Samuel Hey was the longest-serving incumbent in charge of Sawley. He took up the position of ‘Perpetual Curate’ of Sawley in 1845. Before that he’d been the vicar at Ockbrook. From 1866 the prebend (revenue) was returned from Lichfield to the parish and the title changed to Rector. Samuel served as the first rector (and rural dean) until he died in 1893.
He gave the field opposite the Methodist Church on Tamworth Road to the people of Sawley as a public open space. For many years this was the playing field for Mikado Road School. Hey Street is named after him.
After this death the clergy and lay representatives of the deanery contributed a stained-glass window to the Church, while another was dedicated by his relatives.
Image courtesy of the National Portrait Gallery