About Us
St Giles' church is almost entirely Victorian, built in 1857-8 to replace the former church halfway down Farlow bank by Robert Griffiths of Quatford. It is, like so many Victorian churches, constructed in the Gothic style - Early English in this case, but Pevsner notes that the south doorway is 12th century, transferred from the original church. There are some lovely stained glass windows, with Moses and Elijah flanking Jesus at the east end, and Jesus with John the Baptist at the west end. There is a record of the story of St Giles just inside the door, and he appears in the statuary around the pulpit. There are no side aisles, but quite a long nave and a step up to the chancel. Projecting the voice to the back of the church is quite an art!
The lych gate is the village war memorial and has just been listed as being of historic or architectural interest.
The churchyard around St Giles boasts one of the finest views from a Shropshire churchyard: down from the ridge across farmland to the Brown Clee HIll. Sometimes you can be lucky enough to see mist down in the valley, and be in the sunshine above. Just down the road from the church is the village primary school, which uses the church to mark its special occasions.
Throughout the year Holy Communion is celebrated at St Giles on the first Sunday of the month at nine am; during the summer months there is an evensong (Book of Common Prayer) at six-thirty pm. The September third Sunday has been used for the last two years for a Pet Service.
For further information about the church and parish, and about services and other events, see our benefice website www.stottesdonbenefice.co.uk and our Facebook page at Stottesdon Benefice.