Where, outside London, will you find a Wren church? It’s not a matter to which we’d ever given much thought - and we found the answer before the question had been posed!

However............ it was early July, on a gorgeous summer’s day and in a delightfully rural area. We had booked accommodation near Stafford and would be attending a costumed ball at the nearby Ingestre Hall that night. (The history of this hall has, for many centuries, been bound up with the Chetwynd and Talbot families.)

Although we had been given some directions for finding the venue, we felt it safest to do a ‘recce’ beforehand. As we jogged along the lanes became narrower and narrower, the amount of woodland increased and there was less and less habitation. ‘Dead End’ signs appeared! Then suddenly we were upon the Home Farm - the buildings of which have been converted into very smart residences. Across the way lots of horsey activities were in progress, for nearby stood The Stables - still serving their original purpose. A quick investigation indicated they’d been built in an era when the gentry’s horses lived in far better conditions than the people who looked after them!

On we went - and over-shot the Hall entrance (because the gate was shut). What a blessing that was! As we rounded the corner of another building, looking for somewhere suitable to turn the car around, we came upon an absolute jewel of a church: St. Mary the Virgin, Ingestre.

The present building (1676) replaced an earlier 13^th century church and yes! you’ve guessed it: it was built to a design by Sir Christopher Wren. This claim is well established and accepted as such by the Wren Society. Both Walter Chetwynd and Sir Christopher Wren were Fellows of the Royal Society from its very early days.

Although the church is adjacent to the hall, and was built and used by the family, it has never been a private chapel. In every respect it is a parish church- although it should be realised that until quite modern times every parishioner would have been in some way a servant to the family or a tenant farmer.

Sir Nikolaus Pevsner wrote, "Enter through the circular lobby under the tower, and you will find yourself in a room of blissful harmony." It’s an absolute treasure trove! Amazing woodwork - some of it attributed to Grinling Gibbons, a great ceiling typical of Wren churches, monuments, windows from the 13^th century church and also from the William Morris workshops; why, even the light fittings have their own niche in history! Outside there’s an intriguing one-handed clock. The Church Plate, however, is so valuable (Charles II and William & Mary vintage) that you need to go to the County Museum at nearby Shugborough Hall to see it (about 2 miles from Ingestre).

Should you be inspired to make a visit then the church is open on Wednesday and Saturday afternoons, 2-5 pm. between Easter and the end of September, and on Bank Holidays. However, a ‘phone call to 01889 808157 beforehand would be wise. Some Services are still held there, on the second and fourth Sundays of each month at 11:15 am.