10 am Family Service. There is also a group of people who ring the church bells.
The church also gives its name to the All Saints Bowling Club. This club is located behind the church, between the church building and the Trent & Mersey Canal. There is also the All Saints Church of England Primary School, which is the main primary school in Alrewas.
See also
- Grade I listed churches in Staffordshire
- Listed buildings in Alrewas
Images for kids
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The church in a 19th-century drawing by one of the Lines family
