History of St Matthew's Church

The Rev. Henry Norris, in his History of Haselour Hall in 1894, writes that St. Matthew's may have originally been a domestic chapel attached to the estate of the Vernons but that it almost certain that it became a Parochial Chapel in its very early days. He also suggests that it was referred to as 'Clifton cum Capella' in the King's Book of 1535.

The Church is built of red brick in Norman and early English styles, consisting of a Nave, South Porch and Norman Tower with three bells and a clock.

The register in the Church dates back to 1693, but it is thought likely that an earlier one does exist.

The first Rector for Harlaston Parish was Reverend Richard Rowland Bloxham, M.A., and he was, of course, the first occupant of the Rectory.

It is apparent from Vestry Minutes dating from 1851 that one of the first priorities of the Rector and members of the Committee was the restoration of the church.  Reports were obtained from a Surveyor and from William Slater, Architect of Regent Street, London.  These showed that there were settlements in the old walls to such an extent as to render any mere repairs impracticable; the roof and timbers of the Tower were severely decayed and the old Gothic arch leading from the tower to the church was in a ruinous state.  It was recommended that a new tower of simple design and proportion should be erected.  The Architect estimated the cost at £280 (approx. £38,000 in 2018), not including a spire which he suggested should be added later.

 At the first recorded meeting of the Vestry on 9th December 1851 it was resolved to carry out the work and to borrow a sum not exceeding £250.

In a letter to the Reverend Bloxham of 10th April 1852, H.J. Pye, Esq., Patron of Clifton Hall, suggested that it may be wise to confine attention at that time to repairs which were absolutely necessary in the belief that it might be possible at some future period to rebuild the Church without asking rate-payers to change their rates.

The windows were obviously receiving consideration and over the next few months it is recorded that it was agreed to allow three obituary windows and an East window of stained glass to be put in by Rev, R. R. Bloxham, W. Webb, Esq., and Thos. Flavell, Esq. It will be seen on the section on windows that the East window was later moved to make way for another one.

                 St Matthews Church circa 1900

At a meeting on 12th December 1861 an offer was revealed from Mrs Webb of £200 (approx. £23,000 in 2018)  for a new roof if there was a new tower. At the same meeting offers totalling £350 (approx. £40,000 in 2018) were received for the rebuilding of the tower, etc. In 1862 Mr. Webb promised to take sole responsibility of the building of the tower.

As a matter of interest, in the meantime, in 1856 the Vestry Meeting considered the alteration of the pews for the purpose of erecting an organ, but decided against it. However, an organ was installed in 1867.

An interesting footnote to the Minutes of the meeting in April 1858 read:- "N.B - Mr. Hellaby, on part of the Parish, refused to accept the Finger Organ which I have put in the Church. "signed.... R.R. Bloxham

It is believed that from around 1870 the health of Rev. Bloxham deteriorated and in 1875 her relinquished his post. From 1875 the Rev. J.B. Swann was Priest in Charge until 18th May 1877 when he was inducted as Rector.

Although, strangely, there is no mention of it in the Minutes, the restoration took place in 1882/1883.  The drawings, specifications and conditions of contract were prepared by Mr Christian of 8 Whitehall Place, London and were signed by all parties on 13th June 1882.

A brief summary of the work carried out is as follows:-

General repairs and improvements of the Nave, Chancel and Tower and including the Roof. Work on the Organ Chamber and Vestry.  Erection of new Porch on the South side. New wood and paved floors. New Chancel, seating and provision of a new Pulpit, Desk, Lectern, Communion Rail and Vestry Screen. New seating in Nave and Tower.

The work up to and including the erection of a porch was completed by Christmas 1882 according to a written note in Rev. Swann's hand, so presumably the remainder of the work was carried over to 1883. This would account for the Restoration Ceremony being as late as November 1883.

The total cost of the restoration, including all Professional Fees, etc., was £1,429/5/5d (approx. £168,755 in 2018).

The Church was re-opened on 13th November 1883 by the Bishop of Lichfield

The Diocesan Church Calendar for 1883/84 gives the following information:-

Rector                              Rev John B Swann

Church Warden               John Kendrick

Patron                              Mrs E.S. Swann

The Bells

There are three bells in the Tower of St. Matthew's.  They are contained in a three bell, wooden from which is thought to have been installed at the restoration.  Further history is contained here.

The Organ

The first organ officially installed was a small one, one manual Pipe Organ in a case bought second hand in about 1867 at a cost of £57.5s.10d (£6,000 in 2018).

The organ was rebuilt in 1946 when another manual and more stops were added and it was electrified at a cost of £475 (£19,000 in 2018).  It is dedicated to the memory of the men and women who gave their lives in the Service of their Country in 1939 - 1945.  In 1964 further additions and improvements were made and it was generally overhauled.

Windows

The many beautiful windows in the Church have been changed over the years details of these changes can been seen here.

Benefactions or Bequeathments

St Matthew's Church has been very fortunate to receive many benefactions and bequeathments - the details are contained here.

Weddings

Throughout its long history beautiful weddings have been held and photos of some of them can be viewed by clicking here.

Sunday School

In January 1979 Dr Martin Airey and his wife, Eve, started the Sunday school which they held each Sunday morning , except the first Sunday in each month, at their home in Manor Lane.  They started with twelve members and reached twenty four by 1983

The church is Grade II* listed.  The listing register states the following:

"Parish church. Mainly 1882-3 by Ewan Christian but retains some early C13 work. Red brick and some C13 coursed and squared sandstone blocks; plain tile roof with crested ridge tiles. West tower, 3-bay nave, 2-bay chancel and north-east vestry. West tower: early C13 with C19 restoration; one stage with hipped roof surmounted by a timber framed bell turret with pyramidal roof; C13 lancet windows to north and south, C19 east window in a C15 style, 3 cinquefoil arched lights with pierced spandrels beneath a square head. Nave: Decorated style windows of 2 trefoil arched lights with quatrefoil over, beneath a segmental pointed arch, the north-west window has 3 cinquefoil arched lights; pointed south doorway with double ogee moulded surround and hood mould, gabled timber-framed porch with shaped barge boards and traceried open panels. Chancel: stone plinth probably comprised of re-used C13 stonework; north and south windows similar to those of the nave, pointed east window of 3 lights and reticu- lated tracery, hood mould terminating in heads. Vestry: Caernarvon arch door to the north and lateral stack to the west of it; east window similar to those of nave and chancel, single-light west window with trefoil arched light under a segmental pointed head. Interior: C13 tower arch, pointed and double chamfered; 2 massive medieval timber framed trusses supporting the west turret, each has a pair of quasi-aisle posts, tie beam and arch braces, the inner face of each post has a chamfered fillet; segmental arch on the north side of the chancel, pointed vestry door immediately east of it. Fittings: C19 circular stone font, the pedestal has 4 nook shafts with moulded bases and capitals. Monuments: tablet to Anne Lady Egerton, died 1726, open base pediment, foliated scrolls to the sides and cherub's head to the bottom; Webb family tablet, circa 1840, egg and dart frieze; table to William Darlaston Webb, died 1863, the base has a frieze with inlaced pattern, surmounted by a heraldic frieze flanked by scrolls. Stained glass: good east window of 1894 depicting the ascension. Photograph at the west end of the nave taken prior to the restoration of 1883. B.o.E. p. 142."

Listing NGR: SK2150210957

This excerpt is entitled Harlaston - source unknown

Harlaston.  

This small but pretty village, formerly a chapelry to Clifton Campville, was constituted an ecclesiastical parish and rectory in 1850.

It is situate one mile east from Haselour station and four miles north from Tamworth, and is in the county of Stafford, the river Mease, which runs through part of the parish, dividing it from Derbyshire. Harlaston was formerly written "Hernulveston," and was one of the lordships of Earl Algar. Before the conquest it was forfeited by Edwin, his son, and in the 20th year of the Conqueror in was in the King's hands. The water mill, which stands to this day id described in the Doomsday-book as renter at -ur shillings and valued at £6. In the reign of King John, or at the beginning of that of Henry III, Gilbert Franceys was Lord of Harlaston. His daughter and heir married Sir William Vernon, Knight, third son of Richard de Vernon, and it remained in the Vernon family until 1565. It then passed to Sir Edward Stanley, who was related by marriage, who sold the manor in 1603 to Sir Edward Brabazon; and in 1683 it belonged to William Brabazon, Earl of Meath. In 1685, the manor and a very considerable part of the lands were purchased by Francis Wolferstan, of Statfold, who died on August 12th, 1712. His only surviving child, Anne, wife of Sir John Egerton, took Harlaston as heir--at-law, and lived there for most of the remainder of her life. Her epitaph on the mural marble tablet in the church is as follows: - "To the memory of Anne, Lady Egerton, sole daughter and heir of Francis Wolferstan, Esq., of Statfold and Harlaston, in this county, by Hester, his wife, a daughter of the antient family of the Bowyers, of Knipersley. She married June 14th, 1703, to Sir John Egerton, of Rine Hill, in the county of Stafford, Bart., and by him had issue Frances, Hester, and Catherine. The two first died very young, and had sepulture at Colwich, Catherine lived to a more advanced age, and died October 16th, 1722; she had sepulture also at Colwich, but, upon the death of her mother, was, according to her direction, removed to this place, and lies by her in the vault adjoining. Being deprived of all children, after many legacies to relations, and several charitable bequests to the poor, she adopted Edward, third son of her husband, Sir John Egerton, by a former venter, and left him this manor of Harlaston and other estates in the counties of Stafford and Warwick. She died April 12th, 1726, much lamented. Edward, her adopted heir, survived her but about thirteen months, dying May 9th 1727, and lies interred in the same vault, leaving his estates to his next brother, Ralph, who died April 3rd, 1732, and is here also interred. In obedience to her will, and out of a grateful regard to her and his brother's memory, Thomas Egerton, rector of Cheadle, in the county Palat. of Chester erected this monument."

After the death of Ralph, Harlaston was in possession successively of Sir John's two younger sons, Thomas, who erected the above tablet; and William, rector of Farthinghoe, Northants.

In 1770 it descended to Thomas, son of William, but he dying in a short time, soon after attaining his majority, without barring the entail, it descended to the head of the family, Lord Grey de Wilton, a great grandson of Sir John, who, in 1772, sold it and other estates of Lady Egerton to Mr. Barker, then a banker in Lichfield, who, admitting Mr. Thomas Princep, of Croxall, to half of the bargain, a petition was forthwith made by which Mr. Proncep had all the lands within Harlaston, but the manor remained jointly in the hands of his son and Mr. Barker's widow.

The old manor house appears to have been moated but the site now contains only a farmyard and buildings. What was for generations called Harlaston Hall was only an ordinary farm house. Sir John Egerton, however, made it serve him some years in the beginning of the last century, and there was some years ago a relic of the former importance in one of the rooms containing the arms of Vernon. A family of some consequence named Wolf, formerly also resided here. Shaw says two excellent farms were situate here, called Donimere and Hogshill, the later of which was conveyed in 1684 to Francis Burdett, and has been i that family ever since. It is now occupied by Mr. Joseph Hellaby, a well-known agriculturalist.

When hearth money was collected here 43 hearths paid 4s.6d.

At the contested election fot the county in 1747 four free-holders voted from this hamlet. The net expenses for the poor in 1776, taken from the returns then made to Parlaiment, were £56 13s. 2d. 

The Church of Saint Matthew is a small red brick building, having a chancel, nave, and wooden belfrey, with three bells and a fine toned organ. In addition to the tablet mentioned above there are other tablets of the Webb and Flasell families. The register dates from the year 1613. The living is a rectory, yearly value £450, including 42 acres of glebe, with residence, is in the gift of Mrs. Swann, the land belonging principally to Viscount Chetwynd, Sir Francis Burdett, Bart., J.P., C.B. Webb Esq. J.P. and the Trustees of the late Theophilus Levett. The soil is loamy; subsoil, clay and marl. The chief crops are oats, wheat, and barley. The area is 1468 acres.

The Vicar, the Rev. Lorenzo Alfred Pritchard, was educated at Wadham College, Oxford. He was made a B.A. in 1887, and M.A. in 1891; deacon in 1889, and received priests orders in 1890, at Lichfield. He was made rector of Harlaston, in the Diocese of Lichfield, in 1895, formerly curate of St. Mary's, Handsworth, from 1889-91, and Pensnett Staffs., 1893 - 95.

Many groups, families and individuals have gifted money or items to St Matthew's. Click here to find out more.

Click here to find out who was Churchwarden and when.

Click here for some of the marriages that have taken place at St. Matthew's (along with photographs)