Staunton Harold Church

This 17th Century church, not far from Calke Abbey, is one of the lesser known treasures of the National Trust.

It has the most amazing painted ceiling. The church was commissioned by Sir Robert Shirley, as High Anglican as humanly possible , but in the time of Oliver Cromwell.

The ceiling, painted by a couple of not known locals, possibly from Lichfield, is thought to be a little subversive. It reflects the difficult times they were experiencing and looks forward, with the trappings of the high church, to a better future, complete with words of Hebrew. 

Extra : The dog, painted oddly, has been said to represent Oliver Cromwell, but they didn’t say much about that for obvious reasons.