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. A beautiful place for a church wedding.

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.

A short history of St Calixtus church

The church is dedicated to St Calixtus, who was an Italian of Ravenna, son of Domitius. He lived in the reign of Severus and was the slace of Carpophorus, a Christian in Caesar's household. He was a banker and after being accused of embezzlement, was sent to the mines in Sardinia. When he was eventually released by Pope Zephyrin he was given a pension and made Archdeacon of Rome. He was put in charge of the Christian cemetery on the Appian Way and this still bears his name. He was elected Bishop of Rome in 219 and established a fast three times a year, on Saturdays, to implore a blessing on the fruits. Later he held ordinations at these times, up to this date ordinations took place only in December. He protected clergy from accusations in the courts by persons well known for their infamy. He denounced as heretics those who said the clergy ought not to be restored to the ministry after due penance. He built the church of St Mary, Trastevere. He suffered martyrdom by being put down a well during a riot in Rome on 14 October 223, and this day is kept as his festival. There is a portrait of St Calixtus in the Sistine Chapel in Rome.

St Calixtus Church at Astley Abbotts was originally built in Stephen's reign in 1138 and was consecrated on 14 October 1138, by the Bishop of Hereford. The church has been almost entirely rebuilt - the chancel, the pulpit, roof and panelling in 1633, in the reign of Charles I (the date is shown over the east window). The nave and steeple were rebuilt in 1857. The old groined roof, resting on hammer head projections on which are representations of the twelve Apostles, remains. There is very old glass in the east window and the large stone font is original Norman work.

The corbels are remarkable, being a lion, pegasus, phoenix and a unicorn. There is a tablet to Sir Tyrwhitt Jones Bart FRS and MP, who died in 1911 and the same tablet records the deaths of several other members of the family. There is a tablet to Sir Thomas Jones Knight, dated 1782 and a memorial of elaborate workmanship to Francis Billingsley who was a major in King Charles I's army and who died in 1656, also to his son, Colonel Billingsley, who was killed on 8 March 1646 while defending Bridgnorth in St Leonard's churchyard against the parliamentary army.

The maiden's garland and gloves hanging in the north west corner of the nave are said to have belonged to a bride, Hannah Phillips, who in 1707 was drowned on her wedding eve whilst crossing the river.

In the steeple in the west front, which was rebuilt in 1857, the two smaller bells were cast in Worcester in Henry VI's reign in 1455. No 1 is inscribed Sancte Petre Ora Pro Nobis, No 2 is Sancta Maria Ora Pro Nobis, No 3 was cast by Chetwynd in the Commonwealth in 1651 and is inscribed Cantate Domino Cantatum Novum, referring to the new song of Puritanism.

Along the north boundary of the churchyard is the grave of a man who was killed in Astley Abbotts by a lion from a travelling circus.

Now come with us on a short history through time...

The font: Feel the mason's toolmarks on this simple font, hewn from a solid piece of sandstone. It is thought to predate the church, being a relic of the earlier Saxon church on this site. It spent a period time during either religious or political unrest, as a cattle trough in a neighbouring field, being restored to its rightful place in the late 17th century.

A tragedy remembered: In the alcove next to the organ you will find a maiden's garland. Rarely found, they were made for the funerals of unmarried women of blameless reputation. After a period of mourning they were buried or burnt on the grave. This garland was placed in memory of Hannah Phillips, a young woman who lived just across the nearby river. Tragically, Hannah drowned whilst crossing the river by ferry boat, on her way to prepare the church for her wedding the next day 10 May 1707. Catherine Phillips, Hannah's sister, set up an educational foundation that still exists for parishioners.

Music to our ears: The organ was originally made for the catholic apostolic church in Bridgnorth. Its congregation believed the world would end with the start of the 20th century. When this failed to happen they disbanded, and the organ was bought for St Calixtus in 1936, replacing the barrel organ which had been used since 1801.

Pulpit and chancel: 1633 saw the rebuilding of the chancel in the popular style of the day - jacobean gothic. This included the ornately carved pulpit and the placing of the corbels. The pews at this time, known as box pews, had very high panelling around them so the congregation could not be seen in prayer. These were dismantled and in 1867 when the nave was restored, were used to panel the walls.

The slave who became pope: Look for fragments of 13th century glass in the centre of the east window, depicting St Calixtus. This holy figure had a fascinating life. As a roman slave he was found guilty of embezzlement and sent to work in the sardinian mines. His time serviced, and now a free man, he became the manager of a christian cemetery. From this he rose to deacon, bishop and finally in 218 AD, pope. He was thought too merciful and his luck soon ran out. On 14 October 222 a rioting mob killed him and threw him down a well. Our church was dedicated to him on 14 October 1138, some 900 years after his death.

Bloodshed for king: Local hero Colonel Francis Billingsley was born at Stanley Hall in Astley Abbotts in 1618. At 28 and fighting for Charles I he was slain in a battle, whilst defending St Leonard's church in Bridgnorth from Cromwell's swordsmen. His son, Major Francis Billingsley died only 10 years later, also in his 20s. The marble plaque on the south wall shows the family coat of arms. There is an easier to read rubbing of the inscription on the vestry wall.

Outside: If you came in through the front gate you passed between two ancient yew trees. Most likely they were planted to commemorate the coronation of Elizabeth I in 1558. A cast iron column, partly broken, stands on the left of the path near the porch; further on is a small sundial. It is believed this formerly stood on the column, which would have been the central support for a stone column. Cast iron in this area is prevalent, namely John Wilkinson, Alexander Brodie and the great Abraham Darby. With the raw materials needed to make iron readily available and the skills of these great men, iron goods from here were exported around the world.

Just past the front porch on the left is a memorial to Tom and Ellen Vickery. Tom was one of Shropshire's finest craftsmen, making bespoke clocks and mending watches in a workshop at their nearby cottage. Such was his talent, the British Horological Society invited him to visit watch making factories in Switzerland. Two of his clocks are in the Clockmakers' Company Museum at the Guildhall in London.

Steeple: In 1856 the south nave had been refaced and three new windows added, but it was felt the newly refurbished church deserved a stone steeple rather than the wooden belfry. A fundraising bazaar was held at Stanley Hall and together with donations from liberal individuals, the steeple was erected in 1858. It houses three bells, the oldest of which dates from 1450.

The rampant lion: On the northern boundary, surrounded by railings is a memorial to John Phillips,a  surgeon. Known as the lion grave, it features a carving of a lion. There are many stories about this grave, the most popular being that he was mauled to death by a lion which had escaped from a travelling circus and they are buried together. A less macabre suggestion is that the surgeon had ideas above his station in life, and took the lion to be his heraldic symbol.

Astley Abbotts village

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.

At St Calixtus, 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.