Silent Sunday…… Off to Church

St. Peter’s, The Parish Church of Alstonefield, Staffordshire

High on the edge of the Staffordshire Moorlands, close to the border with Derbyshire, is the village of Alstonefield and its 12 century Parish Church.  Built in the mid 1100’s, like so many of our ancient Churches it stands on a much earlier religious site. Alstonefield was a large and rather prosperous country Parish.  I am told there are over 700 marked graves which span 5 centuries of Alstonefield’s history, an indicator to the onetime size of this Parish… I also understand that there are many more graves lost to time.

For over 1000 years St. Peter’s has served the Parish. During those times it has endured the many perils of Plaque, Religious unrest and Civil Wars, yet it still stands firm.  The dark interior is simple, yet at the same time mysterious, not spooky but with an unreal fee hard to describe but very much felt…. maybe its the spirits of the those gone before. 

Its Grade 1 Listed Building status should ensure that St. Peter’s it will stand for many centuries more.  

We should never ignore our old Churches, they have seen much in their lifetimes and can tell us much about our past.

As always on this Sunday and everyday of the week….

Please Remember ….

Stay Safe …. Be Kind…. Look After Each Other

26th September

(C) David Oakes 2021