St Mary And All Saints

Lady Chapel dedicated in 1343

mid C14 north arcade

nave rebuilt in the early C16

On the south side the chancel is buttressed with a probably C13 priest's doorway with a medieval timber door.

The nave has an embattled parapet and an imposing early C16 south elevation with very tall transomed three- and two-light windows with cusped lights.

Square-headed Perpendicular south doorway with carved spandrels within an earlier, tall, blind arch.

It has a triple lancet east window and two C14 two-light traceried windows to the west, one with an integral small square light below the sill, and one four-light square-headed window with cusped lights.

Impressive Caröe chancel screen, dedicated in 1914 with flamboyant traceried openings and a rood loft, making use of the medieval roof loft stair turret on the south side.

The church guide records that a medieval roof survives behind.

The Lady Chapel roof is medieval with four tie-beam trusses with cranked tie beams, king posts and curved braces.

The north aisle roof is also medieval.

The east wall incorporates the remains of a C14 reredos, very rare, consisting of a chamfered recess filled with large-scale stone tracery.

C12 tub font with unusually lavish carved friezes including a key pattern and a cable moulding.

Polygonal timber pulpit of 1907 decorated with buttresses and ogee arches.

Panel of medieval floor tiles in the sanctuary.

Fragments of Perpendicular stained glass in the south windows of the nave and some in the east window.

Numerous monuments including a wall monument to Sir Thomas Browne, d. 1633 and his wife with kneeling alabaster figures.

The alabaster monument to Thomas Browne (1562 - 1633), and his wife Appolina who lived at Shredicote. [[4461297]]

© Mike Searle

C17 stencilling and text on the north respond of the chancel arch.

Historical Note: the church guide suggests that the north arcade originated at the Augustinian Priory at Stafford and was re-erected here in 1542, after the church wardens are recorded purchasing cartloads of stone.

Outstanding for the quality and extent of the medieval fabric including a notably fine C13 arcade

three medieval roofs, the rare remains of a C14 reredos

a C12 tub font.

The substantial restoration by Caröe in the early C20 revealed much of the medieval fabric and added carpentry and joinery of a very high quality in the early C20.