St Michael And All Angels

C16, restored in 1885.

MATERIALS: Ashlar local red sandstone, tile roofs.

EXTERIOR: The exterior is mainly in Tudor-Gothic style.

The Perpendicular north aisle has four 3-light windows, of which the heads are carved from re-used C13 grave slabs.

The 3-bay nave arcade has octagonal piers and stepped round arches characteristic of this part of Staffordshire in the C13-C14, although the pier at the east end is C19 and supports a narrow pointed arch added to accommodate the organ.

Floors are C19 decorative tiles with parquet floors below benches.

PRINCIPAL FIXTURES: The C19 font has a round bowl with quatrefoils in roundels, and octagonal stem.

The polygonal wooden Gothic pulpit has open tracery.

In the aisle west wall is an C18 Hanoverian Royal Arms.

In the base of the tower is an C18 commandment board with figures of Moses and Aaron, possibly once the reredos.

There are some notable monuments.

In the nave a wall monument to Richard Townsend has a stone tablet and apron, but the achievement is a painted oval board.

A white marble neo-classical tablet is to William Collen An unusual scrolled C18 wooden board commemorates William Wakeley In the nave is a hatchment of Richard Whitworth The east window shows Ezekiel's Vision (c1885).

In the chancel north window and one of the nave south windows are medieval glass fragments showing shields.

HISTORY: The church is of C12 origin, evidence for which are the restored C12 chancel windows.

In the C13-C14 the church was extended by addition of a north aisle and a west tower.

The aisle features round-headed arches that were used elsewhere in the district (e.g. High Offley), although the arcade has also been interpreted as comprising C15 piers

re-use of late C12 arches.

The tower was rebuilt in the late C15 or C16, and the building was also re-fenestrated at this time.

REASONS FOR DESIGNATION: The church of St Michael and All Angels, Adbaston, is listed Grade II* for the following principal reasons: * For the extent and quality of its medieval interior detail, including nave arcade, tower and chancel arches. * It has a good late Perpendicular tower and significant C12-C16 exterior detail. * It has fixtures of special interest, including C15 monument, and C18 reredos and Royal Arms.