Jesus be our Spede

The Chancel Restoration in 1929

The complete restoration of the Chancel in its present splendour was finished and dedicated by the Bishop of Lichfield on Michaelmas Day, 1929.

In the first case the Countess of Harrowby enriched the west front of the Hall pew with carvings of the Symbols of the Passion, and on the east side with the Heraldic Emblems of the Family above the words of dedication in the centre. 'The restoration of this Chancel is dedicated by John Herbert Dudley, 5th Earl of Harrowby, and Mabel Danvers his wife, in profound thanksgiving to Almighty God for the life spared of their only son, Major Viscount Sandon, R.F.A. (T.F.) throughout the Great War, and for the life and example of her only brother, William, Frederick Danvers, 2nd Viscount Hambleden, who died on the 16th June, 1928: also in. memory of Major the Hon. Robert N. D. Ryder, 8th Hussars, and of the men of Sandon, who made the supreme sacrifice.' Under the pew are two unusual carvings, on the north side the head of Tory, Lady Harrowby's Cairn bitch and her constant companion, and on the south side one of Tory’s puppies commemorating the fact that the sale of Tory's puppies helped in the provision of the oaken work above.

The false ceiling was removed and replaced by a noble timbered roof encasing Mr. Wyatt's, rough beams with oak and giving a sense of height and space and light. The plaster on the walls was removed and the Erdeswicke mural paintings were brought to light again under the direction of Professor Tristram, the leading expert on such matters at that time. The western half of the south wall was refaced with stone, and the staircase transferred to the north side. The Digby Tomb was moved and placed up against the south wall, and the black marble around it was used to form a new sanctuary step. The old Chancel Screen and Reredos were taken down, all five coats of paint cleaned off, all rotten or broken parts remade in oak and new oak panels inserted. The only visible evidence of the former maltreatment of the walls is their pitted appearance due to their having been plastered.

Since that date Electric Light was installed in the Church in 1947, and in 1950 Electric Heating, replaced by oil fired heating in 1973.

The Lady Chapel

The project of converting the South Aisle into a Lady Chapel arose in 1956 out of a suggestion of a memorial to Mr. James Henry Cadman (;or many years a Churchwarden) in the Church he loved and cared for so devotedly. It was felt that there was a definite need for a Lady Chapel for a number of Services, that it would complete the beauty of a very lovely ancient Church, and that it would restore an altar to the original site in the 12th century edifice. Mr. Cadman's family agreed, and at once made a very generous contribution, and many parishioners and friends responded with enthusiasm. Messrs. Bridgeman of Lichfield constructed an English Altar out of the oak of three pews from the front of the South Aisle. One thing led to another. In memory of a much-loved sister Mrs. Jerrett gave the oaken Cross, and Candlesticks, Col. Jerrett the Clergy Chair and Mr. Ernest Harries the Houselling Bench. The Reverend Ivo Knowles presented a handsome silver Ciborium in memory of Mr. and Mrs. T. W. Knowles and Mrs. Stott, and Miss D. V. Chawner gave the Altar Linen. Mr. James Cadman's brother and his family in Canada provided the Lectern with oak leaves carved on one side and maple on the other. An oak plaque on the side of the Verger's Pew commemorates the long and faithful service of Mr. Arthur Hine as Clerk and Sexton. The Corne Memorial Tablet was removed from the east to the south wall. The Bishop of Stafford dedicated the completed Lady Chapel on September 25th, 1958.

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