All Saints Church, Alrewas
Encyclopedia
All Saints Church, Alrewas is a parish church in the village of Alrewas
, Staffordshire
in the United Kingdom
. The church is situated in the north west of the village on the north side of the Trent & Mersey Canal. The church is a Grade I Listed Building. A church has stood on the current site since the 10th century. The current building was mainly built during the 13th, 14th, 16th and 19th centuries.
and it remained the property of King John
until he granted it to Roger de Somerville to be followed by the Griffiths and later, the Turtons.
The Normans
replaced the simple wooden church with one of local stone which probably occupied the space in the present nave between the two arcades. The tower doorway, the north aisle door and the heavy rough hewn pieces of masonry in the north wall are the oldest remaining parts of the church dating from the original Norman building.
During the 13th century the fine Early English
chancel was added to the church complete with lancet windows, and in the south wall a piscina, a sedilia and priest's door. The small window in the north wall had a bell hung by it which was rung at the Consecration of the Sacrament. The present nave and south aisle were built during the 14th century and the original Norman doorway in the north wall was retained. Other features of the 14th century include the 'horse shoe' arch separating nave from chancel and also the majestic tower, the old Norman west door being re-set at its base.
In the 16th century the church was added to with the insertion of clerestory windows which run the length of both nave and chancel. The beautiful carved timber roofs of the nave and south aisle were also constructed during this period.
In 1877 the chancel was restored
, the Early English east window was changed and filled with new stained glass by Holiday. In 1891 the north aisle was built making the church symmetrical, the architect was Basil Champneys
. The stained glass in the windows of the north aisle were by Charles Eamer Kempe
. The chancel screen was erected in 1892. In 1866 the porch was rebuilt, above which is an old sundial and on the buttress to the right of the porch there is an ancient 'mass dial'.
The church also gives its name to the All Saints Bowling Club situated between the church and the Trent & Mersey canal at the rear of the church. There is also All Saints Church of England Primary School, which is the main primary school in Alrewas.
Alrewas
Alrewas is a large village and civil parish within Lichfield District, in Staffordshire, England. It lies on the A38 road, approximately 5 miles north of Lichfield...
, Staffordshire
Staffordshire
Staffordshire is a landlocked county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes, the county is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. Part of the National Forest lies within its borders...
in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. The church is situated in the north west of the village on the north side of the Trent & Mersey Canal. The church is a Grade I Listed Building. A church has stood on the current site since the 10th century. The current building was mainly built during the 13th, 14th, 16th and 19th centuries.
History
A church has stood on the current site since at least 822AD. The original building was believed to be made of timber with a roof of thatched reeds. Alrewas at the time was a flourishing settlement in the ownership of Ælfgar, Earl of MerciaÆlfgar, Earl of Mercia
Ælfgar was son of Leofric, Earl of Mercia,by his well-known wife Godgifu . He succeeded to his father's title and responsibilities on the latter's death in 1057....
and it remained the property of King John
John of England
John , also known as John Lackland , was King of England from 6 April 1199 until his death...
until he granted it to Roger de Somerville to be followed by the Griffiths and later, the Turtons.
The Normans
Normans
The Normans were the people who gave their name to Normandy, a region in northern France. They were descended from Norse Viking conquerors of the territory and the native population of Frankish and Gallo-Roman stock...
replaced the simple wooden church with one of local stone which probably occupied the space in the present nave between the two arcades. The tower doorway, the north aisle door and the heavy rough hewn pieces of masonry in the north wall are the oldest remaining parts of the church dating from the original Norman building.
During the 13th century the fine Early English
English Gothic architecture
English Gothic is the name of the architectural style that flourished in England from about 1180 until about 1520.-Introduction:As with the Gothic architecture of other parts of Europe, English Gothic is defined by its pointed arches, vaulted roofs, buttresses, large windows, and spires...
chancel was added to the church complete with lancet windows, and in the south wall a piscina, a sedilia and priest's door. The small window in the north wall had a bell hung by it which was rung at the Consecration of the Sacrament. The present nave and south aisle were built during the 14th century and the original Norman doorway in the north wall was retained. Other features of the 14th century include the 'horse shoe' arch separating nave from chancel and also the majestic tower, the old Norman west door being re-set at its base.
In the 16th century the church was added to with the insertion of clerestory windows which run the length of both nave and chancel. The beautiful carved timber roofs of the nave and south aisle were also constructed during this period.
In 1877 the chancel was restored
Victorian restoration
Victorian restoration is the term commonly used to refer to the widespread and extensive refurbishment and rebuilding of Church of England churches and cathedrals that took place in England and Wales during the 19th-century reign of Queen Victoria...
, the Early English east window was changed and filled with new stained glass by Holiday. In 1891 the north aisle was built making the church symmetrical, the architect was Basil Champneys
Basil Champneys
Basil Champneys was an architect and author whose more notable buildings include Newnham College, Cambridge, Manchester's John Rylands Library, Mansfield College, Oxford and Oriel College, Oxford's Rhodes Building.- Life :...
. The stained glass in the windows of the north aisle were by Charles Eamer Kempe
Charles Eamer Kempe
Charles Eamer Kempe was a well-known Victorian stained glass designer. After attending Twyford School, he studied for the priesthood at Pembroke College, Oxford, but it became clear that his severe stammer would be an impediment to preaching...
. The chancel screen was erected in 1892. In 1866 the porch was rebuilt, above which is an old sundial and on the buttress to the right of the porch there is an ancient 'mass dial'.
Notable Features
- The church during the medieval period was highly decorated with wall paintings. During the ReformationProtestant ReformationThe Protestant Reformation was a 16th-century split within Western Christianity initiated by Martin Luther, John Calvin and other early Protestants. The efforts of the self-described "reformers", who objected to the doctrines, rituals and ecclesiastical structure of the Roman Catholic Church, led...
these paiintings were all white washed over. During restoration work in the 19th century it was discovered that some paintings still existed when the white wash was removed and the remaining fragment can be seen on the north wall of the chancel.
- The church has two ancient chests, once the repository of the famous Alrewas Manor court rolls, these chests probably date from the 14th century.
- The octagonal font in the church with four lions at its base dates from the 15th century.
- The carved wooden pulpit dates from 1639 and was provided during the Civil War period. It is one of the best examples of 17th century woodwork in the county.
- The oak altar table dates from 1638.
- There are currently 8 bells in the church, recast in 1922 they replace previous castings from 1585, 1618 and 1711.
- There are some fine monuments at the east end of the south aisle. Two are from the 18th century and one a little earlier. This part of the church was the chapel of the Turton family who at one time were Lords of the Manor.
Present
The church is still active in the village community today and holds Sunday services with an 8am Holy Communion and a 10am Family Service. There is also a bell ringing group associated with the church.The church also gives its name to the All Saints Bowling Club situated between the church and the Trent & Mersey canal at the rear of the church. There is also All Saints Church of England Primary School, which is the main primary school in Alrewas.