Site-Origins-Relics-Endowments-1800-1841-Lych Gate- Extensions -Bells-Commemorations - Records - Hellfire Jack

The Castle Site (1066)

 

The site of St Mary's Castle Church is an ancient one. Before the Conquest (1066) the Saxon Manor of Bradeley owned land up to the river Sow and the boundary of Stafford. After the Conquest the Manor of Bradeley was divided and the part near Stafford was called the Manor of Castre (later Manor of Stafford). The reduced Bradeley retained its name. In the mid 13th century a jury declared that "St Mary's in Castre" had belonged to the Saxon King Edward's (1042-1066) Royal Free Chapel of St Mary's in Stafford from the time of the Conquest and inferred that it pre-dated the Chapel of St Nicholas in the castle. The dedication to St Mary is typically Saxon. The Earls and Dukes of Stafford attended worship at their own St Nicholas' Chapel in the castle until the dissolution of free chapels and chantries.

Origins

For most of the medieval period the responsibility for Castle Church lay with the Royal Free Chapel of St Mary in Stafford itself. Robert de Stafford illegally handed it over to Stone Priory during the reign of Henry II (1154 - 1189) but it was recovered by the Crown in 1252. About the year 1317 a description of Stafford Castle was sent to Henry VII to see if it would be a suitable place for the king to stay at. In the description of the district mention is made of an old chapel near the Castle. If this old Chapel was Castle Church, it was evidently an old building over 400 years ago. However, excavations by Charles Hill in the 1980's revealed also foundations of the small chapel of St Nicholas within the castle bailey which may have been what was meant. The Stafford's acquired the church from Henry VI (1422-1) in exchange for Wooten Waven priory but it was confiscated in 1521 when Edward, Duke of Buckingham was arraigned for treason. On the suppression of the collegiate churches in 1547 it was made a perpetual curacy separate from St Mary's, Stafford. From then until the reign of Elizabeth I ( 1558-1603) the Dean of St Mary's appointed the priest of Castle Church. Until this time too the right of burial remained with the town church. For reasons unknown the dedication from 1742 to 1898 was to St Lawrence. Was this anti-catholic prejudice over the St Mary title? The present use of the name Castle Church avoids confusion with St Mary's in Stafford.Top

Relics

There is a relic of an early period in a tapered carved stone built into the west wall of the north aisle. (as shown below)An authority on such carving to whom a photograph was sent, dated it from 1160 - 1200 A.D. In 1896 this stone was found in the churchyard, another one somewhat like it was dug up at the same time. The fleur de Lys of the carving confirms its Norman dating and the crudeness suggests a local craftsman. There is enough evidence to say that the chancel arch was Norman, about 1160 A.D. Mr Edward AlIen, a son of the former vicar, understood that it was Scott's examination of the lancet windows and the foundations of the old Church that guided him in a Norman Restoration. It has been suggested that there was a castle built during the reign of Stephen, ( 1135 1154 ) this castle being replaced by Earl Ralph's castle of 1343. If there was an earlier castle than Earl Ralph's the first Church may have been built at the same time as the erection of the earlier castle. The Stafford family had an interest in the Church at the time the tower was built, for on the drip stone terminals of the west window of the tower are carved the Stafford and the Neville arms. The marriage of Humphrey, Duke of Buckingham, and Ann Neville is thought to have taken place about 1423. The style of architecture of the tower pretty well agrees with this date. The Rev. L. Lambert in his booklet on Castle Church, suggests that the Duke may have built the tower to commemorate his marriage, also for obtaining the patronage of St. Mary's Stafford, which patronage would include Castle Church, as being a prebend of the Stafford church. Top

Endowments

In 1548 the commissioners who were looking into the endowments of the various chapels and churches throughout the land, ordered that some convenient person should be appointed to serve this cause at an annual wage of £8. (This was still being paid in 1650). The following year the church was endowed with 2s. 8d. per annum for lights. In 1553 the ornaments belonging to the Church are described as 1 altar; 2 altar hangings; 1 white satin the other painted cloth; and blue satin cope; 3 vestments, 1 of dornich ( a figured linen); 1 of white diaper ( unbleached linen cloth woven in slightly defined figures); 1 old one red and blue silk; 1 albe, 1 towel; 3 bells, 1 Sanctus Bell, a silver pyx (box to hold consecrated host) claimed by William Stanforde of Rowley. The following had been stolen out of the Church: silver gilt chalice; 1 corporal with case; 2 altar cloths; 2 albes; 1 surplace; 2 towels.

Circa 1800

The Church must have been in a very bad state (see right) judging from a copy of a brief in the British Museum, dated 1793. It is stated to be a very ancient structure, decayed in the foundations, walls and roof part of which had fallen down. The Rev Peter Heselton in his 1967 revision of Sidney Home's earlier booklet writes that J.S. Home had recently unearthed a document dated 30th July 1830, which was composed by R.Anlezark and which consists of replies to questions asked at the Visitation of the Archdeacon of Stafford. This document dates, of course, immediately prior to the rebuilding of the church in 1845 and so is of interest regarding the condition of the Church structure at that time. The Church is described as a plain, modem building, rebuilt about 30 years previously except for the Tower. It seated 150 in the pews and 20 in the gallery . (This is the first mention of a gallery in regard to Castle Church and it is unfortunate that we have no early painting or print showing where the gallery was and what it looked like.) All the seats were free though there were not sufficient of them. The floor was brick with some grave stones included in it. The building "was not well attended" and there was much damp on the walls. The Parish was responsible for repairs but these had not been carried out. There was no organ, font or porch, and the Communion Table was of oak "firm but uncovered". The pulpit had a velvet cushion and was "not well fixed " . There were three bells but only one was fit for use . The Churchyard was surrounded by a hedge belonging to Lord Stafford and his agent was the Churchwarden, Mr . P. Seckerson. Lord Stafford claimed the Churchyard, which was in a slovenly state; sheep grazed in it and there was a footpath which Mr . Seckerson hoped to move to the adjoining field. Services were held only in the afternoon, except on Sacrament days which occurred some five times a year. The Communicants numbered 20-30 and the income was about £120 per annum; there was no official Patronage, neither was there any Church School but a national school was soon to be built. About 35 girls and 32 boys attended the Sunday School. The Vicar concluded his report with a list of numerous practical items which needed attention at the Church. Among them were roof repairs, inside walls to be whitewashed, windows made to open, a Font provided, no more graves to be allowed ill the Church, the gallery to be enlarged and a separate entrance made into the Belfry where the cracked bells needed re-casting. The East end of the Church was in dire need of repair . Top

Rebuilding 1841 -

Nightengale at the beginning of the 19th century says "it is an ancient building, the north side is older than any other part, being distinguished by a plain arch of a circular form and round headed window" . These are shown on a drawing in the William Salt Library made about 1800. With the exception of the tower, Gilbert Scott had the rest of the Church pulled down in 1841-45, so all record of what ancient work there was in the nave and chancel was destroyed then. Scott's drawings are now in the Bodleian Library .
The Rev. Edward Allen wrote a letter to the Staffordshire Advertiser in 1886. What makes this of special interest is that Edward Allen took up his duties at the Church only seven years after the restoration was completed and so he would have spoken to those who knew it before the Gilbert Scott rebuilding.The following are some notes from the letter .
"Scott was guided in his design tor the new nave and chancel by what was already existing, these being built on the old foundations. The tower alone was not taken down, the rest being rebuilt from the ground. The old nave was Norman, having a chancel arch, much smaller than the present one, he thought the late Norman style of the present arch was a little later in style than the original one, he thought the original nave was about 1125. He gives a full and rather technical description of the tower; saying it is late Decorated style of peculiar beauty and simple dignity. The adoption of only three battlements on each side of the square of the parapet, and the crowning with a pyramidical roof, the triangular headed belfry lights of sharp pitch, speaks of the Perpendicular period. The tower from a distance would be pronounced Decorated. It is the shallow mouldings which show its transitional character. He says the style corresponds to a date of about 1390. A note against this date made by the late Nicholas Joyce, a well-known local architect, says "after 1460." Allen concludes the letter by saying that "the tower has been repaired, the old mortar joints cut out from one to three inches and packed with cement of corresponding colour, defective stones renewed and battlements secured; the belfiy reroofed, new oak wall-plates put in, a flooring of elm laid and covered with new lead at a cost of £40, towards which subscriptions would be gladly received".
The work of rebuilding the Church was commenced in 1841, it being one of the earliest works undertaken by the well-known architect Gilbert Scott. It appears that much of the original Norman building had already gone and was replaced by "modern" (brick?) in 1800 and what remained was at the east end and crumbling away. Gilbert Scott cannot therefore be accused of demolishing the old Norman church to do his 1840's reconstruction. By 1844 the church was entirely re-built (with the exception of the tower) at a cost of £2,120 of this £1350 was contributed by Rev E Allen's faather-in-law Mr E. Keen and brother-in-law Mr R.W. Hand who at a further layout of about £220 furnished the church including an organ built by Gray and Davison of London in 1847. They also helped fund the building in 1848 of the Glebe House or Vicarage. This first organ was later superseded by a two manual pipe organ in the chancel supplied by Eustace Ingram & Sons. A brass plate above the pulpit.dated 1845 records an addition of forty-one seats making a total of 153. This is significantly the same as the number of fishes in the miraculous catch mentioned in John 21.6-11. How the enlargement was effected is not clear as the north aisle was not then built. Comparison between an examination of the building and the pre-1841 drawing in the Wi1liam Salt Library above gives the impression that the nave was widened and the chancel both widened and extended. The actual wording on the plate is:

This church was rebuilt and enlarged in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty five by which means it has been made capable of accommodating one hundred and fifty-three persons. The whole of the seats in this church are free and unappropriated. The Incorporated Society for the Rebuilding of Churches and Chapels granted the sum of fifty pounds in aid of the above enlargement. The provision of church room previous to the re-building was for one hundred and twelve persons, all free seats.

The pulpit and a readers desk were "renewed " and moved from the south to the north side of the chancel arch; "open seats" (as opposed to "box pews"?) were introduced in the nave and stalls for choir in the chancel. In 1845 a Norman style font was installed near the south door and in the following year the Lych Gate was erected to the memory of former vicar Robert Anlezark. Top

The Lych Gate 1846

The Lych Gate was erected to the memory of Robert Anlezark in 1846. It carries a long inscription carved around the inside arch as follows:

'Anno Domine MDCCCXLVI. This gate was erected by his widow and her three children in memory of Robert Anlezark MA Minister of this church wherein resteth his mortal body in hope of a Blessed Resurrection' 'Remember those who have spoken unto you the Word of the Lord' Hebrews Chap XII ver VII

Extensions and Alterations

By 1898 the church needed to be enlarged and so a north aisle was added in memory of father and son Edward and William Allen, vicars between 1853 and 1894. In keeping with Gilbert Scott's Norman style the nave arcade has four bays with rounded arches resting on solid squat pillars. The pulpit was moved back to the south side of the chancel arch and new "modern stained glass" windows put in. Although plans provided for a new vestry at the east end of the north aisle it was not added until 1912. At the same time the organ was moved from the tower to its new chamber between the chancel and the vestry. A chancel screen was erected a few years earlier, the carving being the work of several lady parishioners. In 1931 a vestry screen was erected in the north aisle in memory of the late vicar Dr. Melville Scott, the work being done by Bridgman's of Lichfield.
In the late 1940's, and the last years of Revd. Cope's incumbency, electric lighting was installed to replace the old gas lighting and this has been updated over the years. The screen closing off the base of the tower was added in 1956. It is recorded by the late Dr. M. Scott that the oak pews are supposed to have been the work of Robert Evans, the original Adam Bede in George Elliot's novel of that name. The font, the altar and the pulpit, in spite of their stone-like appearance are fine examples of Victorian plaster work.

The Bells

An Edwardian Inventory of Church Goods compiled in 1553 credited Castle Church with 'iij belles and on sanctus bell'. The three large bells were certainly tower-housed 'campana' but the sanctus bell, which subsequently disappears from all records, was probably 'tintinnabula' similar to the majority of elevation bells found in Staffordshire churches at the visitation.The proximity of Gloucester foundry and comparative ease of transport from Gloucester to Bridgenorth via the River Severn led to Rudhall's supplying replacements in 1711. The 27 inch diameter bell bore the inscription 'GOD SAVE QUEEN ANN. AR. 1711'

The Queen Ann bell is now the first of the ring, and was recast by Charles Carr at Smethwick in 1902 with an increased diameter measuring 28 inches. The original inscription was repeated (Anne being given a terminal letter e) and now reads:

God Save Queen Anne
AR 1711
Melville Scott Vicar 1902
Recast by C. Carr

The second bell was also cast at Gloucester but by Thomas Rudhall, who administered the foundry from 1761 to 1783 it bore an interesting but mysterious inscription:

BY SILKMORE GOLDSMITH WEE PRESERVED WERE T.R.

Presumably the Goldsmith family of Silkmore/Rickerscote had sponsored the recasting. The present inscription of this 32 1/2 inches diameter bell is:

'Recast by C. Carr
King Edward VII Coronation
1902
God Save King Edward'

A reduction in the number of bell ropes purchased between 1784 and 1810, together with the fact that in the early 19th century the third bell cage was empty, is indicative of the loss of the last bell of the ring, either by destruction or sale between those years.

The new third bell was purchased also in 1902 and inscribed:

Cast by Charles Carr
Smethwick
Coronation year of Queen Alexandra
1902

Commemorations

A heavy decorated brass Processional Cross is kept in the Chancel and is inscribed: "To the glory of God and in loving memory of Harold Miles Averill, Age 21, 1st Life Guards. Missing at Paschendale, October 1917" (His brother CMAverill taught for many years at King Edward VI School Stafford.) A lighter wood and silver Processional Cross is inscribed: "Harry Westhead, 1895 - 1982" and was made by John E. Boul of High Park and carries his hallmark.

Church of England Registers

The register of St Lawrence / St Mary commences in 1567. The original registers for the period 1567-1961 (Bapts), 1567-1962 (Mar) & 1567-1948 (Bur) and Banns for the period 1757-1812 & 1851-1952 are deposited at Staffordshire Record Office.
Bishops Transcripts, 1680-1868 (with gaps 1705-08, 1722-26, 1751-62, 1853 & 1857-60) are deposited at Lichfield Record Office.
A Transcript of the registers for the period 1568-1812 was published by the Staffordshire Parish Register Society in two parts in 1903 and has been reprinted by the Birmingham & Midland SGH.

NOTE:

These and more details are extracted from a booklet published by the PCC in 1997 (Reissued 2001) available from the church or vicar

Top