St Mary's Church, Aldridge
Church in West Midlands, England
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
St. Mary's Church is the parish church of Aldridge, a town in the Metropolitan Borough of Walsall, England. It is operated by the Church of England.[1] The church is grade-II* listed.[2]
| St. Mary's Church | |
|---|---|
 | |
 St. Mary's Church | |
| 52.6043°N 1.9126°W | |
| Location | The Green, Aldridge, Walsall, West Midlands |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Website | www |
| History | |
| Founder | Before 1257 |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Aldridge |
| Clergy | |
| Rector | Revd Steve Doel |
Records show that it was built before 1257.[3] Other than the 14th-century tower, all the exterior walls were added or rebuilt between the years 1841–1853.[3]
A separate parish, of Great Barr, was created from Aldridge parish in 1866. Its parish church is St. Margaret's, which had existed as a chapel of St Mary's by at least 1552.[4]
A south vestry was added in 1975.[3] Between 1991 and 1995, the pews and choir stalls were removed.[3]
The church has two medieval effigies, of Sir Robert de Stapleton (active c. 1282–1301), lord of the Manor of Great Barr and Aldridge; and of a 14th-century priest, possibly Roger de Elyngton.[3]
The church's historic records are held at Staffordshire Record Office.[3]
Aldridge's war memorial stands on the green next to the church.
The current Rector is the Revd Steve Doel.
A 1955 painting of the church by the then Rector, the Rev Ronald William Cartmel, is in the collection of The New Art Gallery Walsall.[5]
