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Summary

There is likely to have been a church on the site since Anglo-Saxon times. The present church is of red sandstone and mainly dates to the 15th century, though much restored in the mid-late 19th century, with some 13th centruy work. It has a cruciform plan comprising a nave with aisles, a crossing tower, transepts, an aisleless chancel & polygonal apse. The church was originally dedicated to St Mary but this was changed to St Peter in Henry III's reign (13th century).

Monument Type(s):

• CHURCH (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
• CHURCHYARD (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)

Description

There is likely to have been a minster church on the site since the Anglo-Saxon period (see HER6714)

After the Norman conquest King William I granted the church to Samson of Bayeux, a member of his household. Samson was consecrated Bishop of Worcester in 1096 and granted the church at Wolverhampton and its estates to the monks of St Mary's cathedral priory, Worcester. Soon after, however, the church and its estates was seized by Roger, bishop of Salisbury. After Roger's impeachment in 1139 king Stephen at first granted the church to Lichfield before it was returned to Worcester, its rightful owners.

In 1153-4, however, Henry II granted the canons of Wolverhampton a charter confirming its status as a royal free chapel, free from all customs and dues and episcopal supervision. The church was run by a dean with a college of six priests (prebendaries). In 1205 the college was suppressed by king John and replaced by a new Cistercian abbey. Two years later, however, the king cancelled the charter and reinstated the collegiate royal free chapel.(1)

The deanery was united to Windsor from 1480. In addition to the Dean and prebends there were seven vicars in 1531 and 5 vicars with one stipendiary priest in 1546. When re-founded by Queen Mary in 1553, the income was assessed at over £113. (2)

The present church is of red sandstone and mainly dates to the 15th century, though much restored in the mid-late 19th century, and with some 13th century work. It has a cruciform plan comprising a nave with aisles, a crossing tower, transepts, an aisleless chancel & polygonal apse.(3)

The church was originally dedicated to St Mary but this was changed to St Peter in Henry III's reign (13th century).(4)

Notes etc describing repairs of 1857 - lowering of floor in N transept etc. tombstones still existing 1937. (5)

Watching brief recorded disarticulated human remains and grave cuts during replacement of 2 terrace revetment walls to S of church - indicating S extent of original graveyard. 2 frags of med pot & small group of post-med ceramics also recovered. (6)

Other references (7) - (16)

By the end of the 17th century the medieval chancel, known as the 'Great Chancel' or the 'Dean's Chancel' had fallen into decay and a new chancel was built. It is illustrated in Shaw's History of Staffordshire but was replaced in 1862 when the present chancel was built in a 14th century style. (17)

Member of public has suggested that there were underground crypts entered from outside the church. Assessment of potential of geophysical survey for verifying this observation.(18)

Church has a number of historic bells. The Sanctus bell dates from 1633, made by Thomas Hancox II (of Walsall). The Call bell dates from 1638, and was by the same founder. The Funeral bell dates from 1740 and was made by H Bagley III. There is also a group of 12 bells, dating from 1911, made by Gillett & Johnston. Diam/weight details included in list (19).

Detailed description in (20), p672

LISTING DESCRIPTION

Church. Late C13 crossing and south transept; late C15 nave, tower and north transept; chancel and restoration, 1852-65, by E. Christian. Ashlar with lead roofs. Cruciform plan: 4-bay apsed chancel, crossing tower and 2-storey vestry to north. 4-bay chancel and7-bay apse, in Decorated style, articulated by offset buttresses with crocketed gables and gargoyles to cornice below open-work parapet, has 2-light windows to apse and 3-light windows with flowing tracery to chancel. 3-stage tower has north-east stair turret, panels with cinquefoil heads and quatrefoil friezes and embattled parapet with crocketed pinnacles; 2-light windows to 2nd stage, paired 2-light bell openings to top stage. North transept has offset buttresses, embattled parapet and C17 round-headed windows to north and east with large central; mullion. South transept has angle buttresses and embattled parapet, 5-light east window, and 3-light south window with 3 two-light square-headed transomed clerestory windows above and 2 to west, all with Perpendicular tracery. North aisle has 3-light windows with segmental-pointed heads and Perpendicular tracery between buttresses, embattled parapet. South aisle similar, with 4-light windows. Vestry has embattled parapet and varied square-headed windows of one, 2 or 3 lights. 2-storey with pinnacles, entrance with moulded arch, sundial above, 2-light square-headed window to 1st floor. West façade has entrance of 2 orders under crocketed ogee hood, enriched cornice and 4-light Decorated window also under crocketed ogee hood; panelled buttresses and gabled aisles, 3-light window to north and 4-light window to south. Clerestory has paired Perpendicular 2-light square-headed transomed windows and panelled embattled parapet.
INTERIOR: vaulted ceiling to apse with angel and square foliate capitals to shafts and singles to cornice; hammer-beam roof to chancel has angel corbels with angels to brattished cornice; crossing has C17 beams to late C19 painted ceiling; transepts have late C15 moulded tie-beam roofs; 5-bay Perpendicular nave arcades on octagonal piers, and C15 nave roof with carved spandrels to moulded tie-beams, panelled ceiling with bosses. Fittings: chancel stalls have traceried fronts and angel finials; crossing has C19 timber screen to north, similar to C15 screen to south with open tracery and C15 shafts supporting brattished cornice; north transept has C19 Decorated style screen; screen to south transept has C15 shafts and blind tracery panels below open-work upper panels, C19 brattished cornice; nave has C15 panelled stone pulpit on shaft with stair winding round pier and parapet with crouching lion foot; late C17 west gallery, much altered; late C19 two-stage internal timber porch in Decorated style with open-work tracery and figures under crocketed canopies. Some C15 stalls from Lilleshall Abbey. Memorial: north transept: chest tomb to Thomas Lane d. 1582, carved balusters and figures and armorial bearings to sides, 2 finely carved recumbent effigies; wall monument to John Lane d. 1667, a distinguished soldier instrumental in the rescue of Charles II, is in marble and alabaster and has inscribed panel in Ionic aedicule with garlanded scrolls and heraldic cartouche in swan-necked pediment flanked by cannon, and projecting base has finely carved trophy of arms with crown in oak tree to left; south transept has bronze figure and cherubs from monument to Admiral Leveson, circa 1635, by Le Seur, and chest tomb to John Leveson d. 1575 and wife, with spiral corner balusters, figures and armorial shields to sides, finely carved recumbent effigies; north aisle has wall tablet to Henry Bracegirdle d. 1702, inscribed panel in Doric aedicule, painted board to William Walker d. 1634 and other C19/early C20 wall tablets including George Thorneycroft d. 1851 and South African war memorial. Stained glass by C. E. Kempe to South aisle and good east window to south transept. (The Buildings of England: N. Pevsner: Staffordshire: London: 1974-: 314-5).

Sources and Further Reading

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