The dedication of the Pattingham Parish Church to Chad, a seventh century Celtic bishop, suggests that there has been a church on this site since Saxon times. It is interesting to look around and discover what can be seen of that long history in the architecture and artefàcts in the building.

SAXON
Although part of the foundation of the chancel is believed to be Saxon nothing can be seen of that original building. However, the shaft of the churchyard cross may
date from that time.

NORMAN
The Domesday Book states that Pattingham had its own priest. It is practically certain that a wholly Norman church was built, of which only the two round arches on the north side of the nave remain. The octagonal font dates, in part, from that time.

EARLY ENGLISH
Much of the building work dates from the early thirteenth century. The chancel dates from 1220-1240. Note the sedilia. seats for the priest, and piscinae, the basins for washing hands and vessels during Mass. There is also an aumbry or cupboard for the church vessels. The nave has been largely rebuilt but still retains the characteristics of the Early English period. There is a well moulded hood ending in heads, particularly a fine head of Our Lord.

DECORATED
The tower, dating from 1330 - 1380, is peculiar in that it is wholly within the church. The south wall also dates from the decorated period, about 1350. On the outside are two Mass clocks, or scratch dials, used to tell people the time of services.

REFORMATION
The stone book-rest near the font, used for public readings of the Bible probably
dates from this time. The boards showing the Lords Prayer, the Creed and the Ten
commandments which now hang under the tower would have started life where they
could be easily seen by everyone, who could, in this way, be taught the rudiments
of reading. There is a Bible box, of unknown date but probably fifteenth century and
two oak chests with the customary three keyholes-one each for the vicar and church wardens. The paten has on it the word PATYNGHAM and it is recorded that the church at this time took possession of a silver chalice. The bells were recast in 1601.

RESTORATION
There are no records of Pattingham suffering depredation during the Commonwealth; indeed the same incumbent remained in situ from 1647 to 1676. The present chalice
was donated in 1664. After the Great Fire of Pattingham in 1665, which devastated almost all of the village except the church, the king himself donated money to the rebuilding fund. The loyalty to the Stuart dynasty is demonstrated by the arms of Queen Anne on the west wall of the nave. An interesting benefaction board is dated 1710.

VICTORIAN
The most comprehensive rebuilding and reflirbishment of the building was carried out
in the nineteenth century thanks to two remarkable men: Reverend W G Greenstreet
who was vicar from 1844-1900 and the patron, the 5th Earl of Dartmouth. Work on
the church began in 1856.
The chancel, the nave and the south aisle were restored. The north aisle and the
vestry were built, paid for by the vicar. The Earl donated the spire, built in 1871. The bells were re-hung in 1864 and two smaller bells added bringing the full peal to 8 bells weighing 57 cwt.

The Bells of St Chad's Church
Five bells were known to have existed in 1553. In 1724, records show that there were six bells cast by Joseph Smith. In 1864 they where retuned and augmented to eight by George Mears. They were rehung in 1897 (to commemorate the reign of Queen Victoria), 1928 (by Gillett & Johnston) and 1958 (again by Whitechapel who quarter-turned the bells and rehung them on new headstocks). This frequency was due, in part, to the movement of the tower and spire.
In 1992, after £60,000 was spent on strengthening the tower, they were rehung in a new metal frame and retuned by Whitechapel.


The Pattingham Sunday Service Ringers - January 2008

For more information on the Bells of St Chad's Church and the Bell Ringers,
visit their website at www.pattingham-ringers.org.uk

The organ was first used at the Festival of St Bartholomew in 1873. The reredos of alabaster with glass mosaic behind the altar was erected in 1890.

Most of the stained glass is Victorian. Starting with the Adam and Eve window on the west wall of the north aisle, the glass in that aisle shows the heroes and heroines of the Old Testament.. The windows in the chance! tell the story of the life of Jesus. The Lady chapel shows the disciples and other leaders of the early church.. The south wall windows relate the parables and sayings of Jesus while that in the west wall by the font is dedicated to the Holy Family. The tower window in the west wall showing the resurrection was installed in 1893 the gift of 181 subscribers, in memory of William Walter, the 5th Earl of Dartmouth. To commemorate Queen Victoria's diamond Jubilee the bells were re-hung and the clock and chimes restored.

TWENTIETH CENTURY
The Lady Chapel was furnished in 1918 in memory of Brigadier General T A Wight
Boycott DSO. The crucifix in the churchyard facing the shops was erected in memory of two grandsons of Rev. W G Greenstreet, killed in the 1914-18 war. The oak triptych in the north aisle, in memory of those who died in the Great War, was erected in 1920. In 1933 the first electric blower for the organ was installed. The present pulpit was built in 1956.
A glass chalice made and engraved in a West Midlands glass factory was given in
1972 by members of the congregation to mark the 13O0th anniversary of the death of St Chad.
Villagers have continued to contribute generously to the upkeep of the building with substantial donations for major repairs to the flying buttresses (1960s) , the tower and bells (1980s) and the spire (1990s). The sundial in the churchyard was restored in 1977. The baptistry was furnished in 1981 in memory of Dennis Selby, a lay reader of this parish. The area inside the South Door was panelled in memory of Colonel Eric Butler in 1985.

TWENTY FIRST CENTURY
The church continues to respond to the changing needs of the parish. An ambitious project, very successfully funded by generous donations and fund raising events,
provided much needed toilet and kitchen facilities together with a new upper meeting room, the Loft. We pray that, with God's grace, this ancient church will continue to serve the community of Pattingham with Patshull during the third millennium.

PARISH REGISTERS
The parish registers of St Chad, Pattingham commence in 1559. The original registers for the period 1559-1918 (Bapts), 1559-1936 (Mar) & 1559-1889 (Bur) are deposited at Staffordshire Record Office. Bishops Transcripts, 1660-1874 (with gaps 1854-55 & 1858-59) are deposited at Lichfield Record Office.

A transcript of the registers of St Chad for the period 1559-1812 was published in 1934 by the Staffordshire Parish Registers Society and has been reprinted by the Birmingham & Midland SGH. A transcript of the registers of St Chad for the period 1813-1874 (baptisms only) has been published by the Birmingham & Midland SGH.

The 100 Club was formed 4 years ago with a view to raising funds to support the work of the Church in Pattingham. As the name implies we have 100 members each paying £5 per month over a twelve month period.
Each member has their own unique membership number. On the last Monday of every month a draw takes place; the person with the winning number receives £150, second prize is £100 & third prize is £50.

The Century Club generates income of £6,000 per annum and after paying out £3,600 in prize money retains £2,400 per annum for church funds.

Although membership is currently full, if you would like to register your interest in joining the Century Club when there is a vacancy, please email Steve Jones at the following address stevejones@breezecs.com