There has been a religious settlement at Lapley since the eleventh century, and a Benedictine priory from the twelfth century. It is still possible to see traces of the moat that surrounded these extensive buildings. The tower was surveyed in 1857 and the walls up to the Bell chamber declared to be Norman above the Bell chamber is fifteenth century having eight pinnacles in the Perpendicular style.. These walls had begun to slip, partly due to the removal of the transepts at the Reformation. In November 1643 the church was the site of a skirmish between Royalists and Parliamentarians, and the buttresses on the north wall that are dated 1637 still show the marks of having been used to sharpen swords.
The church is narrow in relation to its length, the chancel having been lengthened in the thirteenth century when the east window was installed. The window is not original, having been replaced in the 1950s. The chancel is also offset from the nave, in the manner of larger cathedrals. There are some rare medieval encaustic tiles in the sanctuary, the technique for making these was lost after the Reformation until it was rediscovered in the late nineteenth century. On the right hand side of the chancel is a sedilia for officiating clergy to rest during parts of the service. This one has three seats all on the same level, indicating that the church had several ordained priests.
A 1552 inventory records three bells at the church, this later increased to 5 which were recast and re-hung in 1929. In 1975 a sixth bell, named "Jubilee" was added, and a further two in 2002, making a total of eight.
The large sculpted font is decorated with scenes from the left of Christ, including the nativity. It is thought to be Dutch, but may have been carved in England from Dutch engravings. Experts disagree about quite how old it is, and, to date, no-one appears to know how it came to the church. There is also a carved cupboard for vestments, and a parish chest a large box in which villagers could secure their valuables, deeds etc. This has three locks, the keys of which were kept by the vicar and churchwardens.
There are traces of a painting on the wall of the nave, these were common in the days before literate congregations. There are also two painted boards, probably eighteenth century, showng the Lords prayer and the Ten Commandments. The peaceful churchyard contains a war memorial and many old gravestones, including a Gothic monument in the style of the Albert Memorial.
The population of the village is about 300.
Information taken from "Lapley, Stretton & Wheaton Aston" by Michael Albutt, ©1991
Historic records of All Saints, Lapley have been deposited at Staffordshire
Record Office, where they are available for consultation by the public.
These include the parish registers of baptisms 1538-1971, marriages
1538-1969, and burials 1538-1993; and the tithe apportionment award and map,
1838-1841. Other papers include a series of parish officers' accounts,
1731-1886 in the "Town Books".
A catalogue of these records is available in "Gateway to the Past" - the online catalogue of the
Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent Archive Service. The Archive Service's
website provides further information on
planning a visit to the office to consult records, should you wish to do so.
