27th February 1958 SS
Our Churches – No. 111
The ancient Parish Church of All Saints, Sandon, is best described as a building of many styles, steeped in history.
The original church, built about 1100 by one of the Barons de Malbane, is thought to have been what is now the South aisle. Confirmation that the original churcvh was of Norman architecture was discovered in the last century during repair work, when a stone with Norman zig-zag designs was found.
The nave and chapel are more than 600 years old, and there are Norman and Jacobean fonts and ancient glass in the sanctuary.
A white stone near the porch marks the resting place of one of the church’s famous Vicars, Walter Careless, a descendant of Colonel Careless, who was Charles II’s companion in the oak tree at Boscobel.
That Vicar’s wife, formerly Ann Hector, was an initmate friend of Dr. Johnson, and was reputed to be the great man’s first love.
A highwayman who met his death at Sandon is believed to be buried in the churchyard — the curious shape of a horse and rider on a gravestone bear out this legend—and inside the church is the striking tomb of Sampson Erdeswicke, the antiquary and Staffordshire chronicler, who died in 1603.
Sampson lies in a recumbent attitude, accompanied by his two wives, but the hands which were raised are broken off. The damage is believed to have been caused by Parliamentary soldiers in 1643, on the day before the battle of Hopton Heath.
The battle has other close associations with Sandon for the names of all the Church for the names of all the soliders killed there are registers. [sic]
Reach PLC. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD
