St Luke's Church, Hodnet

St Luke’s Church stands in the quiet village of Hodnet, Shropshire, beside the parkland of Hodnet Hall. Built mainly of local sandstone, the church has an unusual octagonal tower, the only one of its kind in the county. Inside, the nave and aisles form a five-bay arcade on round and octagonal piers with carved capitals. The east end has three separate gables, an uncommon arrangement in Shropshire churches. A lychgate of the 1870s marks the entrance to the churchyard, with stone benches inside for shelter. The church is worth visiting for its long history and fine fittings. Parts of the nave date from the 12th century, with major changes in the 14th and late 19th centuries. The stained glass includes work by William Warrington, David Evans and William Wailes, while the organ was built in 1878 by Nicholson and Lord. Among the monuments is a memorial to Reginald Heber, rector, hymn writer and Bishop of Calcutta, designed by Chantrey and inscribed by Robert Southey. Visitors find a spacious interior with a hexagonal pulpit on a stone base and two parish chests from the 17th century. The west end holds Rolls of Honour for the First World War, listing men from Hodnet and nearby parishes. Outside, the war memorial cross stands on a paved area of old gravestones, and the lychgate offers a sheltered place to pause before entering.