HISTORY

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The Senior Archivist at the Staffordshire Record Office, has asked us to include the following note in our web site:-"Historic records of St Peter's Alton been deposited at Staffordshire Record Office, where they are available for consultation by the public. These include the parish registers of baptisms 1681-1892, marriages 1681-1882 and burials 1681-1952; vestry minutes 1797-1947; and much more. A catalogue of these records is available in "Gateway to the past" (http://www.archives.staffordshire.gov.uk) - the online catalogue of the Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent Archive Service. The Archive Service's website (http://www.staffordshire.gov.uk/archives) provides further information on planning a visit to the office to consult records, should you wish to do so." The link below will give you a catalogue of what is available.  If you wish to search the documents you will have to visit the Staffordshire Records Office itself.

To search the Catalogue of Alton Parish records click here

To search the Catalogue for Bradley Parish records click here

For a list of who is buried in the churchyard click here

For further information about St Peter's Click here

 The Church was built by Bertram de Verdun in the second half of the twelfth century and given into the care of the monks at Croxden Abbey (two miles to the south). The original parish was large and included Alton, Farley, Denstone, Threapwood and Cotton. Alton Castle and Croxden Abbey also date from the second half of the twelfth century and were founded by de Verdun.

The North Arcade is all that survives of the original church. When the floor was raised in the 19th century, the proportions were lost. Beneath the present nave floor is the original bedrock floor, which slopes slightly to the east. The church would have been entered by the west door. The original base of one of the columns can be seen at the back of a broom cupboard.

The Nave originally had a fine oak roof, taken down in the 1831 rebuilding. This can be clearly seen in the two water-colours by the south door.

The Nave Wall Paintings “The interior of Alton Parish Church has been greatly improved by the recent restoration work, whereby the modern plaster has been cut away, leaving bare the stonework, the joints of which have been pointed with raised cement. The oldest part of the church is the north wall of the nave with its fine Norman arches. Above these arches on the nave side the workmen exposed a set-back in the stonework about twenty feet in length. This had been lath-and-plastered to bring it to the level of the other plaster. The older plaster behind the laths was badly perished; but here and there, painted on the surface, an occasional word could be distinguished. Great care was taken to bare this lettering and one panel was made quite legible. It was a quotation from the book of Ezra, Chapter 7, verse 27: “Blessed be the Lord God of our Fathers, which hath put such a thing as this, into the King's heart, to beautifie the house of the Lord Ezra” The words follow the Authorised Version of the Bible very closely and therefore the work is apparently after 1611 AD. However, underneath this layer of plaster were two others, one containing letters printed in an older type than the above and the other containing a kind of stencil work in red and orange. The precarious state of these layers of plaster made extensive baring unwise. However, towards the right hand end; on the thin plaster next to the stonework, the picture of an archer standing with his crossbow by the side of a tree was uncovered The archer is dressed in a jerkin and he has long pointed shoes. Unfortunately, his head and the upper part of his crossbow came away with some of the perished plaster. The whole length with its several layers of lettering and pictures has been treated with preservative. There were signs of some further printing on the west wall, but a coating of whitewash had left the remains too indistinct for preservation.” (From the Transactions of the North Staffordshire Field Club, Vol. LXIX, 1934-35, pp 80-81.)The painting adjacent to the Ezra text is said to represent the "Three Quick and the Three Dead". Interest has been shown in these paintings and they are listed in international publications, but their meaning and origin awaits further research.

The East Window came from the studio of C. E. Kemp and the altar was the gift of St. Oswald's, Ashbourne, in 1952.

The Chancel was rebuilt in 1885 by Charles Bill of Farley Hall, who bore the entire expense. The roof is of oak and supported by corbels in the form of angels with out-stretched wings, each bearing a shield showing the Instruments of Passion.

The Pulpit was carved by Advent Hunstone of Tideswell in 1912. Other woodwork, particularly that comprising the panelling of the organ and the area around the north aisle altar-table is from the sale of the effects of Alton Towers.

The Organ was built by John Oakes of Meir Heath in 1952.

The Tower dates from the 14th century and contains a reused window taken from the old south wall. It houses a ring of 8 bells, the oldest dated 1746, and a memorial to Dr. Robert Wagstaffe Killer, who died in 1841. The bells were re-hung in 1959. Good mid 19th Century ironwork can be seen on the west doors. At the top of the Tower are gargoyles. The clock was given a striking mechanism by Louise Mary Lees in 1962, in memory of her husband and refurbished in 1986.

The North Aisle contains a brass tablet to the men of Alton who gave their lives in two world wars. There are also several memorials to the Bill family of Farley Hall, great benefactors of this church. The stained glass window of the Archangel Michael slaying the Dragon commemorates the life of Lt. Col. Charles Bill, Member of Parliament for Leek, who died in 1915. In 1922 a small altar was placed here.

In 1991 work started on a North Aisle re-ordering, to provide kitchen and toilet facilities as well as a large room with an altar table and a smaller meeting room. Glazing provides an audio and visual screen to the rest of the church, whilst retaining a light, open feel to the space. The rooms are used for mid-week services, meals, gatherings and the Sunday School teaching.

The South Aisle dates from the 1831 re-construction when the south wall was taken down and extended outwards to form a new aisle, thus increasing the number of seats.

The Font is late 15th century and bears the Talbot Lion, the arms of the See of Lichfield and also symbols of the Trinity. The roundels set into the base commemorate the Four Evangelists.

Outside the Church The rock can be seen best from the east. It is a very old churchyard, now closed, the earliest verifiable grave is from 1683. The Yew Trees are not ancient and are probably less than 100 years old.

Brief notes to the present The Church registers date from 1681. The Parish was united with St. Leonard's, Bradley in the Moors, in 1982, and was also linked with the Parishes of Oakamoor and Cotton. It is now being linked with the parishes of Denstone with Ellastone and Stanton with Mayfield in what is to be called the Weaver Group of Parishes. 

To see an old print of St Peter's and explore other images click here To view more pictures of Alton enter 'Alton' in the Quick Search at the top of the page that has opened up and then click 'Go'

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