St Mary's Church, Blymhill

St Mary’s Church stands in the quiet village of Blymhill, Staffordshire, beside the old manor. Built in the 14th century, it is a Grade I listed building with a tower in Perpendicular Gothic style and a chancel in Decorated Gothic. The south aisle belongs to the Early English period, showing how styles changed over centuries. The church was restored and enlarged in the 18th and 19th centuries by successive rectors and architects. Inside, a weathered coffin in an arched recess may hold the remains of Stephen de Bromley, rector from 1349 to about 1379. The church’s history goes back to before the 11th century, when it was a chapel of ease to Gnosall. In about 1200 William, son of John Bagot, secured the right to appoint the rector, and a full list of incumbents survives from that date. The nave once had Gothic windows, replaced by round-headed ones in 1719. George Street’s 1858–59 restoration brought back Gothic windows, added oak fittings and widened the north side. Later, dormer windows were inserted into the south aisle roof in 1876. Visitors enter through a north porch added in the 19th century. The interior contains plain diamond windows, oak choir stalls, pews, pulpit and font installed by Street. At the east end of the north aisle stands St Chad’s chapel, built in 1936 as a gift from the Rev E R O Bridgeman. The chapel recalls the 7th-century missionary who is said to have preached nearby and blessed a well at Chadwell. The church’s layered past is visible in every arch, recess and roof.