Church Building

The church of St Chad is steeped in history, a church has stood on the site since 1307 with the present building being the result of extensions in 1543 and 1925.

The church is an impressive building in a lovely setting and is built of red sandstone ashlar. Its plan consists of a tower at the west end, a nave with aisles, a chancel, a vestry to the northeast, and a southwest porch. At the east end of south aisle is the Lady Chapel.

The porch has two storeys, the upper projecting over the lower one. Most of the church is in Perpendicular style although the east window is decorated.

The octagonal font is dated 1641. In the chancel is a decorated Saxon stone. This consists of a sarcophagus in a recess with a brass effigy. There are fragments of medieval and 19th century glass in one of the north windows. Three of the stained glass windows in the north aisle are by Kempe. The parish registers begin in 1558 and the churchwardens' accounts in 1733

The church originally had four bells, dated 1513, but these were recast into five bells by Rudhall of Gloucester in 1733. It currently has a ring of eight bells, cast by John Taylor & Co in 1915 which were re-hung in 1938.

Those who attend at St Chad’s are rightly proud of this place of worship but are only too aware of the responsibility that comes with a building of such age. In recent years large amounts of money have been spent to maintain the church fabric. Most recently this has included the installation of new toilet facilities, disabled access from the car park to the churchyard and the laying of a new drive.