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Aidan McRae Thomson
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St John, Alstonefield
St John, Alstonefield

East window by Burlison & Grylls, c1875, suffering from severe paint loss (due to underfiring of the painted glass).

Alstonefield lies in picturesque countryside, situated in the Staffordshire Moorlands and within the edges of the Peak District national park. The church of St Peter is mainly of 13th - 15th century date but its origins are far older as witnessed by some surviving fragments of Anglo Saxon carved stonework (some in the church, another mounted outside in the churchyard).

This attractive building sits within an ample churchyard, itself full of interest as it also contains the earliest known gravestone in an English churchyard, a small worn round grave marker with the date 1518 still legible. I was able to take advantage of the opportunity to ascend to the aisle roofs of the church (during a survey of the clerestorey windows) and get some unusual perspectives on the building.

The interior is broad and light owing to minimal use of Victorian stained glass (only in the easternmost windows of the chancel), the rest being plain glazed. There is a distinct Post-Reformation atmosphere here, partially due to the whitewashed walls, the plain glazing and also the large amount of attractively carved woodwork dating from the 1630s, most notably the box-pews in the nave and the fine two-deck pulpit, with ornamental patterns and benefactors names carved for all posterity. The fine family pew in the north aisle is from the same period and also features carved decoration. The chancel arch is a remnant of the Norman building.

This is a visitor friendly part of the world and the church normally seems open and welcoming to visitors. We spent some time here getting to know the building quite well.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St_Peter%27s_Church,_Alstonefield

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Taken on: August 26, 2021
Tags: Everybody's photos tagged with Alstonefield Alstonefield Everybody's photos tagged with church church Everybody's photos tagged with Staffordshire Staffordshire more » Everybody's photos tagged with stained glass stained glass Everybody's photos tagged with window window Everybody's photos tagged with Victorian Victorian Everybody's photos tagged with Burlison & Grylls Burlison & Grylls « less
Sets appears in:   • Victorian & Edwardian Stained glass    • Staffordshire Churches    more » • Burlison & Grylls Stained Glass    • Alstonefield - St Peter    « less
Camera: Panasonic DMC-TZ70, f/6.1, 1/60 sec, 96.2mm, ISO 80 (more info) (hide info)
Camera: Panasonic DMC-TZ70
Aperture: f/6.1
Exposure Time: 0.017 sec (1/60)
Focal Length: 96.2mm
ISO: 80
Exposure Bias: 0 EV
Flash: Off, Did not fire
Exposure Program: Manual
Exposure Mode: Manual
Metering Mode: Multi-segment
White Balance: Auto
Color Space: sRGB
Software: Microsoft Windows Photo Viewer 6.1.7600.16385
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St John, Alstonefield

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