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St Margaret's Church, Wolstanton facts for kids

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Church of St Margaret
St Margaret's Church, Wolstanton.jpg
53°1′46.9″N 2°12′56.0″W / 53.029694°N 2.215556°W / 53.029694; -2.215556
OS grid reference SJ 856 481
Country United Kingdom
Denomination Church of England
History
Dedication Saint Margaret
Architecture
Heritage designation Grade II*
Designated 21 October 1949
Architect(s) Ward and Son
Anthony Salvin
Style Decorated
Specifications
Bells 8
Administration
Diocese Diocese of Lichfield

St Margaret's Church is an Anglican church located in Wolstanton, Staffordshire, England. It belongs to the Diocese of Lichfield. This historic building is officially recognized as a Grade II* listed site, meaning it is a very important building with special historical or architectural interest.

About St Margaret's Church

The village of Wolstanton is mentioned in the Domesday Book from 1086. This very old record shows that the village already had a priest back then. Parts of the church building are from the medieval period, which means they are hundreds of years old. The church's tower and its unique eight-sided spire are built on these ancient foundations. The spire is unusual because it is on the north side of the church.

The church is built in a style called "decorated architecture." This style was popular in England between about 1290 and 1350. The church was rebuilt a little in 1623. Then, in 1860, it was mostly rebuilt by architects Ward and Son. The chancel, which is the part of the church where the altar is, was designed by a famous architect named Anthony Salvin.

Inside the Church

The main part of the church, called the nave, has rows of arches known as arcades. These arches divide the nave into four sections. The roof of the nave is a special type called a hammerbeam roof, which is a very strong and decorative wooden roof.

Inside the chancel, you can see monuments dedicated to the Sneyd family. One important monument is a large tomb made of alabaster from the 1500s. It honors Sir William Sneyd and his wife Anne. Their statues are lying on top of the tomb. There are also stone tablets on the walls remembering other members of the family.

Church Bells

St Margaret's Church has eight bells. Six of these bells were made in 1714 for a different church in Trentham. They were moved and installed at St Margaret's in 1767.

The Churchyard

The churchyard is the burial ground around the church. It is the resting place of Henry Faulds (1843–1930). He was a missionary and is famous for helping to develop the use of fingerprints for identification.

Another interesting grave in the churchyard belongs to Sarah Smith, who passed away in 1763 when she was 21 years old. The words on her tombstone suggest that she was poisoned. This grave is also a Grade II listed site, meaning it is historically important.

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