South aspect
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St Matthew’s is an active Anglican church in Walsall, West Midlands. It is in the Archdeaconry of Walsall, the Deanery of Walsall, the Diocese of Lichfield, and the BeneficeOriginally used in feudal societies to describe a grant of land as a reward for services rendered. In modern usage it refers to a collection of parishes working together under a single incumbent. of Walsall Saint Matthew.[1] The church was originally dedicated to All Saints, but has been known as St. Matthew’s since the 18th century.[2]
Occupying a prominent position overlooking the town centre, a church has existed on the site since at least 1200; the earliest part of the present-day church, the crypt, dates from the 12th century.[2]
St Matthew’s was designated a Grade II* listed building
Structure of particular architectural and/or historic interest deserving of special protection. in 1951.[3] Its condition having been assessed as “poor” and “declining”, it has been added to Historic England’s Heritage at Risk Register.[4]
Architecture
Exterior
St Matthew’s comprises a nave
Central part of a church, used by the laiety. with clerestoryUppermost range of windows in the wall of a church, or a row of windows above eye-level., north and south aisles
Part of a church on either side of the nave or choir, separated from them by arcades, colonnades or piers. More generally, a passageway between seats in an auditorium, shelves in a supermarket and so on., transepts
Part of a Christian church crossing the area between the nave and the chancel, forming a characteristic cruciform shape., a south-west tower with spire, and a chancel
Part of a church containing the altar, used by the officiating clergy.Part of a church containing the altar, used by the officiating clergy. with crypt and north organ chamber. The nave was rebuilt by Francis Goodwin in 1820–1821, when the exterior of the nave and tower was given a cladding of Bath stone. The late 15th-century chancelPart of a church containing the altar, used by the officiating clergy.Part of a church containing the altar, used by the officiating clergy. was restored by Ewan Christian in 1887–1880.[2][3] Owing to it becoming twisted, the spire had to be replaced in 1779, and was restored in 1951. The tower clock was installed in 1865.[2]
Interior
Church of St Matthews
The interior has five-bay nave arcades
Series of arches carried on piers, columns or pilasters. Also used to denote a covered avenue with shops on one or both sides. with iron piers on stone bases. The flat nave ceiling has a plaster fan vault with pendant bosses. The early 15th-century octagonal alabaster font has a lead lining dated 1712. The timber chancel screen, in the Arts and Crafts style, was installed in 1915.[2][3]
The sedilia
Seats for the officiating clergy found on the south side of an altar. and piscina
Small basin in a Christian church used to clean the priest's hands and the sacred vessels used at Mass. are 19th-century restorations. The choir stalls incorporate some 15th-century woodwork, including a series of 18 misericordsWooden ledge on the underside of a folding seat in a church, intended to support a member of the congregation while standing..[3]
Bells
The peal of twelve bells includes four dating from before 1553, another before 1656 and another cast in 1674. Two more were added in 1863, and when all ten were recast by Taylor and Co. of Loughborough in 1928 another two bells were added. The front eight bells make a complete octave.[2]
Organ
The organ was built by Samuel Green of London and installed in 1773. It was rebuilt and enlarged by J. W. Walker & Sons in 1953, using the old pipe work and some of Green’s stops. The organ was rebuilt and modified again in 1999–2000, retaining the Walker console but installing new solid-state transmission and piston capture systems, with some new pipework.[5]
