All Saints Church, Claverley

All Saints Church is a wonderful example of a village church which dates back to the year 675. The massive foundations under the chancel are likely to be of Roman origin. A wooden church was probably built on the foundation in the early part of the 7th century, and later in the same century, the first stone construction was erected.

The present church building was founded by Roger de Montgomerie, 1st Earl of Shrewsbury, in the 11th century.

The oldest surviving parts of the original church are the west wall, parts of the north wall, four Norman arches of the nave, and the lower part of the tower which all date to the Norman period, probably the first half of the 12th century. The upper part of the tower and the chapel in the north side were added in the 15th century, and the long chancel dates to the 14th century.

Inside the church, as well as some gorgeous alabaster tombs and effigies, there are two fonts; one Norman and one Saxon.

The finest feature of the church has to be its incredible medieval wall paintings that date to around the year 1200. All Saints Church is famous for its spectacular wall paintings, and considered a treasure trove of medieval artwork. The most notable of the paintings has to be the long, early 13th-century frieze high on the north wall of the nave. With its representations of battling knights on horseback, it has been compared in style to the Bayeux tapestry.

The yew tree outside of the north-east corner of the Church is over 2,500 years old and such trees were commonly planted in sacred places.