ASTON JUXTA CHURCH Revisited 12th July 2009

This is an updated section combining images of my first visit to the church (31st March 2009) with a subsequent visit on the church open day on the 12th July.

Welcome to Aston Parish Church; Ss Peter and Paul Church, Aston; Aston Juxta Birmingham Church (Aston near Birmingham). A splendid array of names and a history to match.

A church on this site was recorded in the Doomsday Book, but another building and much restoration and additions have taken place since. Others have recorded the history of the church and a detailed account can be viewed at BRITISH HISTORY ONLINE item 11.

There are monuments centuries old in the church, some with Latin inscriptions, and some so faded as to be illegible. Many monuments are hidden or inaccessible at this time, but more information and photographs may be added if I get the time to do so.

I was told by one of the ministers that the church is usually open when Aston Villa FC have a home match, although it was not made clear whether this was to pray for divine intervention before the match or possibly to seek solace afterwards.

The church website is at http://www.astonnechellscofe.org.uk/history_aston/

Notes on coloured text:-

I have traditionally used blue text for transcriptions I have made myself but of which I am uncertain. The new red text, for this church only, applies to the history, transcriptions and translations as made by William Eliot MA, vicar of the church 1875-1891. His historical observations are sometimes at odds with other sources.

The information, transcriptions and translations cannot be guaranteed to be correct.

(Photo 31Mar2009)

This photograph shows the tower and spire at the west end of the church.

(31Mar2009)

A view from the south-east. The clock on the tower was apparently Britain's first mechanical clock.

(31Mar2009)

This "tour" starts at the floor of the tower, dated 1480. To the left of the west door is a brass of Thomas Holte, the grandfather of the Thomas Holte who built Aston Hall. It depicts him and his wife Margaret.

There are several Holte memorials in the church and the name also lives on as the "Holte End" at Villa Park football ground.

This particular memorial was formerly on the floor besides the monument to William Holte and wife Joan(na) situated in the north aisle (see later).

The inscription on the brass reads:

Thomas holte here lieth in grave

Thu for thyn paffion on him

Thou have compaffion and his foolle do fave

Around the edge:

Of yr charitie pray for the foolle of Thomas holte Efquire, late Juftice of North Wales & lord of this town of Aston And Margaret his Wife which Thomas ????* the 23rd daye of March, Anno Dmi 1545, whose foullf God pardon.

*deceased ?

(31Mar2009)

On the south wall of the tower is this stone.

(I'm still working on it... there is this rubbing somewhere....)

(12Jul2009)