All Saints
Sandon, Staffordshire
12th century church Grade I Listed for its rare display of post Reformation wall paintings, stained glass and monuments celebrating the genealogy of Samson Erdeswicke, Staffordshire historian who died in 1603.
Sir Walter Chetwynd of Ingestre Hall, the 17th-century politician and antiquary, was a friend of Sir Christopher Wren and a fellow member of the Royal Society. When a drawing labelled 'Mr Chetwynd's tower' turned up among Wren's papers, it began to seem fairly certain that this fine church of the 1670s was indeed the work of the architect of St Paul's Cathedral.
The quality of the interior at Ingestre, such as the carved screen and the exquisite plaster ceilings, is certainly worthy of a building designed by a master.
The richly carved pulpit and tester are by the renowned Dutch-born wood carver Grinling Gibbons, and carry his peapods motif. The Chetwynd coat of arms has a prominent position, and several family tombs and monuments are in the church.