church tour

The Chantry
Chapel

In 1277 William de Odingsells, who was knighted in 1283, founded the Chantry of Haliwell (or Holy Well) for the singing of masses for the souls of his ancestors, his descendants and himself.

To maintain a priest it was endowed by William with land near St. Alphege's Well, and also by his mother Joan and her second husband, another Ralph de Limesi. In 1438 an endowment by Thomas Greswold was added. No doubt Sir William intended to be buried here in a tomb appropriate to his high rank, but he died in Ireland, in 1295, and was buried there.
The stained glass shields, in the window overlooking the chancel, recall these families and form a link with members of the American Griswold family whose ancestors left Warwickshire for New England in the 1630s.
By an Act passed in 1547, all Chantries were suppressed and in 1566 the revenues of this chantry were added to those of St. Katherine's and St. Mary's Chapels which in 1560 had been diverted to pay the stipend of a schoolmaster. Thus began the Free Grammar School which ultimately became Solihull School.

The Chantry Chapel of St Alphege is a room of colour and beauty. The delightful east window (1908), with its rich details of flora and fauna, is by Bertram Lamplugh, a follower of the Arts and Crafts movement. Windows on the north side portray the life and martyrdom of St. Alphege. There are traces of ancient wall decorations which are a reminder that the pre-Reformation church had been rich with colourful murals. With the Blessed Sacrament reserved here this beautiful chapel becomes a centre of private prayer and devotion.