All Saints Church, Church Lawton facts for kids
Quick facts for kids All Saints Church, Church Lawton |
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All Saints Church, Church Lawton, from the south
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| OS grid reference | SJ 822 556 |
| Location | Church Lawton, Cheshire |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Anglican |
| Website | http://www.allsaintschurchlawton.co.uk/ |
| History | |
| Status | Parish church |
| Founded | Late 11th century |
| Founder(s) | Hugh de Mara, Lord of Lawton (?) |
| Dedication | All Saints |
| Events | Struck by lightning 1652 Nave destroyed by fire 1798 |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Heritage designation | Grade II* |
| Designated | 14 February 1967 |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Style | Norman, Perpendicular, Neoclassical |
| Completed | 1923 |
| Construction cost | £8,000 |
| Specifications | |
| Materials | Tower: red and buff sandstone Body: brick, tile roof |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Church Lawton |
| Deanery | Congleton |
| Archdeaconry | Macclesfield |
| Diocese | Chester |
| Province | York |
All Saints’ Church is an old church located in the small village of Church Lawton, Cheshire, England. It stands on a small hill near Lawton Hall. This church is a special building, listed as Grade II* on the National Heritage List for England. This means it's a very important historical building. It is an Anglican parish church, which is a church that serves a local community, and it belongs to the diocese of Chester.
Contents
Discover the Church's Past
The church was first built around the end of the 11th century. It was likely started by Hugh de Mara, who was the Lord of Lawton at that time. There's an old story that in the 8th century, the body of Saint Werburgh rested here overnight. This happened while her body was being moved from Lincolnshire to Chester.
In 1652, something dramatic happened: the church was hit by lightning. Sadly, 11 people inside the church died. Later, in 1798, a fire destroyed the main part of the church. It was rebuilt by 1803. After the fire, the church was rebuilt using brick in a Neoclassical style. This style is known for its grand, classic look. The rebuilding cost about £8,000, which was a lot of money back then! In 1923, a south porch was added to the church as a special memorial for soldiers from the First World War.
Exploring the Church's Design
All Saints Church shows different building styles from over the years. You can see parts that are very old, like Norman designs, and newer parts.
Outside the Church
The tall tower at the west end of the church was built in the 16th century. It is made from red and buff sandstone and has a Perpendicular style. This style is known for its tall, thin windows and detailed stonework. On the south side of the tower, you can see carvings of a chalice (a special cup) and the initials "I. B.". These initials belong to John Bybber, who was the local priest at that time.
The openings for the bells in the tower have a special Y-shape design called tracery. The main part of the church has two half-moon shaped windows called lunette windows. Between these, there are two round-headed windows. At the east end, there is a large window called a Venetian window. A very old Norman doorway, which survived the fire, was moved and placed in the south wall of the nave (the main part of the church).
Inside the Church
When you go inside, you'll see a gallery at the west end. This gallery was built in 1717 and also survived the fire. In 1873, there were plans to update the church. While a full update didn't happen, the old box pews (enclosed seating areas) were replaced with the pews you see today. A two-manual organ was also put in the gallery.
Inside, you can also spot the royal arms of King George III. There are also six hatchments belonging to the Lawton family. These are special painted boards that show a family's coat of arms, often displayed after someone important in the family has died. At the bottom of the stairs leading to the gallery, you'll find the tomb of John Byber, with his initials carved on it.
Under the gallery, there are some old 13th-century floor tiles on display. These were found during a renovation in 1874. The church has a ring of eight bells. Five of these bells were made in 1713 by Richard Sanders. The other three were made by John Taylor and Company, with one from 1882 and two from 1901. The church's records, called parish registers, go all the way back to 1559! The records of the churchwardens (people who look after the church) start from 1691.
Outside the Church Grounds
The churchyard is the area around the church. Here, you can find the war graves of two soldiers who died in the First World War. In the rectory garden, which is part of the church property, there is a font from the mid-18th century. A font is a basin used for baptisms.
See also
- Norman architecture in Cheshire
- Listed buildings in Church Lawton
