St Editha’s Church, Tamworth

A minster church may have stood here in the 7th century. It was replaced in the later 8th century by a much grander church within the precinct of the Anglo-Saxon palace built for King Offa (reigned 757 – 796). With their bishops, abbots and ealdormen he and his successors often celebrated Christmas and Easter here.

Around the year 874 the first church was destroyed by the Danes, along with the town, and it was not until the time of Æthelflæd, Lady of Mercia and daughter of Alfred the Great, that a second church arose. After a period of Danish control Æthelflæd rebuilt the burh defences in 913. The Danes ruined the second church in 943 and it was King Edgar who re-founded it around the year 963. Editha was likely King Edgar’s aunt who died in the 960s and was canonized shortly after for her life of devotion and piety and then made the patron saint of the now collegiate church.

As a collegiate church, St. Editha’s had it’s own Dean and Chapter, much like a Cathedral. The college was dissolved in 1548 under the terms of the Dissolution of Colleges Act 1547 and the church became the parish church for the town of Tamworth.

In the 12th century, probably when Robert Marmion was Lord of Tamworth Castle, the church was substantially rebuilt with a cruciform plan and a large central crossing tower with two impressive arches.

In 1345 the town and church were destroyed by fire and so began a rebuilding, being the fourth and present church. Work on the present church began in 1350 and was completed in 1369. Most of the current church building is mid- to late-14th century and 15th-century work with some 19th-century additions.

As well as the beautiful stained glass, panelled roofs, Norman arches and magnificent organ, St. Editha’s Church is famous for its extraordinary and rare double winding staircase, which climbs the whole height of the tower.