Willenhall: St Stephen (Ruin)
Overview
Grid reference: SO 960 984
The church was built in the Early English style, with some tracery which shows a tendency towards Decorated. The nave was plain with paired trefoiled lancets to light the aisles, each bay being separated by low buttresses from the next. The clerestory had a pair lights, with the addition of trefoils between each pair. The aisle roofs were low pitch and the nave roof was very steeply pitched, giving a large expanse of tiles.
Visiting and facilities
Building is closed for worship
Building
Ground Plan Description and Dimensions
Ground plan:
Aisled nave of six bays with a west bell-cote and south porch; chancel with north organ chamber and sacristy and south chapel.
Dimensions:
The nave (including the aisles) measures 78 feet by 49 feet.
Footprint of Church buildings: 422 m²
Description of Archaeology and History
By W.D. Griffin, 1853-4. Griffin practiced in Wolverhampton and seems to have specialised in rock-faced churches in thirteenth-century style. A tablet at the west end of the church states that "The erection of this church was aided by a grant of One Hundred Pounds from a fund raised principally by contributions within the Archdeaconry of Stafford for the purpose of commemorating the service rendered to the cause of religion by the late Right Hon. Sir Robert Peel , Bart. , by means of an Act introduced into Parliament by that distinguished statesman in the year 1843 entitled An Act to make further provision for the spiritual care of the populus parishes under the powers of which this church was consecrated on the 31st day of October in the year of Our Lord 1854".
Exterior Description
The church is built in the Early English style, with some tracery which shows a tendency towards Decorated. The nave is plain with paired trefoiled lancets to light the aisles, each bay being separated by low buttresses from the next. The clerestory also has pair lights, with the addition of trefoils between each pair. The aisle roofs are of low pitch and the nave roof is very steeply pitched, giving a large expanse of tiles. The west wall has a doorway with a two centred head and three orders of chamfering; above this is a four-light window with trefoiled heads to the main lights and intersecting tracery incorporating a cinquefoil. The doorway and window are flanked by prominent buttresses which reach up the facade to the gable, at which point the bell-cote is supported on a plinth. The cote is gabled at an even steeper pitch and has two arched openings (but only contains one bell). This feature of a pronounced belfry on two buttresses is frequent in the area.
The chancel is lower than the nave, but shares the steeply sloped roof pitch, and also the Decorated tracery which appears again in the east window (of three lights with a quatrefoil and a pair of sexfoils). The cross on the east gable is a particularly elaborate form. On the south side the small chapel is slightly lower than the aisle but imitates its roof pitch; the corresponding organ chamber on the north is accompanied by a quarter-octagonal sacristy with a door which led to the gate giving into the garden of the old Vicarage. Other wise the north side of the church is like the south. All the other windows are single lancets - in the south chancel wall and the west wall of each aisle.
Building Fabric and Features
Stained Glass
Early 20th Century
Most of the stained glass is early twentieth-century in date. It is by Jones and Willis and A.J. Dix of London.
Stained Glass
1865
The east window dates from c.1865 and represents Christ enthroned at the top looking down upon the martyrdom of St. Stephen, with Christ and Mary Magdalene in the left light and His appearanceto the disciples in the right light.
Interior
Interior Description
The interior, although not particularly large in floor area (as churches at this date could be), is very tall, and the steep pitch of the roof enforces the effect. The arcades are carried on round piers with heavy moulded capitals, the arches themselves having two orders of chamfers as simple as possible. The walls are plastered and painted blue-grey, while the roof timbers are red, presumably in an attempt to lighten the interior by doing away with a dark timber roof structure. The principal rafters rest on large corbels carved as heads, all bearded save one, and all different.
The aisles have low-pitched roofs carried on corbels carved as leaves alternating with bunches of grapes.
The west wall has a big four-light window with Decorated tracery which has arts and Crafts leading at the heads of the main lights and in the tracery lights incorporating crowned S's. The hood-mould terminates in carved heads.
The chancel arch is carried on attached shafts with lavishly by foliated capitals (both polychrome) and is crossed by a screen which looks of c.1900 but is dated 1933. Above the screen is a hanging rood. On the north side is an octagonal pulpit and on the south is a brass eagle electern; more extravagant leaf carving appears at the eastern responds of the nave arcades, also painted in supposedly naturalistic colours. The south chapel dates from 1933, with a blue curtain as a dossal and an altar of pale oak.
Fixtures and fittings
Altar
The high altar, Lady Chapel altar and north chapel altar are all of oak with panelled fronts of varying dates. That in the north chapel has an altar stone inset, and is probably the most aesthetically pleasing of the three, with panels of roses, lilies and IHS in a sunburst carved on the front panels.
Reredos
Early 20th Century
Oak
Organ (object)
The organ is by William Hill, with tracker action to the two manuals and pedals.
Screen
1933
The chancel screen is of oak, in the Perpendicular style, and dates from 1933. The open lights have panel tracery and there is a cornice enriched with vine trail and bratishing.
Font (object)
The font is stone, octagonal with crocketted gablets on each face of the bowl. It stands on a platform of beautiful marble full of fossils surrounded by a floor of marble slabs.
Pulpit
1908
The pulpit is six sides of an octagon, in oak, with niches containing statues of St. Peter, St. Stephen, St. Paul and St. Chad, each with their emblems. It was given in 1908.
Lectern
The lectern is a wooden eagle with rather disjointed anatomy on a columnar stem with foliated capital.
Churchyard
Grid reference: SO 960 984
Burial and War Grave Information
It is unknown whether the building is consecrated.
It is unknown whether the churchyard has been used for burial.
It is unknown whether the churchyard is used for burial.
It is unknown whether the churchyard has war graves.
National Heritage record for England designations
There are no records of National Heritage assets within the curtilage of this site.
Environment
Ancient, Veteran & Notable Trees
Caring for God's Acre is a conservation charity working to support groups and individuals to investigate, care for, and enjoy the wildlife and heritage treasures found within churchyards and other burial grounds. Look on their website for information and advice and please contact their staff directly. They can help you manage this churchyard for people and wildlife.
To learn more about all the species recorded against this church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas. You can check the spread of records through the years, discovering what has been recorded and when, plus what discoveries might remain to be uncovered.
There are no records of Ancient, Veteran or Notable Trees within the curtilage of this site.
Renewables
| Renewable | Installed |
|---|---|
| Solar PV Panels | N/A |
| Solar Thermal Panels | N/A |
| Biomass | N/A |
| Wind Turbine | N/A |
| Air Source Heat Pump | N/A |
| Ground Source Heat Pump | N/A |
| Ev Charging | N/A |
Species summary
There are no records of species within the curtilage of this site.
Caring for God's Acre is a conservation charity working to support groups and individuals to investigate, care for, and enjoy the wildlife and heritage treasures found within churchyards and other burial grounds. Look on their website for information and advice and please contact their staff directly. They can help you manage this churchyard for people and wildlife.
To learn more about all the species recorded against this church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas. You can check the spread of records through the years, discovering what has been recorded and when, plus what discoveries might remain to be uncovered.
'Seek advice' Species
More information on species and action to be taken upon discovery.
Caring for God's Acre is a conservation charity working to support groups and individuals to investigate, care for, and enjoy the wildlife and heritage treasures found within churchyards and other burial grounds. Look on their website for information and advice and please contact their staff directly. They can help you manage this churchyard for people and wildlife.
To learn more about all the species recorded against this church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas. You can check the spread of records through the years, discovering what has been recorded and when, plus what discoveries might remain to be uncovered.
Further information
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