St Mary's Church, Rolleston on Dove facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Mary’s Church, Rolleston on Dove |
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South elevation
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 St Mary’s Church, Rolleston on Dove
Location in Staffordshire
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| 52°50′47″N 1°39′05″W / 52.8464°N 1.6515°W | |
| OS grid reference | SK 23564 27718 |
| Location | Rolleston on Dove, Staffordshire |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| History | |
| Dedication | St Mary the Virgin |
| Architecture | |
| Heritage designation | Grade I listed |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Rolleston: St Mary |
| Deanery | Tutbury |
| Archdeaconry | Stoke-on-Trent |
| Diocese | Diocese of Lichfield |
St Mary's Church is a historic church in Rolleston on Dove, Staffordshire, England. It is part of the Church of England. Some parts of the church are very old, dating back to 1130. The church was also greatly updated in 1892.
One interesting thing about St Mary's is that its main entrance is on the north side. This is quite unusual for churches. The south entrance was mainly used by the Mosley family. They were important local landowners and helped the church a lot.
Inside, you can see beautiful stained glass windows. Some are from the medieval period, which means they are very old. Others were designed by a famous Victorian artist named Charles Eamer Kempe. The church tower holds eight bells, with one bell dating all the way back to 1586!
St Mary's Church is a Grade I listed building. This means it's a very important historical building. Other nearby structures, like the churchyard railings and a special gate called a lychgate, are also listed for their historical value. The lychgate also serves as a war memorial.
Contents
About the Church
St Mary's Church is the main church for the area of Rolleston on Dove. It belongs to the Diocese of Lichfield within the Church of England. The church holds regular services, including holy communion and choral evensong.
Church History
People believe a church has been on this spot since the early Norman times. A priest was recorded in Rolleston in the 1086 Domesday Book. The church we see today was built later.
For many years, the right to choose the church's priest belonged to the lord of the manor of Rolleston. This right, called an advowson, changed hands several times. It was even owned by the the Crown for a while. In the 1620s, Sir Edward Mosley, 1st Baronet gained control of the advowson.
The Mosley family had a very close connection to St Mary's Church. Many family members, especially younger sons, became rectors (priests) there. They even had their own private entrance on the south side of the church. They also had special rights for seating and placing monuments inside. The Mosley family still has the right to be buried in the churchyard. However, the churchyard itself stopped being used for new burials in 1974. A new cemetery was built nearby.
Later, the right to choose the priest passed to different trusts. Today, the Church Pastoral Aid Society holds this right. St Mary's Church was officially recognized as a Grade I listed building on March 12, 1964.
What the Church Looks Like Today
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The church building you see now was mostly built in the 12th and 13th centuries. It had a big renovation in 1892, led by architect Sir Arthur Blomfield. The oldest part still standing is the north entrance. It's in the Romanesque style and dates back to 1130.
The church is made of sandstone and has a main area called the nave, a special area for the altar called the chancel, and a tower with a spire. There are also side sections called aisles on both the north and south sides.
The nave is mostly from the 13th century. It's surrounded by the aisles. The north aisle was added in 1892 and is also known as the lady chapel. The south aisle was also extended in 1892. The Mosley family's private entrance, built in 1821, is on the south side.
The tower was built in the 14th century and stands at the west end of the church. It has three levels and is topped with a decorative wall and a stone spire added in 1892.
Inside the Church
The chancel has beautiful stained glass windows by the Victorian artist Charles Eamer Kempe. There's also a window in the south aisle with medieval stained glass, which is very old.
The church interior was greatly changed in 1884. New pews (church benches) were put in, using old oak wood. The walls were cleaned, and a gallery (a raised seating area) was removed.
The tower holds eight bells. The oldest bell is from 1586, and others are from 1622, 1652, 1701, 1803, 1908, and two from 1929. There's also an electric clock. The Mosley family gave an organ to the church during the 1892 renovation.
You can also see several monuments inside the church. These include memorials for important people like Robert Sherborne, who was a bishop, and many members of the Mosley family. The monument for Sir Edward Mosley, who died in 1638, is the largest one in the church.
Churchyard Features
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The churchyard is surrounded by a sandstone wall. It was changed a lot in the 1800s, with new entrances and walls. In 1897, Sir Oswald Mosley, 4th Baronet, put a Saxon cross in the churchyard. This cross had a long history, even being used as a paving slab before!
An iron fence was put up in 1900 to keep cattle out. In 1923, Sir Oswald Mosley, 5th Baronet gave more land to extend the churchyard. Floodlights were added in 1996, and a special yew tree was planted in 2000 to mark the new millennium. Some parts of the churchyard, like a monument and railings, are also listed as Grade II historic buildings.
An old grammar school, St. Mary's Grammar School, used to be connected to the churchyard. It was first supported by Bishop Sherbourne in 1520 and rebuilt in 1640. The school closed in 1909 when a new council school opened in the village. Today, the old school building is used by different village groups. It is also a Grade II listed building. The entire churchyard is listed as a scheduled monument, meaning it's a nationally important archaeological site.
The lychgate at the northern entrance to the churchyard is also a war memorial. It was built in 1919 with donations from the public and the Mosley family. This special gate lists the names of villagers who died in the two world wars. The lychgate is also a Grade II listed building.
Rectory
A large house for the church's rector (priest) was built north of the church in 1612. It was a big property with a stable, barn, and gardens. The house was rebuilt in brick in 1700 and improved over the years. In 1953, it was sold, and a smaller house for the rector was built on church land.
See also
- Grade I listed churches in Staffordshire
- Listed buildings in Rolleston on Dove
