All Saints Chapel, Somerford facts for kids
Quick facts for kids All Saints Chapel, Somerford |
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All Saints Chapel, Somerford, west face
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| OS grid reference | SJ 815 648 |
| Location | Somerford, near Brereton Heath, Cheshire |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Anglican |
| Website | All Saints, Somerford |
| History | |
| Status | Chapel of ease |
| Dedication | All Saints |
| Architecture | |
| Heritage designation | Grade II* |
| Designated | 14 February 1967 |
| Architectural type | Chapel |
| Completed | 1725 |
| Specifications | |
| Materials | Chequer brick |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Astbury and Smallwood |
| Deanery | Congleton |
| Archdeaconry | Macclesfield |
| Diocese | Chester |
| Province | York |
All Saints Chapel, Somerford is a special old building in Cheshire, England. It's located in a quiet spot near Brereton Heath, between the towns of Congleton and Holmes Chapel. This chapel is very important! It's officially recognized as a Grade II* listed building. This means it's a historic place that needs to be protected. It's part of the Anglican Church, which is a Christian church in England. It belongs to the Diocese of Chester.
Contents
History of the Chapel
The chapel was built in 1725. A man named Peter Shackerley had it built for his family at Somerford Hall. It was like their own private church. Since 1943, it has been a 'chapel of ease'. This means it's a smaller church that helps people attend services without traveling far to a main parish church. Most of Somerford Hall, the big house it belonged to, is gone now. Only one part and the stables are left.
What the Chapel Looks Like
The chapel is made of 'chequer brick'. This means it has a cool pattern of bricks that look like a checkerboard. All the corners have special angled blocks called 'chamfered quoins'.
Outside the Chapel
On the front (west) side, there's a main door. Above the door, you can see a rectangular stone with a date carved into it. Higher up, there's a rounded window and a clock. At the very top of the roof, there are round decorations called 'ball finials'.
The back (east) side has a window with three sections. Above that, there's a small, oval window. It also has finials like the front. The sides (north and south) of the chapel have four rounded windows. These windows have smooth stone frames around them.
Inside the Chapel
Inside, the lower parts of the walls are covered with wooden panels. Above these panels, there's a decorative border from the 1800s. At the back of the chapel, there's a gallery. This is like a balcony that is held up by fancy columns. On one side of the gallery, there's a special enclosed seating area.
At the front of the chapel, near the altar, there's a decorated screen called a 'reredos'. It has three painted sections. The left section has words from the Bible, and the right section has the Christian Creed. The middle section has a beautiful embroidered panel from the 1900s.
The large window at the front was changed in 1919. It became a special window to remember three members of the Shakerley family. They sadly died in the First World War. On the north side of the altar, there's a memorial from the 1600s. It remembers Elizabeth Shakerley, who passed away in 1691.
External Features
In the churchyard, which is the area around the chapel, you can find the grave of Peter Shakerley. He was the person who had the chapel built, and he died in 1726.
See also
- Grade II* listed buildings in Cheshire East
