Lapley

06/07/08

Lapley Church
visit the Lapley Bellringers website www.lapleybellringers.co.uk

The Church of All Saints is built of sandstone and consists of an unaisled nave and chancel with a central tower between them. The church was originally cruciform in plan, but the transepts have disappeared. The chancel and tower are on the same axis, but the nave is inclined towards the south. There is no obvious reason why this deviation should occur at Lapley.

The Church at Lapley became a priory of the Abbey at Rheims and remained so until Henry V suppressed all alien priories in 1415 during the wars with France. The Church and living then passed to the Warden of the college at Tong, where it remained until the dissolution by Henry VIII. The priory was established in about 1100 and blocked openings in the walls of the Church may have been connected with the priory; features in the north wall suggest that the priory buildings lay on this side.

The 12th century chancel terminated about half-way along the present one and a break can be seen in both walls.
The nave was originally of the same period and 12th century masonry can be seen in the walls and above the window heads in the centre and east end of the north wall. The 12th century nave covered the same area as the present one and was approximately the same height.
The original tower was probably squat, the upper stages being later additions. The 12th century stonework extending to the ceiling of the present ringing chamber, the upper additions being Perpendicular in style.

The north tower arch, now walled up, springs from a 13th century abacus, and a projecting fragment of abacus is all that can be seen of the arch on the south side. The east and west arches are of two orders, the chancel being markedly pointed.
During the 13th century the chancel was extended eastwards. The splendid east window consisting of five lancets under a single arch is also 13th century. A priest's door is to be found in the south wall of the chancel at the junction of the 12th and 13th century walling and the inner door is believed to be of Flemish origin. A small area of the original floor tiles can be seen in the chancel. The sedilia (triple seat) and the piscina are both 13th century. The carvings from the mediaeval Churchyard cross were found in 1926 in the vicarage garden.

The only work in the Church of 14th century design is the tracery in the three windows on the south side of the nave.

To the early 16th century belong two square headed windows, each with three lights, in the north nave wall.
In 1637 the tower was partly refaced and two short angle buttresses were added to the north east and south east comers.
The alter rails are 17th century. The Church is said to have been repaired and beautified in 1723 and in 1770 further repairs carried out.
The interior again received attention in 1838. In 1855 extensive rebuilding at the base of the tower together with two tall buttresses at each angle. The west doorway and window were rebuilt in the Perpendicular style. The nave was re-roofed and a plaster ceiling in the chancel removed.

The font is unusual and consists of a base and pedestal supporting a wide octagonal bowl lined with lead. Carved scenes tell the story of the birth of Christ. The font is of early Dutch origin, no one knows how it came to Lapley.
The door in the chancel incorporates carved panels from about the mid 16th century. There is also an ancient wooden chest with three different locks and keys and on the north wall of the nave are the remains of a 17th century mural painting.
On the floor of the sanctuary is an incised alabaster slab depicting a priest in eucharistic vestments. The chancel contains floor slabs to members of the Grundy and Webb families, there are also several mural tablets in the chancel.
In 1553 there were three bells and a sanctus bell. Today there is a ring of six bells, It is hoped to increase this to eight this year. The sanctus bell which hangs on the south wall of the chancel is one of the oldest in Staffordshire, dating before 1500.  Registers began in 1538.

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