Three standing bishops

These three standing stones in Checkley Churchyard are known as the 'Three Bishops' because (the story goes) they were erected, about a thousand years ago, in memory of a nearby battle in which three bishops are said to have died.
Bishops, in those days, were somewhat more involved in fighting than they are today...

The Saxon-cross carvings are fascinating.

Of course, no one really knows what their origin is, though, half a mile away is a small tract of land known as Deadman's Green.  Locals like to say that this is known as such because that was the site of the supposed battle.  Maybe.

This post was featured on the Cemetery Sunday website

Arrows make grooves

These puzzling marks scratched into the side of the wall at Checkley Church have quite a story to tell.

They are indentations left by archers of old, who were required by ancient law to practise their deadly craft once a week within the grounds of their local church.
What these generations of bowmen did was to use the same spots to sharpen up their arrow-heads, and so wore the scratches into grooves.

American Indians? ...in Staffordshire

This wood carving on a choir-stall at Checkley Church is most mysterious.  It is usually described as two portraits of native American Indians... but, as these bench-ends have been dated to the mid-sixteenth century, this seems improbable.

Yes, the 1500s were the Age of Exploration, so it's possible the carver could have been on a trading ship to America - or seen a drawing of an American native - but why would he then have carved it in a quiet country church, with barely another reference to tell us what is meant? 
Yes, the curling tentacles above the portraits might possibly be American maize, but, if so, it's a very stylised version of maize.

No-one really knows.  It might even be a Central or South American Indian ... or not an Indian at all.