Chebsey
Encyclopedia
Chebsey is a small village in Staffordshire
2.5 miles southeast of Eccleshall
on a confluence of Eccleshall
water and the River Sow
some 5 miles northwest of Stafford
. It comprises a number of houses and cottages and a village church dedicated to All Saints
.
Standing above the village on a natural mound of higher ground, the church is mostly built from reddish sandstone in the Gothic
style and dates from the 12th century. The west tower dates from the 15th century, and is constructed from mostly grey with some red sandstone blocks. The external staircase turret
(on the southeast corner of the tower) at Chebsey, is quite an unusual feature. Though it is very common in the churches of the South of England and especially those of Devon
and Somerset
, yet it is rarely seen in churches of the English Midlands
and North of England. Parts of the south wall of the church show signs of extensive repairs, mostly in red sandstone. The churchyard contains an Anglo-Saxon
cross shaft. Inside the church can be found late Victorian stained glass
windows by Charles Eamer Kempe
, and a 13th century stone coffin. The church was extensively renovated in 1897 under the supervision of Staffordshire
ecclesiastical architect Andrew Capper.
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...
2.5 miles southeast of Eccleshall
Eccleshall
Eccleshall is a town in Staffordshire, England. It is located seven miles north west of Stafford, and six miles west of Stone. Eccleshall is twinned with Sancerre in France.-History:...
on a confluence of Eccleshall
Eccleshall
Eccleshall is a town in Staffordshire, England. It is located seven miles north west of Stafford, and six miles west of Stone. Eccleshall is twinned with Sancerre in France.-History:...
water and the River Sow
River Sow
The River Sow is a tributary of the River Trent in Staffordshire, England.The river rises to the south of Newcastle-under-Lyme and flows south to become the major river through Stafford. It also flows near Bishop's Offley and Tixall. At Baswich it is joined by the River Penk, before meeting the...
some 5 miles northwest of Stafford
Stafford
Stafford is the county town of Staffordshire, in the West Midlands region of England. It lies approximately north of Wolverhampton and south of Stoke-on-Trent, adjacent to the M6 motorway Junction 13 to Junction 14...
. It comprises a number of houses and cottages and a village church dedicated to All Saints
All Saints
All Saints' Day , often shortened to All Saints, is a solemnity celebrated on 1 November by parts of Western Christianity, and on the first Sunday after Pentecost in Eastern Christianity, in honour of all the saints, known and unknown...
.
All Saints church
Gothic architecture
Gothic architecture is a style of architecture that flourished during the high and late medieval period. It evolved from Romanesque architecture and was succeeded by Renaissance architecture....
style and dates from the 12th century. The west tower dates from the 15th century, and is constructed from mostly grey with some red sandstone blocks. The external staircase turret
Turret
In architecture, a turret is a small tower that projects vertically from the wall of a building such as a medieval castle. Turrets were used to provide a projecting defensive position allowing covering fire to the adjacent wall in the days of military fortification...
(on the southeast corner of the tower) at Chebsey, is quite an unusual feature. Though it is very common in the churches of the South of England and especially those of Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
and Somerset
Somerset
The ceremonial and non-metropolitan county of Somerset in South West England borders Bristol and Gloucestershire to the north, Wiltshire to the east, Dorset to the south-east, and Devon to the south-west. It is partly bounded to the north and west by the Bristol Channel and the estuary of the...
, yet it is rarely seen in churches of the English Midlands
English Midlands
The Midlands, or the English Midlands, is the traditional name for the area comprising central England that broadly corresponds to the early medieval Kingdom of Mercia. It borders Southern England, Northern England, East Anglia and Wales. Its largest city is Birmingham, and it was an important...
and North of England. Parts of the south wall of the church show signs of extensive repairs, mostly in red sandstone. The churchyard contains an Anglo-Saxon
Anglo-Saxon
Anglo-Saxon may refer to:* Anglo-Saxons, a group that invaded Britain** Old English, their language** Anglo-Saxon England, their history, one of various ships* White Anglo-Saxon Protestant, an ethnicity* Anglo-Saxon economy, modern macroeconomic term...
cross shaft. Inside the church can be found late Victorian stained glass
British stained glass (1811-1918)
A revival of the art and craft of stained glass window manufacture took place in early 19th century Britain, beginning with an armorial window created by Thomas Willement in 1811-12...
windows 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...
, and a 13th century stone coffin. The church was extensively renovated in 1897 under the supervision of 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...
ecclesiastical architect Andrew Capper.