Our Church's
St Giles The Abbot, Cheadle
Nestled in the heart of Cheadle, St Giles the Abbot church is a beacon of faith and community. As a part of the Parish of Cheadle with Freehay, this vibrant church serves as a spiritual home to its local congregation. With a focus on worship, growth, and inclusivity, St Giles the Abbot invites all to join in its mission of seeking God's will.
History
The current church, designed by architect James Pigott-Pritchett, was consecrated on 12th January 1839, replacing an earlier medieval church from 1349.
In 1190, WM Basset, Lord of the Manor, presented Henry De London to be the first Rector of Cheadle. In the 1320s, the Advowson (right of patronage) of Cheadle church was transferred from the Basset family to Michael House Cambridge, and circa 1349, the medieval church at Town End was built.
In 1538, King Henry VIII dissolved the monasteries, and sold the lands of the church to the laymen nobility of the church and the proceeds, and began to build Trinity College, Cambridge. On the 24th December 1546, the Advowson of St Giles Cheadle was transferred to Trinity College.
Somewhere between 1938 and 1941, the Advowson of Cheadle Parish Church was transferred to Lichfield Board of Patronage, with which it remains today.
St Chads, Freehay
Located in the quaint village of Freehay and part of the Lichfield Community of St Chad, the church fosters a sense of belonging among its local congregation, emphasising connection, personal growth, and inclusivity. St Chad's does not only offer a stunning setting for worship but also for treasured family gatherings, reinforcing its importance as a central hub for community engagement.
History The church was built in the early-English style and is made from local Hollington Stone. The roof is open and has four bays of equal pitch. At the east end are three lancet windows, with shaft and rich-toothed mouldings filled with stained glass by Wailes of Newcastle. We understand this was a gift of a fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge.
The side windows are lancets, filled with bottled glass, with a scroll border of blue, as also are two lancets at the west end. The pews are open, made from oak, with carved poppy heads. Every pew is unappropriated. The whole cost was in the region of £1600, which was raised entirely by private subscriptions, aided by a grant of £100 from the Master and Fellows of Trinity College Cambridge, the patrons of the living.
Admiral Sneyd laid the foundation stone on 27th July 1842, and the chapel was opened for the celebration of Divine Service under the Bishop's licence on St Thomas's Day, 1843. However, as sufficient funds could not be raised for an endowment, it remained unconsecrated for three years.
