There is evidence that the church was much larger at one time. Internments in 1892-3 revealed distinct traces of foundations between the East End and the fence. In recent years the Penk Valley Archaeological Group have un-earthed the remains of a Roman Villa.
The present Vestry was build in 1870, but the piscine on its south wall seems to indicate that there was a Lady Chapel prior to this date and the window in the east wall is decorated in a style which indicates that it dates from the 14th century.
The church in its present form is largely the result of the Restoration of 1870. The Architect for the restoration was Mr G. E. Street, who said that he intended to do a restoration, not an alteration. The work was done by the Eccleshall builder, Mr Espley. The cost was £1,155 with £660 in addition for fittings and adornments. A small aisle was constructed on the north east side which increased the number of "sitting". Access to this aisle was through a fine round arch. The screen beside the organ was constructed out of sound portions of the old roof.
The tracery gives a key to the age of the windows. The west window is Early English (13th Century) as are the two on the north side of the nave, which are similar in form to the top part of the west window, though slightly smaller. The small window near the pulpit is a Lychnoscope - a small window near the ground. The remaining are all in Decorated style. The subjects of the windows are very interesting.
There are a number of memorials. The Rickerscote Memorial translated from Latin reads: "Here lies buried Richard Nevil of Ricarscoat, Gentleman who married Eleanore, youngest daughter of Richard Drakeford of Forebridge, Gentlleman, by whom he had no issue. For his King fairly often, for his Country always. The Church of England by Law is established, in an extraordinary degree he loved, cherished and frequented his Church as much against Romanists and Jesuits as against Fanatics".
Historic records of St James, Acton Trussell have been deposited at
Staffordshire Record Office, where they are available for consultation by
the public. These include the parish registers of baptisms 1571-1625,
1721-2001, marriages 1721-2001, and burials 1721-1993; and the tithe
apportionment award and map, 1849.
A catalogue of these records is available in "Gateway to the Past" - the online catalogue of the Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent Archive Service. The Archive Service's
website provides further information on
planning a visit to the office to consult records, should you wish to do so.
Click here to see the whole area on a small scale map. The location of Acton Trussell can easily be seen in relation to the other three villages. Click here to see the village of Acton Trussell in detail on a map - scale 1:25,000. The position of the church in the village can be easily seen. Both these maps will be shown in a separate window.
Sunday 10th August - 9.30 am Holy Communion with Baptism - Caroline Plant
Sunday 17th August - 9.30 am Family Service - Delphine Howarth
Sunday 24th August - 9.30 am Morning Prayer - Delphine Howarth
Sunday 31st August - 9.30 am No Service
Every Friday at 10.00 am: Holy Communion Service
Arrangements for Weddings and Baptisms - please contact Rev'd Caroline Plant for an appointment on 711154 (however this line is very busy and it may take some
time to respond to your call).
Acton Trussell and Penkridge Photographic Society meets at 8.00 pm on the first and third Tuesdays of the month. It meets in the Community Centre in Acton Trussell. Further details from the secretary Ken Haines Tel: 258353
Page last updated - 29th July 2008 |
It has been suggested that the likely date of the opening of the church was 1212 AD. On the church tower, between the upper and lower lights, is a date, either 1566 1669, it is not clear which it is. If the date is 1669, it might have been damaged by fire. The basis for this idea is an entry in the register book of Hagworthingham Church near Spilsby, Lincolnshire. "For Edward Goldsmith of Acton Trussell in Staffordshire, for ye loss by fire - collected Nov. we 4th 1666, 3s 0d." This is probably a Brief, which was Sovereign letters patent, authorising of collections for charitable purposes. It is unlikely to be given to an individual in respect of his own loss, and Goldsmith was probably the Churchwarden receiving money in connection with an appeal made for funds to help restore th church after a fire. As the dates are so near to one another it is likely that there is a connection. Another Brief read in th Church of Enfield, Middlesex on 7th April 1826 was in aid of a collection for repairing ye Church at Acton Trussell, which was described as being dilapidated and unsafe. The Church was re-opened after restoration in 1870. The church was closed for 44 years, perhaps money was slow coming in.
