St Michael, the parish church
Building
started on the present church soon after 1753 when the 12th century
priory church of St Mary and St Wulfad had become so unsafe structurally
that it could no longer be used. The priory church had been founded
as a result of the martyrdom of two Saxon princes, Wulfad and Rufin,
killed by their pagan father c. 680 AD when they became Christian
in defiance of his wishes. The priory was built near the cairn of
stones placed over their grave, and the village which grew around
became known as Stone.
The new
church was consecrated in 1758 by the Bishop of Lichfield and Coventry.
In 1886 the foundation stone was laid for a new chancel and other
restoration work has been carried out over the years.
The church
tower contains six bells from the old priory church and two added
in 1891, as well as a chiming clock by Smith & Sons of Derby which
was installed in 1896.
Most
of the stained glass windows are by Kempe. Those along the North aisle
depict saints and martyrs connected with Stone and the early Church
of England. The East window is remarkably fine, the tracery being
a copy of 15th century work. It depicts the Last Supper, the Crucifixion
and Worthy is the Lamb. The North window depicts the Supper at Emmaus
and also commemorates the victory of Admiral Sir John Jervis off Cape
St Vincent in 1797. The South window depicts the Resurrection and
was given in memory of Edward Jervis, 2nd Viscount of St Vincent,
and Mary Ann, his wife.
On the
walls are many memorial tablets. The pulpit of hand-carved oak was
given in 1926 by a local lady. The chancel, built in 1886 by Lady
Forester, is connected with the nave by a bold arch.
The beautiful
little chapel of St George was made as recently as 1942 as a result
of a bequest by Mrs Lavinia Salter. The windows in the North Gallery
record Old Testament subjects and those in the South depict the story
of Mary and the child Jesus. A record of all the inscriptions on the
tombstones is displayed in the church.
