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	Steatham Research - Churches In modern times there are numerous records and indicators of someone's life. Long after we have passed on we have records in telephone directories, electoral rolls, newspaper announcements and so on. In times past the only recorded milestones for a person's life were their mention in church records for their baptism, marriage and inevitable death (burial). The churches involved in our Steatham story are. (1693) St Michael & All Angels, Tatenhill, Staffs. (1775) St Mary the Virgin, Uttoxeter, Staffs. (1798) St Martins, Birmingham. (1800-1841) St Lawrence, Darlaston, Staffs. (1828-1835) St Matthews, Walsall, Staffs. (1843) St. Peter's Collegiate Church, Wolverhampton, Staffs. (1839-1873) St. John's Church, Wolverhampton, Staffs.
St Michael & All Angels, Tatenhill, Staffs. Copyright 2023 - Nigel James Wright.	St Michael & All Angels, Tatenhill, Staffs. This is where see our earliest glimpse of our Steatham ancestors when William Statham, is baptised by Thomas Masters M.A. on Tuesday the 24th March 1693 to parents William and Alice Statham. William Statham was Robert Steatham's Great Grandfather. See the Hannahs Origins for more details of Robert Steatham's ancestry. Thomas Masters M.A. is a featured person. The sandstone Church of St Michael & All Angels Church, Tatenhill, is a 13th century building which was substantially enlarged and altered in the 15th century. Around 1890 Bodley restored the church. It is a Grade II* listed building. In the History, Gazetteer and Directory of Staffordshire, William White, Sheffield, 1851. it states... "The parish church is a large ancient fabric, dedicated to St Michael. The tower is remarkable as the object of an echo, which returns, to the opposite acclivity, no less than five syllables distinctly." The parish registers of the parish church of St Michael & All Angels, Tatenhill, commence in 1563 and Bishop's Transcripts from 1660. A History of the Parish of Tatenhill in the County of Stafford (1907) has been digitised by Internet Archive - free at this Link. A Steatham Visit was made to this church on Saturday the 4th February 2023 . There is a history of the church at this Link. To view the church in GoogleEarth, open GoogleEarth and click the following link:- GoogleEarth - St Michael & All Angels, Tatenhill. To see its location in What3Words Click Here - Switch to Satellite view.
Font, St Michael & All Angels, Tatenhill. Copyright 2023 - Nigel James Wright.	I have been advised by Phil Coleman - churchwarden, treasurer and local church historian that the font most likely pre-dates William Statham's baptism. Amazing to believe that this is the very font that Robert Steatham's Great Grandfather was baptised in.
List of Chaplains and Rectors, St Michael & All Angels, Tatenhill, Staffs. Copyright 2023 - Nigel James Wright.	The list of Chaplains and Rectors hanging in the church makes very interesting reading. Further details will be added here when I have them.
Monument, St Michael & All Angels, Tatenhill. Copyright 2023 - Nigel James Wright.	This monument of 1641 is to a Mrs Griffiths who died 1641, stone; kneeling woman set between pilasters under break fronted cornices and oval panel below. This easily pre-dates William's baptism by forty two years. I wonder if his parents William and Alice glanced at this monument while there for the baptism.
St Mary s church, Uttoxeter, Staffs. Copyright 2010 - Nigel James Wright.	St Mary the Virgin, Uttoxeter, Staffs. The parish register of the parish church of St Mary the Virgin, Uttoxeter, commences in 1596. The original registers for the period 1596-1958 (Bapts), 1596-1987 (Mar), & 1596-1973 (Bur) are deposited at Staffordshire Record Office^[4]. The 14c church was rebuilt in 1828, except the tower and spire, which rises to a height of 179 feet, was injured by lightning a few years earlier in 1814, and had to be partly rebuilt. The old Churchwarden's account show that the bells were rung much more frequently than in the present day. Nelson's victory at Trafalgar was celebrated by two whole days of ringing on November 8th and 9th, 1806, when the ringers received 14/-. and a mourning peal for his funeral was rung on 9th Januaury 1806. On the death of a parishioner the passing bell was tolled, and very soon the news went round the town from neighbour to neighbour as to who had passed away. The font dates from 1839 so it was not used for Robert Steatham's baptism. As the church has been radically re-built there is very little left of the church from Robert Steatham's time, except for tower which is the oldest building in the town. This is a video of the outside of the church on YouTube To view the church in GoogleEarth, open GoogleEarth and click the following link:- GoogleEarth - St Mary the Virgin, Uttoxeter, Staffs. Extrapolating know population figures for Uttoxeter, the population of the town in 1775 was about 1600 persons. The church is in Bridge street (ST14 8AP). Coincidences. Opposite the church is The Bank House Hotel, where my Son, a 4th great grandson of Robert Steatham, lived and worked for a number of years.
Map (detail) of Uttoxeter 1658.	There are some things in the church that were there in 1775. These include a copy of a map of Uttoxeter dated 1658. Note - The map does not have the name Statham listed on it.
Tomb in St Mary s church, Uttoxeter, Staffs. Copyright 2010 - Nigel James Wright.	There is also two alabaster tombs dating from 16c.
Panel in St Mary s church, Uttoxeter, Staffs.	Still remaining in St Mary's, is a wooden panel for a Thomas Lightfoote - dated 1636. It is highly likely that Robert Steatham's mother Hannah Statham, saw this when she came to have Robert baptised.
Uttoxeter Town by Henry Hadfield Cubley.	Henry Hadfield Cubley (1858-1934) painted, scenes of rural towns, and often they were used on postcards. This one was used to show Uttoxeter town, date is unknown. The photo below shows how it looks now. Note - the pillars of the house on the left present in both.
Uttoxeter Town as it is now. Copyright 2010 - Nigel James Wright.
St Martins 1795, The Bull Ring, Birmingham.	Robert Steatham next appears at St Martins in the Bull Ring, Birmingham, where on Monday the 24th December 1798 he is married to Hannah Butler, by the Vicar George Croft D.D. St Martins, The Bull Ring, Birmingham. The present church dates from 1873 a design of J.A. Chatwin, but there has been a church there since the 12th century. A restoration of the tower and spire was completed in 1855. The top stone was placed on the spire in the presence of Prince Albert on the 22nd November 1855. Records are held at Birmingham Library - Birmingham Archives and Heritage Service^[6]. To view the church in GoogleEarth, open GoogleEarth and click the following link:- GoogleEarth - St Martins, the Bull Ring, Birmingham. To view the church's entry in Wikipedia click the following link:- Wikipedia - St Martins, the Bull Ring, Birmingham. Click the following link to watch a YouTube video I took of the interior of St Martins. Video of the Interior of St Martins, Bull Ring, Birmingham. This is a video of a tour of of the church on YouTube Note George Croft D.D., is a featured person. In 1801, at the time of the first [basic] census Birmingham had a population of 73,670. Coincidences. Henry George Steatham also married Mary Ann Munslow on Sunday the 4th of March 1883 at St Martins. Robert's eldest surviving son, Thomas Steatham married Hannah Barber on Monday the 31st March 1834, at St Martins. Thomas Steatham could not sign his name, and his name was wrote as Thomas Statham (his mark), his bride Sarah Barber signed her name. I suppose this could be any Thomas Statham, but by a stroke of luck, his male witness (best man) is down as Joseph Steatham, signed as Steatham, this was Thomas's younger Brother. This confirms that it is our Thomas Steatham. Robert Steatham next appears at St Lawrence, Darlaston, where we can see him baptising his ten children, and where he was buried on Friday the 6th April 1827.
St Lawrence, Darlaston. Copyright 2010 - Nigel James Wright.	St Lawrence, Darlaston, Staffs. The original church dates from the 12th century, the present church was built in 1872. In 1428 it was in the patronage of Henry VI. When John Waltham was appointed Rector, the patrons were; John King, rector of Bisley, Charles Simeon, Vicar of Holy Trinity, Cambridge, and William Richardson, Minister of Michael le Belfry, York. In 1953 the gravestones were removed and placed on the north side of the perimeter wall. A list of Rectors for the 'Steatham' period are as follows:- 1799 Richard Postlewaite. 1800 John Waltham Died 11th July 1814. 1814 Samuel Lowe Died 23rd November 1834. 1835 George Fisk. 1837 Robert Wood Kyle. 1840 Joseph Hugill. Died 29th October 1842. 1843 George F White. Died 7th October 1867. 1868 John Richardson. 1880 Benjamin Wright. Died 21st March 1910. 1890 Thomas Hamer. Died 21st October 1912. 1912 John W Dixon. 1925 James W Augur. Note John Waltham, Samuel Lowe and Joseph Hugill are featured persons.
The present Font, St Lawrence, Darlaston. Copyright 2010 - Nigel James Wright.	John Waltham M.A (1800-1814) officiated the following, James Stathem (1800-1816) baptised. Thomas Statham (1803-1873) baptised. John Statham (1805-1806) baptised. John Statham (1805-1806) buried. Joseph Statham (1806-1889) baptised. Sarah Steatham (1809-1810) baptised. Elizabeth Steatham (1809-1889) baptised. Sarah Steatham (1809-1810) buried. Elizabeth Steatham (1809-1810) buried. William Steatham (1811-1811) baptised. William Steatham (1811-1811) buried. Moses Steatham (1813-1891) baptised. Samuel Lowe M.A. (1814-1835) officiated the following, Samuel Steatham (1815-1884) baptised. James St(e)ath(a)m (1800-1816) buried. James Steatham (1816-1816) baptised. James Steatham (1816-1816) buried. Joseph Hugill D.D. (1840-1842) officiated the following, Mary Steatham (1841-) baptised.
Memorial to John Waltham M.A., St Lawrence, Darlaston. Copyright 2010 - Nigel James Wright.	John Waltham, (1800-1814), has a mural monument (sic) to him, in the Chancel. The wording is quite moving. To quote "For several years he discharged with exemplary diligence the labourers duties of a magistrate, when in the midst of his usefulness and worn down by the pressure of his work, he finished his course with joy on the 11th July 1814, in his 63rd year". To quote again "This monument is erected by his deeply afflicted widow, as a memorial of her perpetual affection and veneration, for one of the kindest of husbands and the best of men". Mary died on the 10th April, 1810, aged 76.
Memorial to Samuel Lowe M.A., St Lawrence, Darlaston. Copyright 2010 - Nigel James Wright.	On Friday the 20th of December 1867, a mural monument was erected in the Chancel, to the late Samuel Lowe M.A. It states, "Whose remains are deposited in the Rectory Vault in this Church" I wonder where the entrance to that could be? There was printed a sheet detailing this monument, and its contributors. Two Steathams are listed, Statham, Mr. Joseph, he gave five shillings. Which in todays money would be the equal to 31.11 - Calculated using this Link. The candidates for this are Joseph Steatham (1806-1889), and Joseph Steatham (1844-). My opinion is that this is Joseph Steatham (1806-1889). Statham, Mr. Samuel, he gave two shillings and six pence. Which in todays money would be the equal to 15.56 - Calculated using this Link. The candidates for this are Samuel Steatham (1815-1884), and Samuel Steatham (1846-). My opinion is that this is Samuel Steatham (1815-1884).
Memorial to Samuel Lowe M.A., contributors, St Lawrence, Darlaston. Copyright 2010 - Nigel James Wright.	The list of contributors makes interesting reading. The whole monument cost 75, which in todays money would be the equal to 9,333.08 - Calculated using this Link. What an interesting fact this is. Out of a total of one hundred and seventy five contributors, we start with Charles Adams Esq. giving 2. Which in todays money would be the equal to 248.88 - Calculated using this Link. Listed are "Friend, A" giving 10s, and a "Lady, A" giving 1, both of these I assume wanted to remain anonymous. There are also a number of duplicate names, I assume they all knew who was who! Other notables are Mr. P. Hollins Sculptor, Birmingham. giving 2 2s, and Mr. Wilkes, Executors of the late, giving 1. The smallest amount was a Mrs. Corbett giving 1, but it got her on the list! In 1801, at the time of the first census, Darlaston had a population of 1719. To view the church in GoogleEarth, open GoogleEarth and click the following link:- GoogleEarth - St Lawrence, Darlaston, Staffs.
The old Font, St Lawrence, Darlaston. Copyright 2010 - Nigel James Wright.	There are two fonts in St Lawrence, the main one, which there is a photo of above, is still in use and dates from the period when the church was heavily restored in 1872. The second is near the pulpit and is the font from St Georges church, Darlaston, which was opened in 1845, and demolished in 1946. In St Lawrence there is a Vicars stall, which is marked "Elizabeth Steatham & Mary Farr 1914", which must have been gifted to the church, by Elizabeth and her sister Mary. Birmingham Post - Wednesday 14th August 1872. RE-OPENING OF DARLASTON PARISH CHURCH. Yesterday, the Parish Church of Darlaston was re-opened after a " restoration," comprising the rebuilding of the entire edifice, the tower and spire excepted, and designed as a memorial of the late rector, the Rev. G White. The old church was of red brick, plain to ugliness, externally and internally; the new one is a fine and extended building, in style pointed Gothic, modified, and consisting of chancel, north and south transept and nave, and north and south aisles, the exterior walls being cased with Codsall stone, with Greensbill stone dressings, and the roof covered with Broseley tiles, the ridge surmounted with red crests. internally, also, the effect is good. The roof is open timbers being of pitch pine, stained and varnished. The nave is separated from the aisles by pointed arches, carried by cast iron decorated pillars, with foliated capitals, and forming a novel feature of the design; and the chancel arch is supported by carved corbels and Purbeck marble columns, with carved capitals. Light is supplied in the body of the church by day by means of clerestory, gallery, and aisle windows, the two later being two-light, with crossed heads, surmounted with trefoils; while a fine 4 light, stained glass, traceried window-the subject being the four Evangelists-lights the chancel. This is given by Mrs. Brevitt, in memory of her late husband, Mr. A. P. Brevitt, and is the work of Messrs. Wailes, of Newcastle-on-Tyne. One of the nave windows is also of stained glass-the subjects being the Descent from the Cross and the Burial of Christ-and is given by Miss Hugill, in memory of her late father (the Rev. Joseph Hugill, a former rector of the parish) and her mother. There is also a small stained glass window in the gable over the chanel arch, the gift of the Rev. C. B. Walton. Curate; and in the north transept is a large three light window. By night light will be afforded by means of some appropriately designed coronas, supplied, as was all the ironwork, by Messrs. Brawn and Downing, of Birmingham. The pulpit-a very chaste and elegant piece of work, the gift of Miss Dorsett, of Edgbaston- is octagonal in shape, formed of Painswick stone and Devonshire marble at the sides of the panels, which are filled with figures of SS. Paul, Peter, and Andrew and standing upon a Painswick stone base, and marble shaft with a foliated capital, and is reached by means of a flight of steps, with ornamental iron railing. The sculptor was Mr. Harding, of Hereford. The south transept, which contains a rose window of beautiful design-unseen, however, from the interior of the church- is made to answer the double purpose of a vestry and organ chamber, the organ having been removed thither from the north side of the chancel. The gallery front is new, and although all the old seats have been used, they have been scraped and made to match the new work, which is stained and varnished. The aisle seats are all free and unappropriated. The total number of worshippers the building will accommodate is from 1,300 to 1,400, allowing more space to each than was afforded under the old arrangement, The floor is laid with Maw's encaustic tiles, Mr. Mills and family defraying the cost of those used in the chancel; and among the other gifts are a lectern, presented by the Rev. Mr. Lowe, son of a former rector, and an oak reading desk, given by the architect, Mr. A. P. Brevitt. For the present, the old tower-a venerable piece of work, dating from the 13th century, stands untouched, but it is intended, as soon as funds are forthcoming, to recase it, and also to open a doorway through the lower portion, to form the west and principal entrance. One improvement has, however, bean made in this part of the church-viz, the substitution of a flight of stone steps to the gallery in lieu of the old wooden flight. The structure is heated by means of a hot-water apparatus, supplied by Mr. Blakemore, of Wednesbury. The architect, as stated above, is Mr. A. P. Brevitt, of Darlaston; the builder, Mr. Lovait, of Wolverhampton, whose foreman Mr. Taylor, has 'had the superintendence of the work. The total cost, incl1uding heating apparatus, gasfittings, &c., but excluding the gifts, will be something under 4000. In anticipation of the inauguration, the inhabitants of the parish had put out a liberal display of flags, banners, evergreens, and devices of various kinds; New Street and Smith Street, the line of route from the church to the schools, being a perfect blaze of colour and ornamentation. A large proportion of the places of business were also closed, and by attendance in the church, and in other ways, the parishioners showed their disposition to do honour to the occasion. The proceedings of the day commenced with divine service at eleven o'clock in the church, which was well filled. The lessons were-read by sons of former rectors of the parish-viz, the first by the Rev. C Lowe, and the second by the Rev. G. H. White, vicar of Wednesfield Heath ; the prayers and epistle by the Rector, the Rev. J. Richardson, M.A. ; and the gospel and commandments by the Curate, the Rev. C. B. Walton. The sermon was preached by the Rev. W. Dalton, Prebendary of Lichfield, and Vicar of St. Phillp's, Penn, who took for hls text, Isaiah xlvii. 17, 18. At the close, a collection was made in aid of the restoration fund, and the sum of 60. 5s. was contributed. Subsequently a large number of ladies and gentlemen sat down, in the school room, to a choice repast, which had been contributed and prepared by members of the congregation. Mr. R. Mills presided, and was supported by the leading inhabitants of the town and neighbourhood, and numerous visitors. In the evening, the Lord Bishop of the Diocese preached. Note the mention of the son of Samuel Lowe, and the son of the late Rector of St Lawrence, George F White.
Hannah Steatham's marriage.	St Matthew's, Walsall, Staffs. St Matthew's church consists of a chancel, nave, aisles, transepts, organ chamber, and a tower, with spire, at the south-west angle, containing a clock and twelve bells, increased in 1929 from a peal of ten bells, of which eight were cast in 1775. The oldest monument in the church is a recumbent effigy in 14th century armour of Sir Roger Hillary which dates from 1399. A wall monument holds a medallion bust of William Purvis, a Walsall soldier who served in the 17th Lancers for 24 years, who was one of the small band of survivors of the Charge of the Light Brigade. The significance of this church to Steathams is that Robert Steatham's son Moses Steatham married here, and Hannah Steatham, Robert Steatham's widow re-married here. To view the church in GoogleEarth, open GoogleEarth and click the following link:- GoogleEarth - St Matthews, Walsall, Staffs.
Samuel Steatham's marriage.	St Peter's Collegiate Church, Wolverhampton, Staffs. The parish church of Wolverhampton is a grade I listed building, much of which dates from the 15th Century. Since 1846 the Church has been a Parish Church in the Diocese of Lichfield and its incumbents entitled Rector of Wolverhampton. Unique features include the carved stone pulpit with a figure of a lion at the foot of the steps to protect the Minister delivering the sermon - see the Youtube video of the interior of the church to see the pulpit. Click the following link to watch a YouTube video of the interior of the church and it's pulpit. Video of St. Peter's Collegiate Church, Wolverhampton - Interior. The significance of this church to Steathams, is that Robert Steatham's son Samuel Steatham, born 1815, married Elizabeth Skidmore, on Wednesday the 4th October 1843, at St. Peter's Collegiate Church, Wolverhampton. To view the church in GoogleEarth, open GoogleEarth and click the following link:- GoogleEarth - St. Peter's Collegiate Church, Wolverhampton, Staffs.
Street map of St. John's Church, Wolverhampton. Samuel Steatham's marriage. Joseph Steatham's marriage.	St. John's Church, Wolverhampton, Staffs. The Act of Parliament for its erection was obtained in 1755, with the raising of the steeple in 1776. The interior, however, was so far finished in 1760, that the building was consecrated in that year. The ecclesiastical parish of St John was formed on 10th March 1849. The altar piece is a painting representing the descent of Christ from the Cross by Joseph Barney, a native of Wolverhampton, who was painter in fruit and flowers to King George IV. The organ was originally built by Renatus Harris for Temple Church, London, and afterwards stood for over half a century in Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin, from where it was removed to St John's. The significance of this church to Steathams, is that Robert Steatham's son Samuel Steatham, born 1815, married Maria Farmer, at St John's, Wolverhampton, on Friday the 7th of November 1873. Also, Robert Steatham's son Joseph Steatham, born 1806, married Sarah Dangerfield, on Monday the 29th of July 1839, at St Johns Church, Wolverhampton. To view the church in GoogleEarth, open GoogleEarth and click the following link:- GoogleEarth - St. John's Church, Wolverhampton, Staffs. Steatham.com All Rights Reserved.