Church of St Mary the Virgin, Bosley facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Church of St. Mary the Virgin, Bosley |
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Church of St Mary the Virgin, Bosley
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| OS grid reference | SJ 918 655 |
| Location | Bosley, Cheshire |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Anglican |
| Website | St Mary, Bosley |
| History | |
| Status | Parish church |
| Dedication | Virgin Mary |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Heritage designation | Grade II* |
| Designated | 14 April 1967 |
| Architect(s) | James Green |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Completed | 1879 |
| Specifications | |
| Materials | Red sandstone tower Brick nave and chancel Slate roofs |
| Administration | |
| Parish | St Mary, Bosley |
| Deanery | Macclesfield |
| Archdeaconry | Macclesfield |
| Diocese | Chester |
| Province | York |
The Church of St Mary the Virgin is a beautiful old church located in Bosley, Cheshire, England. It's a very important building, officially recognized as a Grade II* listed building. This means it has special historical or architectural value. The church is an active Anglican parish church, part of the diocese of Chester. It serves the local community and is connected with other nearby churches.
Contents
Discovering the Church's History
This church started as a smaller chapel connected to the main church in Prestbury. It was first named after Saint Thomas the Martyr. Later, its name changed to Saint Lawrence, and then again to Saint Mary the Virgin. In 1402, the church gained more independence thanks to a special document from Pope Boniface IX.
The original church was built with a timber-framed structure and a stone tower. The red sandstone tower you see today dates back to around the year 1500. In 1777, most of the church, except for the tower, was rebuilt using brick. A new chancel, designed by James Green, was added in 1834. Later, in 1878–79, new bells were put in, and the tower was made taller by about 6 feet (1.8 meters).
Exploring the Church's Design
Outside the Church: What to See
The church tower is made of red sandstone. The main part of the church, called the nave, and the chancel (the area around the altar) are built from brick. The roofs are covered with large grey slate tiles. The tower has three main sections. It features a 19th-century door on the west side, set within an older medieval arch. Above this door is a window with two sections. The very top of the tower has a battlemented design, like a castle wall.
The church's main body has a four-section nave and a one-section chancel. There's also a small vestry (a room for clergy) attached to the north side of the tower. The tower's style is known as Perpendicular Gothic, which is a type of medieval architecture. The windows in the nave are wide and slightly pointed, while the chancel has tall, narrow windows called lancets.
Inside the Church: Historical Treasures
Inside the church, you can find several old and interesting items. There's an altar table from the late 1700s and an oak pulpit from the 1600s. The sanctuary chairs are also from the 17th century. A special chest, used by the parish, likely dates back to the 1500s.
The organ was installed in 1879, and the stone font (used for baptisms) is also from the 19th century. You'll also see a monument dedicated to John Willans Newell, a railway engineer who passed away in 1851. This monument features a female figure, a sarcophagus (a stone coffin), an urn, and an amphora (a type of jar) with flowers.
The colorful stained glass in the east window and two side windows was created in the 1960s by Harcourt M. Doyle. The church has a ring of six bells. The oldest bell was made in 1663. Two bells are from 1756, and two more are from 1927 and 1934. The maker of the sixth bell is not known. The church's official records, called parish registers, began in 1728.
Features Outside the Church
In the churchyard, there is an old sundial, probably from the early 1800s. It's missing its gnomon (the part that casts the shadow). The sundial has a copper face on a short, square stone pillar. This pillar stands on a weathered red sandstone base. You can see the initials of past Churchwardens carved into the dial. This sundial is also a Grade II listed item. The churchyard also contains the war grave of a First World War Canadian soldier.
More to Explore
- Grade II* listed buildings in Cheshire East
- Listed buildings in Bosley
