All Saints was entirely rebuilt over the course of about fifty years from the late 13th. to the early 14th. centuries on the site of an earlier building mentioned in the Domesday book. It was substantially restored in the late 19th century.
Rev. James Williams Adams was the rector of Postwick between 1887 and 1894. He was born in Cork, Ireland on 24th. November 1839, the only son of James O'Brien Adams, a magistrate, and his wife, Elizabeth. He was educated at Hamblin and Porter's Grammar School in Cork and Trinity College, Dublin.
On 16th. August 1881 at Iver Heath in Buckinghamshire, he married Alice Mary, eldest daughter of Sir Thomas Willshire, 1st Baronet. They had one child, a daughter, Edith.
He was the recipient of the Victoria Cross, being the first clergyman to be awarded the VC and the last of five civilians, to be awarded the medal.
He was 40 years old, and a chaplain in the Bengal Ecclesiastical Department (serving as chaplain to the Kabul Field Force), British Indian Army during the Second Afghan War when on 11th. December 1879 he carried out the actions for which he was awarded the VC. The citation was published in a supplement to the London Gazette, dated 26th. August 1881, which read:
"The Queen having been graciously pleased, by Warrant under Her Royal Sign Manual, bearing date the 6th. of August, 1881, to direct that the decoration of the Victoria Cross shall be conferred on Members of the Indian Ecclesiastical Establishments who may be qualified to receive the same, in accordance with the rules and ordinances made and ordained for the government thereof, provided that it be established in any case that the person was serving under the orders of a General or other Officer in command of Troops in the Field when he performed the act of bravery for which it is proposed to confer the decoration.
Her Majesty has accordingly been pleased to signify Her intention to confer this high distinction on the undermentioned gentleman, whose claim to the same has been submitted for Her Majesty's approval on account of his conspicuous bravery in Afghanistan as recorded against his name,
Bengal Ecclesiastical Establishment, late Chaplain to the Kabul Field Force, The Reverend J. W. Adams
During the action at Killa Kazi, on the 11th. December, 1879, some men of the 9th. Lancers having fallen, with their horses, into a wide and deep 'nullah' or ditch, and the enemy being close upon them, the Reverend J. W. Adams rushed into the water (which filled the ditch), dragged the horses from off the men upon whom they were lying, and extricated them, he being at the time under a heavy fire, and up to his waist in water. At this time the Afghans were pressing on very rapidly, the leading men getting within a few yards of Mr. Adams, who having let go his horse in order to render more effectual assistance, had eventually to escape on foot".
For the above actions Adams was recommended for the VC by Lord Roberts. Along with the Presbyterian and Roman Catholic chaplains who also accompanied the force, Adams was three times mentioned in dispatches during the campaign.
He received his medal from Queen Victoria at Buckingham Palace on 1st. December 1881.
In 1885 he accompanied the field force under Lord Roberts in Burma, and he took part in the operations there. Returning to England he was the rector of Postwick and vicar of Stow Bardolph in Norfolk from 1895 to 1902. In 1902 he was instituted rector of Ashwell, Rutland.
Adams was appointed an honorary chaplain to the Prince of Wales on 7th. May 1900, and following the Prince's accession as King Edward VII he was confirmed in the post of honorary chaplain to the King on 23th. July 1901. After the resignation of Reverend Handley Moule to become bishop in September 1901, Adams was appointed one of twelve chaplains-in-ordinary to the King.
Adams died on 20th. October 1903 and was buried on 24th. October in the churchyard of St. Mary's, Ashwell, Rutland. His grave was restored in 2007.
All Saints received Grade: Ii* listed building status on 20th. May 1952. (English Heritage Legacy ID: 228500).
