About St Calixtus, Astley Abbotts

The church of St Calixtus in Astley Abbotts is situated three miles outside Bridgnorth, just off the Bridgnorth to Broseley Road. It is a small hamlet set in an idyllic village setting with a small stream running alongside the churchyard, bounded by the Severn, and the Tasley and Linley streams.

The church is a stone building, consecrated by Bishop Betton in 1138, mainly Norman with Anglo Saxon roots, with some Roman tuffa stone found in the walls. Since then it has been almost entirely rebuilt – the chancel in 1633, and the nave and steeple in 1857 – in the Decorated Gothic style. St Calixtus was a bishop of Rome, martyred in the third century.

Inside the church is a spherical maiden's garland, renewed in 1860, which includes a ribbon-like piece of paper saying, in still legible handwriting, that it commemorates Hannah Phillips who drowned while crossing the Severn on the eve of her wedding on 10 May 1709. Read the history of maiden's garlands, including this one, here.

Astley Abbotts village hall is used for church and community functions, and is available for hire for parties and other functions - call Vic Dagnall on 01746 766390.

Astley Abbotts is famous for its lavender fields in the centre of the village near the church. Nearby is Stanley Hall, a magnificent, red brick, building with a gabled end and incorporating traces of a possibly earlier sandstone building. The grounds, which open occasionally under the National Gardens Scheme, are extensive and well tended. Many believe the house is one of the finest in the county.

We have a monthly family service, at which younger children are especially welcome, but offer a warm welcome to visitors at all our services.

All services include hymns - the church is fortunate to have the services of an excellent organist.

For directions to the church, click here.

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