| St Mary's Church. Aldridge | |
| Aldridge St Mary's Church like all churches was a building set aside for
public worship. The recognised form of Christian architecture evolved from the 4th
century. The most usual plan form is the cross, in Britain, the Latin cross where one arm
is longer than the others tended to prevail. Verticality was sought for both symbolic and
practical reasons, Spires were added to towers to form steeples, and internally, an
impression of great height was achieved with the Nave, Chancel and Transepts being lit
from windows placed high on the main walls, these were known as Clerestory's. The longest
part of the church is traditionally orientated East/West, with the Alter at the Eastern
end. The main entrance to the church is usually at the West end. Not all Churches followed
this design of course some were just a plain rectangular shape, sometimes with a spire and
some were quite happy to worship in these, "God Boxes". The present Aldridge Church was most probably built to replace a wooden structure. The Church has been altered several times over the centuries and is about to be extended again once planning permission has been obtained. It is built in the perpendicular style and has a decorated tower. The Church has two 13/14th century memorials inside. One is of, 'Sir Robert Stapleton', who was Lord of the Manor in the mid 13th century. He is shown wearing armour with a helmet and sword, he is also lying with his legs crossed, which was thought to indicate he had taken part in the Crusades, which he did in 1269, but some think it was just a fashion of the times. The second effigy, which is also in marble, is something of a mystery. Some say it is of, 'Nicholas de Alrewiche', who founded the church. Nicholas was only a minor official of Cannock Forest and took his name after being given the Manor of Aldridge. The Church had been founded long before Nicholas. The effigy was supposed to be that of Nicholas and was said to be, when in 1600 Erdeswick wrote in his,'Antiquities of Staffordshire, in the alcove on the outside of the south chancel wall. It was moved inside during the alterations of 1851. The memorial is however that of a 14th century priest, and Nicholas de Alrewiche certainly was not a priest. The second school of thought is that it is the effigy of, 'Roger de Elyngton' who was a priest and was Rector of Aldridge in the mid 1300's, he founded a Chantry Chapel and it is thought he was given a position of honour as a resting place. The Church has many memorials, tablets and handsome monuments dedicated to notable local families and individuals. There is also sited near the door the Parish Bread Box, from which loaves of bread were distributed to the poor of the parish who had attended both the service and the sermon. The Church records date back to 1660 and in the past bodies were buried beneath the Church floor. In 1991 when the inside of the church was renovated, the floor was excavated, in preparation for new flooring to be laid and several coffins were found and from the name plates on the coffins the names of the Tongue family were found to be the occupants. Edward Tongue was Curate of the church for 50 years between 1727 and 1777 and it is thought The Manor House was built as a wedding present for his Grandson, also Edward when he married Sidney Croxall, the youngest daughter of Edward Croxall of Shustoke, in 1814.
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| EARLY HISTORY | |
 The South West view of St Mary's church Aldridge, before 1800. The old rectory is shown at the rear of the church. The Church has been altered many times throughout its history, the first construction was most probably a wooden building, before being replaced with the present structure. The oldest parts of the church are the Nave, or central part of the church where the congregation meet, and the Chancel at the east end, which is the area at the end of the nave where the alter is placed.These both date back to the early part of the 13th century. A Chantry Chapel was added later in the century, on the North side, which popularly applies to a private place of worship, but can be part of the church, where often, worship of a particular saint is implied, this was soon extended to form the North Aisle which is separated from the nave by arcades. The Western Tower was added in the 14th century along with the short South Aisle. . |
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| Development of the Church | |
| As the church developed over the years more recently a gallery was built
over the North Aisle where schoolboys would be seated and a further Gallery built across
the belfry arch for the girls. Box Pews were built into the church belonging to
local families and faced in every direction and the ground floor of the Tower was used as
a Vestry. The Church has always been well supported by the wealthy families in the Parish
hence there were almost no seats for the poor of the Parish. It was usual during the 18th
and 19th centuries for local parishioners to buy there seats in the Parish Church and so
always had there seat in church when they wished to attend, most Churches that did not
have all the seats reserved would give 40 to 50 free seats for use by the poor of the
parish. During the middle of the 18th century the Bells were cast and installed and the clock in the Tower was installed in 1754. |
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| Recent History | |
| The first Rector of Aldridge after it was made a separate Parish from Barr
in 1849 was the Rev. Jeremiah Finch Smith. He made great steps in restoring and improving
the church.A new Aisle and Vestry were added, the Galleries, which had been put in to seat
the local school children, were demolished and the Nave was opened into the lower part of
the Tower. He also had the old pews which had doors on them removed and more modern pews
without doors, ( The first in Staffordshire) were installed. These have themselves since
been removed. Rev. Smith also added extra seats for the poor of the Parish. In 1853 a,' Mary Ann Allport', gave the Font to the Church in memory of her parents and as a memorial to Edward Tongue the Church was first lit by Gas in 1881. A new vestry was built in 1975. Aldridge St Mary's Church C.1934 The Church has been modernised in recent times to keep pace with the modern day demands. In 1991 the old pews were removed along with the floor of the nave and a new floor put in and more modern seating, which allows it to be removed if needed. As with all modernisation of churches this came up against allot of opposition, mainly from people who never use the church facilities or ever attend services there, but one assumes they wanted to keep the old building looking as original as it could be. The problem with this school of thought is that the church would remain, cold, uncomfortable and uninviting to many young and old people.
THE INTERIOR OF ALDRIDGE CHURCH. Showing the old pews before they were removed in 1991. Also at the far end the Jacobean-style pulpit. The present leaders of the church are looking to extend the church and incorporate the old church rooms, which have become condemned as they were only constructed as a temporary measure just after the last war and are some distance from the main church. The aim is to obtain planning permission as soon as possible but as is usual with these projects local opposition is being voiced and groups being formed to oppose the modernisation. |
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| LINKS | |
| LOCAL HISTORY MAIN PAGE | |
