St Mary the Virgin
Calton, Staffordshire
This church was built by the villagers on land donated by villagers and the vicars were employed by the villagers until 1900 when it was transferred to the Diocese of Lichfield.
There has been a church on this site since approximately 1254. The church was designed by Ewan Christian of Whitehall Place, London, and was completed in 1873, having replaced a chapel dating from 1563. It is a Grade II listed building that stands in a spacious, tranquil and well maintained churchyard right in the centre of the picturesque Staffordshire village of Butterton.
Standing 1,000 feet above sea level and with a spire (1879 by Sugden) that rises 132 feet above the ground, the church is clearly visible from miles around. Highlights within the church include an octagonal font dated circa 1300 and the east window, depicting The Coming of the Lord, The Resurrection of Christ and The Messages of the Three Angels, that was fitted in 1873 and is of Whitefriars glass. The organ was presented by the Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee Commemorative Committee in 1898. Remains of an ancient cross can be seen near the entrance to the church. Restored in 2022, it has been reset and has been used as a sundial since 1798.
The church is proud to house a ring of 6 bells. The original 2 bells were augmented thanks to a Heritage Lottery Grant in 2017. The new installation was used to mark the centenary in 2018 of Butterton becoming a 'Thankful Village', and the bells act as a lasting memorial to the village’s good fortune. It is now understood that Butterton is a 'Doubly Thankful Village' because all the villagers who went off to fight in both World Wars returned safely.
Visitors are always welcome to our church, which is open daily from about 10am to 4pm. The bells can be heard ringing before our Sunday services, which are held twice a month. There are regular coffee mornings in the church and many extra services to celebrate special events during the year.