Church of St Peter

St Peter’s Church stands in the village of Alstonefield, high on the Staffordshire moorlands. Built of local stone, it has grown from a 12th-century nave into a Grade I-listed building through later additions in the 16th, 17th, 18th and 19th centuries. Anglo-Saxon crosses found in the churchyard show that a much earlier church once occupied the spot. The dedication to St Peter points to very early Christian worship here. Inside, simple arcades and box pews recall the 17th-century rebuilding. The churchyard holds the oldest legible gravestone in England. Carved in 1518 for Ann Green, the circular stone bears text around its edge and on one face. In 2010 thieves stole lead worth £14,000 from the roof, prompting a fund-raising walk called the Leaden Boot Challenge. This 42-kilometre route must be completed within twelve hours each year and now supports other local causes. The church belongs to the Diocese of Lichfield and the Deanery of Alstonefield. Visitors step into a quiet nave of rough-hewn stone and dark oak pews. The chancel arch frames a plain communion table, while a small south aisle opens beside it. Outside, the moorland air carries the scent of grass and heather. The circular gravestone stands near the lychgate, its weathered lettering still readable after five centuries. The churchyard slopes gently down to a stone wall that overlooks rolling fields.