The fine Collegiate and Parish church of St. Michael and All Angels stands to the west of the village and is built in local sandstone. Impressive views of the church can be seen from the roads coming into the village from Stretton, Levedale and Cannock. The church is 47 metres long and is made of an aisled chancel, aisled nave, west tower, south porch and north-west vestry. The Chancel is dated 1225 and pre-dates the Nave by possibly 25 years. The remains of a 13^th Century roof line can also be seen on the interior. In the 14^th century the western tower, clerestories and new windows were added. The tower is dominant with the lower section decorated and the upper section perpendicular gothic. The style of the building is early English perpendicular; all traces of earlier churches of Saxon or Norman origin have disappeared.

The Nave and Nave Roof

In 1250 the construction of the Nave began. The four bay arcades follow the same pattern as those in the Chancel, but the water holding base has been replaced by a double moulding. The aisles are wider than the Chancel aisles to enable an altar to be placed by the arches connected to the Chancel. The 13^th century roof line is clearly defined. The Clerestory, consisting of a pair of square-headed windows in each bay, was added in the 16^th century.

The early church contained several altars, one of which was dedicated to St. John the Baptist. A number of these were destroyed at the dissolution of the college.

In 1881 the church saw a major re-ordering by J. A. Chatwin of Birmingham. The Nave was given an elaborate roof. In his history of Penkridge, J.C. Tildesley states that the most notable feature of the church is its nave roof — to quote him "The church's pride and beauty." It may in fact be one of the earliest machine carved roofs in the country.

The architect has used emblems which tell of the churches dedication and history. Six oak angels were part of the original roof and two machine made angels were added. This explains why six are painted gold and two remain in their original wood stain. The new angels hold in their hands the symbols of our Saviour's Passion.

Beginning on the north side, in the first panel of the first bay we see the Tudor Rose with a dragon on each side; the second panel has the crown on a hawthorn bush with a greyhound each side. This badge was adopted by Henry VII after the battle of Bosworth — the crown of Richard III was found on a hawthorn bush.

In the second bay we see depicted a stag's head and a shell. Both are found on the badge of the Littleton family.

The third bay‘s first panel consists of a portcullis with dragon supporters; the second panel a Tudor rose and greyhound supporters.

In the first panel of the fourth bay we see the Percy Lion and cap of maintenance and elephants each side. The second panel has the crescent belonging to the Percy badge.

Now let us turn to the south side beginning at the east bay where there are four Archangels with their traditional emblems: St. Uriel a book, St. Raphael a staff, St. Gabriel a lily and St. Michael a sword.

In the second bay, panel one we see St. Michael in combat with the dragon, in the second panel we see him weighing souls.

In the third bay the panels contain emblems of the four evangelists with a shield in the centre having upon it a symbol of the Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ.

In the fourth bay the panels are decorated with a combination of the Percy and Littleton family badges. The roof is carved from a soft wood, most likely pine.

3 views of the church roof showing the angels, the stone carved figures and the intricate wood carving of the roof. Click on the small pictures to see much larger ones in a separate window.