Church of St Andrew, Clifton Campville facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Church of St Andrew |
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Watercolour by John Louis Petit, 1845
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| 52°41′38″N 1°37′40″W / 52.6938°N 1.6278°W | |
| OS grid reference | SK 252 107 |
| Location | Clifton Campville, Staffordshire |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Anglican |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Heritage designation | Grade I |
| Designated | 27 February 1964 |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Style | Early English, Gothic |
| Specifications | |
| Spire height | 189 feet (58 m) |
| Bells | 6 |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | Lichfield |
| Province | Canterbury |
The Church of St Andrew is a very old and important church in the village of Clifton Campville, Staffordshire. It is a Grade I listed building, which means it is considered one of the most important historic buildings in England. The church was built a long time ago, in the 13th and 14th centuries. Its tall spire is a famous part of the church and can be seen from far away!
History of the Church
A church was first mentioned here in the Domesday Book. This was a very old survey of England made in 1086. However, none of that first building remains today.
Around the year 1200, a new church was built. It had two main parts: the nave (the main area where people sit) and the chancel (the area near the altar). Later, in the late 1200s, two "arms" were added to the church. These are called the north and south transepts.
In the 1300s, the church became even bigger. A south aisle (a side section) was added. The chancel was made longer, creating the area we now call the sanctuary. A special side chapel, called the lady chapel, was built on the south side. The tall tower and spire were also built during this time. The church you see today is mostly the building from this period.
Inside the Church
The stonework from the 1300s is made of finely cut stone. The older stonework from the 1200s is rougher. You can see this difference in the north wall. The old south wall was replaced by a row of three arches. These arches lead into the south aisle.
In the north wall, one of the windows has beautiful glass from the 1400s. The north side chapel was likely built in the late 1200s. Above it, there is a special room for the priest. You can reach it by a spiral staircase from the chancel. This room has old features like a fireplace and a garderobe (an old type of toilet).
The large wooden screen between the nave and the chancel is from the 1400s. It is called a rood screen and has detailed carvings. There are also wooden doors from the 1600s in the screen. The chancel and sanctuary together are about 55 feet (17 m) long. Behind the choir stalls, there are special seats called misericords. These seats are from the 1300s and have carvings of plants and faces.
On the south wall of the south aisle, there is an old wall painting from the early 1300s. It shows Christ sitting on a throne, and Mary sitting with a crown. There are also figures of a knight and a lady.
The Lady Chapel
The lady chapel was built in the 1300s. It was created as a special place for prayers for certain people. This was recorded in old church books in 1361. It was built for Sir Richard Stafford and his wife Maud, and for the soul of his first wife, Isabel. Sir Richard Stafford was an important person from Clifton. His son, Edmund Stafford, later became a bishop.
There are old wooden screens that let you enter the chapel from the south aisle or the chancel. In the middle of the chapel, there is a large alabaster tomb chest. This monument is for John Vernon, who died in 1545, and his wife Ellen. Their figures are shown lying down on top of the tomb.
The church organ is also in the lady chapel. It was built in 1874 and moved to the church in 1907. It was made bigger in 1975.
Church Restoration
The church has been repaired and updated many times over the years. This is called "restoration." In the 1860s, a famous architect named George Edmund Street worked on the church. He replaced the old medieval roof.
Later, in 1910, another architect named W. D. Caroe did more restoration work. This included adding a new north porch, fixing the nave roof, and working on the north transept and the tower. The church bells were also rehung at this time.
In 1984, the tall spire was hit by lightning! This caused a lot of damage to the church. Luckily, all the repairs were finished by 1987.
See also
- Grade I listed churches in Staffordshire
- Listed buildings in Clifton Campville
