About St. Margarets

St. Margarets

The Mother Church of both St. Andrews at Porthill and St. Barnabas at Bradwell is St. Margarets, situated in Wolstanton, or Woolstanton, as it was spelt at one time. It would appear that the name of the village derives from the name Wolstan, who in 1062 was appointed Bishop of Worecester. The present day Roman Catholic Church which is situated next to St. Margarets is named after St. Wolstan. The exact date of the building of the first church in Wolstanton is uncertain, but we know from records that the first vicar was appointed in 1086. The current Church, which was built on the same site was opened in 1860.


This Church stands in rather an elevated position and it's spire can be seen for many miles around.

The graveyard of St. Margarets contains not only the graves of some local distinguished potters, but also the graves of Admiral Smith Childs and Dr. Henry Faulds one of the pioneers of the present day fingerprint system.