I grew up in the town of Walsall in the West Midland. St. Matthew’s Church has dominated the Walsall skyline since the 13th century. And it dominated the first 20 years of my life when I lived in Walsall. I went to the church school, Blue Coat, attached to the church. And I read the lesson there at our leaving service. At school we learned the history of the church. And we spent time making sketches of it in art class. Sketching the wonderful stonework left me with a life long love of stone. The earliest surviving reference to the church was around 1220 as a grant by William Ruffus to the Abbey of St. Mary in Halesowen. The grant was confirmed by Henry III in 1258. The inner crypt, which dates from that time is the oldest man-made structure in the town. The church was originally dedicated to All Saints but in the 18th century it was rededicated to Saint Matthew. We had a day off from school on his day, after we had attended church, of course. It is the main parish church of the town a