Before leaving I had a brief look round the church of Saint John the Baptist next to Stokesay Castle..
The church does appear in "England's Thousand Best Churches" by Simon Jenkins who gives it one star and mentions the canopied pews and semi-wild churchyard and has a moan about modern glass obscuring the view of the castle from the church.
The Domesday Survey of 1086 records a settlement at Stokesay and there are earthwork traces of a much larger village than can be found today. The entry mentions a mill, a miller and a beekeper but does not mention a church.
The church was built around 1150 as a chapel to the castle by the Say family who had come from France with William the Conqueror. The Says arrived at Stokesay from Clun in around 1115. The name Stokesay comes from "Say" and "Stokes" which meant a "dependent settlement" or a "dairy farm" suggesting the area was fenced.
During the Civil War in 1646 a Royalist group of soliders sought refuge in the church but were removed by Parliamentarian troops who had captured the castle. During the battle much of the church was damaged especially the south side. The nave which dates from 1664 is a rare example of church building under the Puritans.
I didn't really have time to explore much of the churchyard which was a shame as there was a very interesting leaflet in the church with a churchyard trail giving details of many interesting gravestones and tombs and brief details of people buried there. The La Touche memorials include a James who came as Vicar in 1851 and stayed until he died in 1899 - he sounds a fascinating man and was author of "A Handbook to the Geology of Shropshire" 1884. The churchyard participates in the "Caring for God's Acre Scheme" which encourages wildlife to flourish and parts of the churchyard are not mown until the flowers have seeded. A 100 species of wild flower have been recorded and 43 species of tree and the north side of the churchyard may be a remnant of an ancient meadow.
The date of the plain font is unknown but it could be medieval as there is evidence that it once had a lock.
The box/canopied pews in the chancel date from 1664/5.
The biblical texts dating back to 1683 include The Ten Commandments, Lord's Prayer and various texts. These were re-discovered in 1870 hidden away under paint.
The text on this memorial reads "Near to this place lyeth interred the body of Roger Powell Gent who departed this life August ? 1616. He left to this parish 10 pounds for ever 7 pence a week unto the poor and the residue of £10 to be given away for the maintenance of a school master to teach ye poor men's children of said parish of Stokesay"
The Sanctuary is fairly modern.
The gallery is probably 17th century and would have been used by musicians and singers.
The stained glass depicting the "Vision of Shepherds" is by Henry Payne of Birmingham School of Art
The stained glass of St Michael and St Gabriel is early work by James Hogan for Powells of Whitefriars.
A window in memory of Augustus Manley Winter MA Vicar 1910-1920
Old gravestone in the porch for Ann wife of John Littleton 1760
I'm still trying to catch up on blog posts. The next one will include a visit to David Austin's Rose Gardens followed by one on a wildflower meadow and then I will finally be almost up to date!
Reference: Leaflet and Church Guide to St John the Baptist, Stokesay
"England's Thousand Best Churches" by Simon Jenkins
All photos taken by me with the Panasonic Lumix FZ330 bridge camera
