Nominal: 925.5 Hz Weight: 837 lbs Diameter: 34.75" Bell 1 of 3
Founded by Thomas II Mears 1839
Dove Bell ID: 6668 Tower ID: 13089 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Turnings: unturned Cracked: No
Tatenhill: St Michael & All Angels
Overview
Grid reference: SK 205 220
C13 nave (cf. S door) with Tudor windows and C15 tower and chancel. Restored in 1872, under patronage of William Weldon Champneys, and again by Bodley in 1890, under the patronage of Lord Burton. Several good quality furnishings were added in this time and again in the C20. Good Victorian roofs and porch. A fine monument of 1641 and several good wall memorials of the C18 and C19.
Visiting and facilities
Building is open for worship
Building
Ground Plan Description and Dimensions
Ground plan:
W tower, unaisled nave (4 bays), S porch, chancel (3 bays).
Footprint of Church buildings: 308 m²
Description of Archaeology and History
The site has high archaeological potential. There are considerable burials from the late C17 to the early C21 throughout the churchyard.
The oldest historical monument in the parish is the Roman Road, Icknield Street, or Ryknield Street, and archaeological finds from this period have been made locally. In Anglo-Saxon times Staffordshire was the heart of the Mercian kingdom and after the Norman Conquest the most important castles in the neighbourhood were Tamworth and Tutbury, while the Benedictine monastery of Burton-on-Trent, founded in 1002, was the most important local house.
The earliest records of the parish are the two entries in Domesday Book relating to Barton and Wichnor. There is no mention of Dunstall or Tatenhill. The Manor belonged to the Honour of Tutbury and was held by the Pipe and Somerville families.
Local landowners included Charles Arkwright, who was lord of the manor and owned most of Tatenhill, and lived in Dunstall Hall. Sir Oswald Mosley owned most of Callingwood, a large district partly in Rollaston parish and Rangemoor Hall was the seat of Henry Barton. The nearby village of Rangemore was built by Michael Thomas Bass, who patronised the church, to house workers on his estate.
The oldest fabric in the church is the nave of the C13, with later, Tudor fenestration. The tower and chancel are largely or wholly of the C15. A brass plate states that the chancel was restored in 1872 by William Weldon Champneys, Dean of Lichfield and Rector of Tatenhill. The monuments and wall tablets were then removed to the belfry. In 1890, under the direction of Bodley, the church was again restored. A new chancel pavement of black and white marble, oak choir stalls, a marble reredos and organ were given by Lord Burton; and other furnishings by Mrs. Bass and Sir Reginald and Lady Hardy.
One famous chaplain at the church was Adrian Sarravia, born at Hedlin, in Artois, who came to England in 1587 and was Master of Southampton Grammar School, Canon of Worcester 1591, of Canterbury 1596, of Westminster 1601, Vicar of Lewisham 1596-1610, and one of the Translators of the Bible. He was an intimate friend of Richard Hooker and is buried in Canterbury Cathedral.
There are several mature trees and bushes within the churchyard. No known preservation orders.
Exterior Description
The tower is of two stories, separated by a string course. It has angle buttresses to the west with three set offs and a tall base and plinth. The large west window is of four round-headed lights with a transom. The splay appears to be medieval, with a double chamfer, but the tracery is probably Victorian. There is a narrow square-headed window on the south face.
The upper storey has two-light Perpendicular-traceried bell openings in each face with labels. The tracery has nearly triangular heads, suggesting a mid-century date. The west face has a clock face. The tower is battlemented with a string course below.
The nave has four buttresses with three set offs, a base, plinth and cornice, all well moulded. It has three square-headed windows to N and S each of four round-headed lights with transoms and unpierced spandrels.
The south porch is of the late C19, timber built on stone plinth. It is in a stylised version of the Perpendicular style.
The chancel has three buttresses each of three set offs with a plinth and a gable end. A large string course follows the line of the window sills. It has three fine windows to N and S, each of four lights with transoms. The tracery includes a complex figure with five lobes – three small ones above and two large below. The lower row of lights have typical trefoil heads but those above are positioned under a highly depressed ogee. The windows are barely pointed and have a label. The east window is a large but conventional Perpendicular design.
Building Fabric and Features
Tower (component)
15th century west
Chancel
15th century 3 bays
Nave
13th century 4 bay unaisled
Porch
19th century part of Victorian work
Building Materials
Sandstone
13th
Sandstone
Sandstone
13th - 15th century coursed
Tile
19th century new roofs
Interior
Interior Description
The interior of the tower is of two storeys with a crowed office in the lower part and a bell ringing floor in the upper.
The nave is unaisled, with a king post roof. The squares created by the intersection of purlins and principles has been filled with decorative timber work. The tie-beams and king posts are slender and moulded. The nave has large four-light windows, described above, one with Victorian stained glass. The flooring consists of tiles and timber pew platforms, with marble to the east end.
The chancel has a roof of a similar form to that in the nave but without king posts and with battlemented tiebeams, echoing the battlements on the interior of the window transoms. The windows are as described above but with battlements on the transoms. The chancel has a marble floor.
Fixtures and fittings
Altar
19th century Simple timber frame table.
Pulpit
19th century Late-C19 timber pulpit with good quality carving with angel on W front. Given by Mrs Bass. Part of 1872 restoration.
Lectern
19th century Late-C19 gothic lectern of good craftsmanship. Large statue of St Michael (the church’s dedication). Plaque records ‘RH + LMH 1890’ - Sir Reginald and Lady Hardy.
Font (component)
19th century Stone font on six attached shafts. In Perp style. Part of 1872 restoration. Cover given in memory of Gladys Mary Higgott (d. 1966)
Reredos
19th century Stone reredos of crucifixion, given by Lord Burton and Mrs M. T. Bass. 1890.
Pew (component)
19th century Timber pews on platforms in nave with simple gothic panelling on ends, part of architect designed scheme.
Rail
20th century Open-work rails with corn and grapevine motifs. Given as WWI memorial (plaque with 8 names on chancel wall). Restored in memory of Frederick Shelly (d. 1975).
Organ (component)
19th century 1882 Walker organ given by Lord Burton.
Plaque (component)
20th century Recording those lost during WWI.
Bells
Nominal: 1081.5 Hz Weight: 616 lbs Diameter: 29.75" Bell 2 of 3
Founded by Thomas Rudhall 1766
Dove Bell ID: 42070 Tower ID: 13089 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Turnings: unturned Cracked: No
Nominal: 984.5 Hz Weight: 672 lbs Diameter: 32.5" Bell 3 of 3
Founded by Thomas I Hedderly 1742
Dove Bell ID: 42071 Tower ID: 13089 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Turnings: unturned Cracked: No
Portable Furnishings and Artworks
Parish registers from 1563 kept at Staffordshire Record Office.
Churchyard
Grid reference: SK 205 220
Burial and War Grave Information
It is unknown whether the building is consecrated.
The churchyard has been used for burial.
The churchyard is used for burial.
The churchyard has war graves.
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.
| Name | Status | Number found in this site |
|---|---|---|
| Copper or purple beech | Veterantree | 1 |
Renewables
| Renewable | Installed |
|---|---|
| Solar PV Panels | No |
| Solar Thermal Panels | No |
| Biomass | No |
| Wind Turbine | No |
| Air Source Heat Pump | No |
| Ground Source Heat Pump | No |
| Ev Charging | No |
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
Sources
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