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{{Infobox church | name = St Mary's Church, Cheadle| fullname = | image = St Mary's Church, Cheadle.jpg| imagesize = | caption = St Mary's Church, Cheadle, from the southeast | pushpin map = Greater Manchester| pushpin map alt = | pushpin mapsize = 250 | pushpin label position = | map caption = Location in Greater Manchester | location = High Street, [[Cheadle, Greater Manchester|Cheadle]],<br>[[Greater Manchester]]| country = England | coordinates = {{coord|53.3942|-2.2175 |region:GB_type:landmark|display= title}} | osgraw = SJ 856 887| denomination = [[Church of England]] | churchmanship = [[Conservative Evangelicalism in Britain|Conservative Evangelical]] | membership = | attendance = | website = [http://www.stmaryscheadle.co.uk/ St Mary's, Cheadle] | former name = | bull date = | founded date = | founder = | dedication = | dedicated date = | consecrated date = | cult = | relics = | events = | past bishop = | people = | status = [[Parish church]]| functional status = Active | heritage designation = Grade I| designated date = 24&nbsp;March 1950| architect = | architectural type = [[Church (building)|Church]]| style = [[Perpendicular Gothic|Perpendicular]] | groundbreaking = | completed date = | construction cost = | closed date = | demolished date = | capacity = | length = | width = | width nave = | height = | diameter = | other dimensions = | floor count = | floor area = | spire quantity = | spire height = | materials = [[Sandstone]], [[slate]] roof| parish = Cheadle| deanery = Cheadle| archdeaconry = Macclesfield| diocese = [[Diocese of Chester|Chester]]| province = [[Province of York|York]]| rector = Revd Dr Rob Munro| vicar = | curate = Revd Stan Tomalin Revd Simon Donohoe | priest = | | minister = | assistant = | honpriest = Revd Canon Mike Lowe | deacon = | seniorpastor = | pastor = | abbot = | chaplain = | reader = | organistdom = | director = | organist = | organscholar = | chapterclerk = | laychapter = | warden = Anthony Holmes<br>Steve Mealand | flowerguild = | musicgroup = | parishadmin = | serversguild = | logo = | logosize = }}
{{Infobox church | name = St Mary's Church, Cheadle| fullname = | image = St Mary's Church, Cheadle.jpg| imagesize = | caption = St Mary's Church, Cheadle, from the southeast | pushpin map = Greater Manchester| pushpin map alt = | pushpin mapsize = 250 | pushpin label position = | map caption = Location in Greater Manchester | location = High Street, [[Cheadle, Greater Manchester|Cheadle]],<br />[[Greater Manchester]]| country = England | coordinates = {{coord|53.3942|-2.2175 |region:GB_type:landmark|display= title}} | osgraw = SJ 856 887| denomination = [[Church of England]] | churchmanship = [[Conservative Evangelicalism in Britain|Conservative Evangelical]] | membership = | attendance = | website = [https://cheadle.org.uk/ St Mary's, Cheadle] | former name = | bull date = | founded date = | founder = | dedication = | dedicated date = | consecrated date = | cult = | relics = | events = | past bishop = | people = | status = [[Parish church]]| functional status = Active | heritage designation = Grade I| designated date = 24&nbsp;March 1950| architect = | architectural type = [[Church (building)|Church]]| style = [[Perpendicular Gothic|Perpendicular]] | groundbreaking = | completed date = | construction cost = | closed date = | demolished date = | capacity = | length = | width = | width nave = | height = | diameter = | other dimensions = | floor count = | floor area = | spire quantity = | spire height = | materials = [[Sandstone]], [[slate]] roof| parish = Cheadle| deanery = Cheadle| archdeaconry = Macclesfield| diocese = [[Diocese of Chester|Chester]]| province = [[Province of York|York]]| rector = Revd George T Crowder| | curate = Revd Stan Tomalin<br>Revd Ian Chidlow | priest = | | minister = | assistant = | honpriest = Revd Canon Mike Lowe | deacon = | seniorpastor = | pastor = | abbot = | chaplain = | reader = | organistdom = | director = | organist = | organscholar = | chapterclerk = | laychapter = | warden = Rob Navesey <br />Sarah Parikh | flowerguild = | musicgroup = | parishadmin = | serversguild = | logo = | logosize = }}


'''St Mary's Church''' is in High Street, [[Cheadle, Greater Manchester|Cheadle]], [[Greater Manchester]], England. It is recorded in the [[National Heritage List for England]] as a designated Grade&nbsp;I [[Listed building#England and Wales|listed building]].<ref name=images>{{NHLE |num= 1241643|desc= Church of St Mary, Cheadle|accessdate= 2 April 2012|mode=cs2|ps=none}}</ref> It is an active [[Anglican]] [[parish church]] in the [[diocese of Chester]], the archdeaconry of Macclesfield and the deanery of Cheadle. Its [[benefice#Church of England|benefice]] is united with that of St Cuthbert, Cheadle.<ref>{{Citation | url = http://www.achurchnearyou.com/cheadle-st-mary/| title = St Mary, Cheadle| accessdate = 13 May 2011| publisher = [[Church of England]]}}</ref>
'''St Mary's Church''' in [[Cheadle, Greater Manchester]], England, is a Grade&nbsp;I [[Listed building#England and Wales|listed building]].<ref name=images>{{NHLE |num= 1241643|desc= Church of St Mary, Cheadle|accessdate= 2 April 2012|mode=cs2}}</ref> It is an [[Church of England|Anglican]] [[parish church]] in the [[diocese of Chester]], the archdeaconry of Macclesfield and the deanery of Cheadle. Its [[benefice#Church of England|benefice]] is united with that of St Cuthbert.<ref>{{Citation | url = http://www.achurchnearyou.com/cheadle-st-mary/| title = St Mary, Cheadle| access-date = 13 May 2011| publisher = [[Church of England]]}}</ref>


==History==
==History==
A church has been on this site since at least 1200, but the present church was built mainly between 1520 and 1550.<ref>{{citation |url=http://www.cheadle.org/histintro.htm |title=Basic History |accessdate=16 December 2007 |publisher=Cheadle Parish Church }}</ref> The south chapel was completed in 1530, the [[nave]] in 1541, and the tower was built between 1520 and 1540.<ref name=images/> The [[chancel]] was built between 1556 and 1558 for Lady Katheryn Bulkeley, who had formerly been the Abbess of [[Godstow#The Abbey|Godstow]].<ref name=salter>{{citation | last =Salter | first =Mark | title =The Old Parish Churches of Cheshire | publisher =Folly Publications | year =1995 | location =Malvern | pages =28–29 | isbn =1-871731-23-2 }}</ref> The south porch is dated 1634, but this was the date it was repaired rather than the date of its building.<ref name=richards>{{citation | last =Richards | first =Raymond | title =Old Cheshire Churches | publisher =Batsford | year =1947 | location =London | pages =91–93| oclc =719918}}</ref> The church was rebuilt and [[Victorian restoration|restored]] between 1859 and 1862, and there was a further restoration by J.&nbsp;Medland Taylor in 1878–80.<ref name=pev>{{Citation | last = Hartwell | first = Claire |last2 = Hyde | first2 = Matthew |last3 = Hubbard | first3 = Edward | author3-link=Edward Hubbard | last4 =Pevsner | first4 =Nikolaus | author4-link =Nikolaus Pevsner | series= The Buildings of England| title = Cheshire |edition= | publisher =[[Yale University Press]]| year =2011| origyear=1971| location =New Haven and London| pages = 204–205| isbn =978-0-300-17043-6 }}</ref> In the 20th century, a cloakroom was added.<ref name=images/>
A church has been on this site since at least 1200, but the present church was built mainly between 1520 and 1550.<ref>{{citation |url=http://www.cheadle.org/histintro.htm |title=Basic History |access-date=16 December 2007 |publisher=Cheadle Parish Church }}</ref> The south chapel was completed in 1530, the [[nave]] in 1541, and the tower was built between 1520 and 1540.<ref name=images/> The [[chancel]] was built between 1556 and 1558 for Lady Katheryn Bulkeley, who had formerly been the Abbess of [[Godstow#History of Godstow Abbey|Godstow]].<ref name=salter>{{citation | last =Salter | first =Mark | title =The Old Parish Churches of Cheshire | publisher =Folly Publications | year =1995 | location =Malvern | pages =28–29 | isbn =1-871731-23-2 }}</ref> The south porch is dated 1634, but this was the date it was repaired rather than the date of its building.<ref name=richards>{{citation | last =Richards | first =Raymond | title =Old Cheshire Churches | publisher =Batsford | year =1947 | location =London | pages =91–93| oclc =719918}}</ref> The church was rebuilt and [[Victorian restoration|restored]] between 1859 and 1862, and there was a further restoration by J.&nbsp;Medland Taylor in 1878–80.<ref name=pev>{{Citation | last1 = Hartwell | first1 = Claire |last2 = Hyde | first2 = Matthew |last3 = Hubbard | first3 = Edward | author3-link=Edward Hubbard (architectural historian) | last4 =Pevsner | first4 =Nikolaus | author4-link =Nikolaus Pevsner | series= The Buildings of England| title = Cheshire | publisher =[[Yale University Press]]| year =2011| orig-year=1971| location =New Haven and London| pages = 204–205| isbn =978-0-300-17043-6 }}</ref> In the 20th century, a cloakroom was added.<ref name=images/>


==Architecture==
==Architecture==
Line 12: Line 13:


===Interior===
===Interior===
The roof is [[camber beam]] in type with [[gilding|gilded]] [[boss (architecture)|bosses]]. The chancel screen incorporates parts of the earlier [[rood screen]].<ref name=richards/> The choir stalls date from the 19th&nbsp;century, and are elaborately carved with scenes and [[Poppyhead (carving)|poppyheads]]. The [[sedilia]] dates from 1862, and the [[pulpit]] from the 1870s. Both chapels have carved screens containing original material from the 15th and 16th&nbsp;centuries in their lower parts.<ref name=pev/> The [[baluster]] [[baptismal font|font]] is dated 1837 and is by [[George Smith (architect)|George Smith]].<ref name="pev"/> On display in the church is an 11th-century stone cross,<ref>{{citation |url=http://www.cheadle.org/cross.htm |title=The Cheadle Cross |accessdate=16 December 2007 |publisher=Cheadle Parish Church }}</ref> discovered during the construction of the nearby [[Barnes Hospital, Cheadle|Barnes Hospital]] in 1874.<ref name="11thcenturycross">{{citation | url=http://www.stockport.gov.uk/2013/2978/8803/9020/12299/cheadlevillageapp | title=Cheadle Conservation Area Character Appraisal | publisher=Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council | date=March 2006 | accessdate=5 April 2010}}</ref> In the south chapel are three recumbent [[effigy|effigies]]. Two are in [[alabaster]] and are thought to represent members of the Hondford (or Handford) family, Sir&nbsp;John, who died in 1461 and his son, also named John. The third is in sandstone and represents Sir&nbsp;Thomas Brereton of [[Handforth]] who died in 1673.<ref name=richards/> The church contains [[monumental brass|brasses]] dating from the 17th and 18th&nbsp;centuries. There is also a tablet dated 1817 by [[John Bacon (sculptor, 1777–1859)|John Bacon junior]].<ref name=pev/> In a south aisle window is a fragment of ancient glass with the Stanley arms.<ref>{{citation |url=http://merlin.cch.kcl.ac.uk:8080/cvma/servlet/site?countyCode=CH&place=Cheadle&site=%20St%20Mary&LocationID=612&-querytype=2&county=Cheshire |title=Cheadle, St Mary|accessdate=16 December 2007|publisher=Corpus Vitrearum Medii Aevi (CVMA) of Great Britain }}</ref> This has been incorporated in a window of 1917 designed by [[Christopher Whall]]. On the south side of the church is a window of 1921 by [[Veronica Whall]]. There are windows in the sides of the chancel dating from the 1860s by Charles Gibbs, and windows elsewhere by [[Franz Mayer & Co.|Mayer of Munich]].<ref name=pev/> The organ was built in 1881 by Hill and Son of London.<ref>{{citation |url= http://www.npor.org.uk/cgi-bin/Rsearch.cgi?Fn=Rsearch&rec_index=N04427 |title= Cheadle, St. Mary |accessdate=10 August 2008 |publisher= [[British Institute of Organ Studies]]}}</ref> There is a [[ring of bells|ring]] of eight bells. Six of these by [[Rudhall of Gloucester|Abel Rudhall]] are dated 1749 and the other two by [[Taylors Eayre & Smith Ltd|John Taylor and Company]] date from 1882.<ref>{{citation |url= http://dove.cccbr.org.uk/detail.php?searchString=cheadle&Submit=++Go++&DoveID=CHEADLEMAN |title= Cheadle S Mary |accessdate=10 August 2008 |publisher= [[Dove's Guide for Church Bell Ringers]]}}</ref> The [[parish register]]s begin in 1558.<ref name=richards/>
The roof is [[camber beam]] in type with [[gilding|gilded]] [[boss (architecture)|bosses]]. The chancel screen incorporates parts of the earlier [[rood screen]].<ref name=richards/> The choir stalls date from the 19th&nbsp;century, and are elaborately carved with scenes and [[Poppyhead (carving)|poppyheads]]. The [[sedilia]] dates from 1862, and the [[pulpit]] from the 1870s. Both chapels have carved screens containing original material from the 15th and 16th&nbsp;centuries in their lower parts.<ref name=pev/> The [[baluster]] [[baptismal font|font]] is dated 1837 and is by [[George Smith (architect)|George Smith]].<ref name="pev"/> On display in the church is an 11th-century stone cross,<ref>{{citation |url=http://www.cheadle.org/cross.htm |title=The Cheadle Cross |access-date=16 December 2007 |publisher=Cheadle Parish Church }}</ref> discovered during the construction of the nearby [[Barnes Hospital, Cheadle|Barnes Hospital]] in 1874.<ref name="11thcenturycross">{{citation | url=http://www.stockport.gov.uk/2013/2978/8803/9020/12299/cheadlevillageapp | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120404111043/http://www.stockport.gov.uk/2013/2978/8803/9020/12299/cheadlevillageapp | url-status=dead | archive-date=2012-04-04 | title=Cheadle Conservation Area Character Appraisal | publisher=Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council | date=March 2006 | access-date=5 April 2010 }}</ref> The chapel at the east end of the north aisle is the Savage Chapel, built in 1529 by Sir John Savage and his wife Elizabeth. Inside is the entrance to the former rood loft. At the east end of the south aisle is the Brereton Chapel, which houses three effigies - one is in sandstone and represents Sir&nbsp;Thomas Brereton of [[Handforth]] who died in 1673.<ref name=richards/> The screen round the chapel was erected by Sir [[Urian Brereton]]. The church contains [[monumental brass|brasses]] dating from the 17th and 18th&nbsp;centuries. There is also a tablet dated 1817 by [[John Bacon (sculptor, 1777–1859)|John Bacon junior]].<ref name=pev/> In a south aisle window is a fragment of ancient glass with the Stanley arms.<ref>{{citation |url=http://merlin.cch.kcl.ac.uk:8080/cvma/servlet/site?countyCode=CH&place=Cheadle&site=%20St%20Mary&LocationID=612&-querytype=2&county=Cheshire |title=Cheadle, St Mary|access-date=16 December 2007|publisher=Corpus Vitrearum Medii Aevi (CVMA) of Great Britain }}</ref> This has been incorporated in a window of 1917 designed by [[Christopher Whall]]. On the south side of the church is a window of 1921 by [[Veronica Whall]]. There are windows in the sides of the chancel dating from the 1860s by Charles Gibbs, and windows elsewhere by [[Franz Mayer & Co.|Mayer of Munich]].<ref name=pev/> The organ was built in 1881 by Hill and Son of London.<ref>{{National Pipe Organ Register|id=N04427|mode=cs2|access-date=30 June 2020}}</ref> There is a [[ring of bells|ring]] of eight bells. Six of these by [[Rudhall of Gloucester|Abel Rudhall]] are dated 1749 and the other two by [[Taylors Eayre & Smith Ltd|John Taylor and Company]] date from 1882.<ref>{{citation |url= http://dove.cccbr.org.uk/detail.php?searchString=cheadle&Submit=++Go++&DoveID=CHEADLEMAN |title= Cheadle S Mary |access-date=10 August 2008 |publisher= [[Dove's Guide for Church Bell Ringers]]}}</ref> The [[parish register]]s begin in 1558.<ref name=richards/>


==External features==
==External features==
In the churchyard are the base of a medieval cross shaft which has been converted into a sundial,<ref>{{NHLE |num= 1241726|desc= Sundial to east of Church of St Mary, Cheadle|accessdate= 2 April 2012 |mode=cs2|ps=none|fewer-links=x}}</ref> the base of another cross in red sandstone dating from the 14th or 15th&nbsp;century which was restored to form a memorial in 1873,<ref>{{NHLE |num= 1241644|desc= Cross to south of Church of St Mary, Cheadle|accessdate= 2 April 2012|mode=cs2|ps=none|fewer-links=x}}</ref> and the 18th-century chest tomb of the Crosier family.<ref>{{NHLE |num= 1241709|desc= Crosier family chest tomb north of Church of St Mary, Cheadle|accessdate= 2 April 2012|mode=cs2|ps=none|fewer-links=x}}</ref> These are all listed at Grade&nbsp;II. Also listed at Grade&nbsp;II is the [[lych gate]] erected in 1883.<ref>{{NHLE |num= 1260363|desc= Lychgate to Church of St Mary, Cheadle|accessdate= 2 April 2012|mode=cs2|ps=none|fewer-links=x}}</ref> In addition the churchyard contains the war graves of three soldiers of [[World War I]].<ref>{{Citation | url = http://www.cwgc.org/find-a-cemetery/cemetery/2077823/CHEADLE%20%28ST.%20MARY%29%20CHURCHYARD| title = CHEADLE (ST. MARY) CHURCHYARD| accessdate = 6 February 2013| publisher = [[Commonwealth War Graves Commission]]}}</ref>
In the churchyard are the base of a medieval cross shaft which has been converted into a sundial,<ref>{{NHLE |num= 1241726|desc= Sundial to east of Church of St Mary, Cheadle|accessdate= 2 April 2012 |mode=cs2|fewer-links=x}}</ref> the base of another cross in red sandstone dating from the 14th or 15th&nbsp;century which was restored to form a memorial in 1873,<ref>{{NHLE |num= 1241644|desc= Cross to south of Church of St Mary, Cheadle|accessdate= 2 April 2012|mode=cs2|fewer-links=x}}</ref> and the 18th-century chest tomb of the Crosier family.<ref>{{NHLE |num= 1241709|desc= Crosier family chest tomb north of Church of St Mary, Cheadle|accessdate= 2 April 2012|mode=cs2|fewer-links=x}}</ref> These are all listed at Grade&nbsp;II. Also listed at Grade&nbsp;II is the [[lych gate]] erected in 1883.<ref>{{NHLE |num= 1260363|desc= Lychgate to Church of St Mary, Cheadle|accessdate= 2 April 2012|mode=cs2|fewer-links=x}}</ref> In addition the churchyard contains the war graves of three soldiers of [[World War I]].<ref>{{Citation | url = http://www.cwgc.org/find-a-cemetery/cemetery/2077823/CHEADLE%20%28ST.%20MARY%29%20CHURCHYARD| title = CHEADLE (ST. MARY) CHURCHYARD| access-date = 6 February 2013| publisher = [[Commonwealth War Graves Commission]]}}</ref>


==Present day==
==Present day==
On 24 March 1950, the church was designated as a [[Grade I listed building]].<ref name="images" />
On 24 March 1950, the church was designated as a [[Grade I listed building]].<ref name="images" />


St Mary's Church is within the [[Conservative Evangelicalism in Britain|Conservative Evangelical]] [[Churchmanship|tradition]] of the Church of England, and it has passed resolutions to reject the [[Ordination of women in the Anglican Communion|ordination of women]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Christmas 2016 Newsletter|url=http://www.bishopofmaidstone.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Christmas-2016-Newsletter.pdf|website=bishopofmaidstone.org|accessdate=1 January 2017|format=pdf|date=December 2016}}</ref>
St Mary's Church is within the [[Conservative evangelicalism in Britain|conservative evangelical]] [[Churchmanship|tradition]] of the Church of England, and it has passed resolutions to reject the [[Ordination of women in the Anglican Communion|ordination of women]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Christmas 2016 Newsletter|url=http://www.bishopofmaidstone.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Christmas-2016-Newsletter.pdf|website=bishopofmaidstone.org|access-date=1 January 2017|date=December 2016|mode=cs2}}</ref>


==Notable clergy==
==Notable clergy==

* [[Donald Allister]], later Bishop of Peterborough, was Rector of the benefice from 1989 to 2002.
*[[Donald Allister]], later Bishop of Peterborough, was Rector of the benefice from 1989 to 2002.
⚫
* [[Colin Buchanan (bishop)|Colin Buchanan]], later Principal of St John's College, Nottingham and a bishop, served his curacy here.
*[[Leonard Ashton]], later Chaplain-in-Chief of the RAF and Bishop in Cyprus and the Gulf, served his curacy here.
⚫
*[[Colin Buchanan (bishop)|Colin Buchanan]], later Principal of St John's College, Nottingham and a bishop, served his curacy here.
*[[Wallace Benn]], later Bishop of Lewes, served his curacy here
*[[Rob Munro (bishop)|Rob Munro]], later [[Bishop of Ebbsfleet]] who was appointed on the 9th December 2022, served here for almost 20 years, from 2003 to January 2023.<ref name="church-times">{{cite news |last1=Thornton |first1=Ed |title=Rob Munro, next Bishop of Ebbsfleet, appointed to serve conservative Evangelicals in the C of E |url=https://www.churchtimes.co.uk/articles/2022/16-december/news/uk/rob-munro-new-bishop-of-ebbsfleet-appointed-to-serve-conservative-evangelicals-in-the-c-of-e |access-date=7 February 2023 |work=Church Times |date=9 December 2022}}</ref>


==See also==
==See also==
{{portal|Greater Manchester}}
{{Portal|Greater Manchester}}
*[[Grade I listed churches in Greater Manchester]]
*[[Grade I listed churches in Greater Manchester]]
*[[Listed buildings in Cheadle and Gatley]]
*[[Listed buildings in Cheadle and Gatley]]
Line 36: Line 41:


==External links==
==External links==
{{Commons category}}
{{commonscat}}
*[http://www.cvma.ac.uk//jsp/location.do?locationKey=612&mode=COUNTY Medieval stained glass information from CVMA]
*[http://www.cvma.ac.uk//jsp/location.do?locationKey=612&mode=COUNTY Medieval stained glass information from CVMA]

{{Buildings and structures in Stockport Borough}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Saint Marys Church, Cheadle}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Saint Marys Church, Cheadle}}
[[Category:Churches completed in 1558]]
[[Category:Churches completed in 1558]]
[[Category:Church of England churches in Greater Manchester|Cheadle]]
[[Category:Church of England church buildings in Greater Manchester|Cheadle]]
[[Category:Grade I listed churches in Greater Manchester|Cheadle, Church of St Mary]]
[[Category:Grade I listed churches in Greater Manchester|Cheadle, Church of St Mary]]
[[Category:English Gothic architecture in Greater Manchester]]
[[Category:English Gothic architecture in Greater Manchester]]
[[Category:Churches in Stockport Borough|Cheadle]]
[[Category:Churches in the Metropolitan Borough of Stockport|Cheadle]]
[[Category:Diocese of Chester|Cheadle, Church of St Mary]]
[[Category:Diocese of Chester|Cheadle, Church of St Mary]]
[[Category:Cheadle, Greater Manchester]]
[[Category:Cheadle, Greater Manchester]]
[[Category:Conservative Evangelical Anglican churches in England|Cheadle]]
[[Category:Conservative evangelical Anglican churches in England|Cheadle]]

Latest revision as of 10:22, 3 September 2024

St Mary's Church, Cheadle
St Mary's Church, Cheadle, from the southeast
St Mary's Church, Cheadle is located in Greater Manchester
St Mary's Church, Cheadle
St Mary's Church, Cheadle
Location in Greater Manchester
53°23′39″N 2°13′03″W / 53.3942°N 2.2175°W / 53.3942; -2.2175
OS grid referenceSJ 856 887
LocationHigh Street, Cheadle,
Greater Manchester
CountryEngland
DenominationChurch of England
ChurchmanshipConservative Evangelical
WebsiteSt Mary's, Cheadle
History
StatusParish church
Architecture
Functional statusActive
Heritage designationGrade I
Designated24 March 1950
Architectural typeChurch
StylePerpendicular
Specifications
MaterialsSandstone, slate roof
Administration
ProvinceYork
DioceseChester
ArchdeaconryMacclesfield
DeaneryCheadle
ParishCheadle
Clergy
RectorRevd George T Crowder
Honorary priest(s)Revd Canon Mike Lowe
Curate(s)Revd Stan Tomalin
Revd Ian Chidlow
Laity
Churchwarden(s)Rob Navesey
Sarah Parikh

St Mary's Church in Cheadle, Greater Manchester, England, is a Grade I listed building.[1] It is an Anglican parish church in the diocese of Chester, the archdeaconry of Macclesfield and the deanery of Cheadle. Its benefice is united with that of St Cuthbert.[2]

History

[edit]

A church has been on this site since at least 1200, but the present church was built mainly between 1520 and 1550.[3] The south chapel was completed in 1530, the nave in 1541, and the tower was built between 1520 and 1540.[1] The chancel was built between 1556 and 1558 for Lady Katheryn Bulkeley, who had formerly been the Abbess of Godstow.[4] The south porch is dated 1634, but this was the date it was repaired rather than the date of its building.[5] The church was rebuilt and restored between 1859 and 1862, and there was a further restoration by J. Medland Taylor in 1878–80.[6] In the 20th century, a cloakroom was added.[1]

Architecture

[edit]

Exterior

[edit]

The church is built in grey sandstone and is entirely in the Perpendicular style.[5] Its plan consists of a tower centrally at the west, a four-bay nave with clerestory, a south porch and north and south aisles. At the east end of each aisle is a chapel. The chancel is wider than the nave, and to its north is a vestry.[4] The tower is in three stages with diagonal buttresses, a clock in the second stage, four-light bell openings, and a castellated parapet with gargoyles. The parapet of the nave is also castellated. The porch has angle buttresses which terminate in crocketed pinnacles.[1] The doorway is of Tudor pattern with panels of carved tracery. At the west end of the chancel gable is a bellcote.[5]

Interior

[edit]

The roof is camber beam in type with gilded bosses. The chancel screen incorporates parts of the earlier rood screen.[5] The choir stalls date from the 19th century, and are elaborately carved with scenes and poppyheads. The sedilia dates from 1862, and the pulpit from the 1870s. Both chapels have carved screens containing original material from the 15th and 16th centuries in their lower parts.[6] The baluster font is dated 1837 and is by George Smith.[6] On display in the church is an 11th-century stone cross,[7] discovered during the construction of the nearby Barnes Hospital in 1874.[8] The chapel at the east end of the north aisle is the Savage Chapel, built in 1529 by Sir John Savage and his wife Elizabeth. Inside is the entrance to the former rood loft. At the east end of the south aisle is the Brereton Chapel, which houses three effigies - one is in sandstone and represents Sir Thomas Brereton of Handforth who died in 1673.[5] The screen round the chapel was erected by Sir Urian Brereton. The church contains brasses dating from the 17th and 18th centuries. There is also a tablet dated 1817 by John Bacon junior.[6] In a south aisle window is a fragment of ancient glass with the Stanley arms.[9] This has been incorporated in a window of 1917 designed by Christopher Whall. On the south side of the church is a window of 1921 by Veronica Whall. There are windows in the sides of the chancel dating from the 1860s by Charles Gibbs, and windows elsewhere by Mayer of Munich.[6] The organ was built in 1881 by Hill and Son of London.[10] There is a ring of eight bells. Six of these by Abel Rudhall are dated 1749 and the other two by John Taylor and Company date from 1882.[11] The parish registers begin in 1558.[5]

External features

[edit]

In the churchyard are the base of a medieval cross shaft which has been converted into a sundial,[12] the base of another cross in red sandstone dating from the 14th or 15th century which was restored to form a memorial in 1873,[13] and the 18th-century chest tomb of the Crosier family.[14] These are all listed at Grade II. Also listed at Grade II is the lych gate erected in 1883.[15] In addition the churchyard contains the war graves of three soldiers of World War I.[16]

Present day

[edit]

On 24 March 1950, the church was designated as a Grade I listed building.[1]

St Mary's Church is within the conservative evangelical tradition of the Church of England, and it has passed resolutions to reject the ordination of women.[17]

Notable clergy

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  • Donald Allister, later Bishop of Peterborough, was Rector of the benefice from 1989 to 2002.
  • Leonard Ashton, later Chaplain-in-Chief of the RAF and Bishop in Cyprus and the Gulf, served his curacy here.
  • Colin Buchanan, later Principal of St John's College, Nottingham and a bishop, served his curacy here.
  • Wallace Benn, later Bishop of Lewes, served his curacy here
  • Rob Munro, later Bishop of Ebbsfleet who was appointed on the 9th December 2022, served here for almost 20 years, from 2003 to January 2023.[18]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e Historic England, "Church of St Mary, Cheadle (1241643)", National Heritage List for England, retrieved 2 April 2012
  2. ^ St Mary, Cheadle, Church of England, retrieved 13 May 2011
  3. ^ Basic History, Cheadle Parish Church, retrieved 16 December 2007
  4. ^ a b Salter, Mark (1995), The Old Parish Churches of Cheshire, Malvern: Folly Publications, pp. 28–29, ISBN 1-871731-23-2
  5. ^ a b c d e f Richards, Raymond (1947), Old Cheshire Churches, London: Batsford, pp. 91–93, OCLC 719918
  6. ^ a b c d e Hartwell, Claire; Hyde, Matthew; Hubbard, Edward; Pevsner, Nikolaus (2011) [1971], Cheshire, The Buildings of England, New Haven and London: Yale University Press, pp. 204–205, ISBN 978-0-300-17043-6
  7. ^ The Cheadle Cross, Cheadle Parish Church, retrieved 16 December 2007
  8. ^ Cheadle Conservation Area Character Appraisal, Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council, March 2006, archived from the original on 4 April 2012, retrieved 5 April 2010
  9. ^ Cheadle, St Mary, Corpus Vitrearum Medii Aevi (CVMA) of Great Britain, retrieved 16 December 2007
  10. ^ "NPOR [N04427]", National Pipe Organ Register, British Institute of Organ Studies, retrieved 30 June 2020
  11. ^ Cheadle S Mary, Dove's Guide for Church Bell Ringers, retrieved 10 August 2008
  12. ^ Historic England, "Sundial to east of Church of St Mary, Cheadle (1241726)", National Heritage List for England, retrieved 2 April 2012
  13. ^ Historic England, "Cross to south of Church of St Mary, Cheadle (1241644)", National Heritage List for England, retrieved 2 April 2012
  14. ^ Historic England, "Crosier family chest tomb north of Church of St Mary, Cheadle (1241709)", National Heritage List for England, retrieved 2 April 2012
  15. ^ Historic England, "Lychgate to Church of St Mary, Cheadle (1260363)", National Heritage List for England, retrieved 2 April 2012
  16. ^ CHEADLE (ST. MARY) CHURCHYARD, Commonwealth War Graves Commission, retrieved 6 February 2013
  17. ^ "Christmas 2016 Newsletter" (PDF), bishopofmaidstone.org, December 2016, retrieved 1 January 2017
  18. ^ Thornton, Ed (9 December 2022). "Rob Munro, next Bishop of Ebbsfleet, appointed to serve conservative Evangelicals in the C of E". Church Times. Retrieved 7 February 2023.
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