St Bartholomew's Church, Wilmslow facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Bartholomew's Church, Wilmslow |
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St Bartholomew's Church, Wilmslow, from the south
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| OS grid reference | SJ 848 814 |
| Location | Wilmslow, Cheshire |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Anglican |
| History | |
| Status | Parish church |
| Dedication | Saint Bartholomew |
| Consecrated | 16th century |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Heritage designation | Grade I |
| Designated | 30 March 1951 |
| Architect(s) | Brakspear, J. S. Crowther, Bodley and Garner |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Style | Gothic, Gothic Revival |
| Completed | 1898 |
| Specifications | |
| Materials | Buff sandstone Kerridge stone-slate roof |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Wilmslow |
| Deanery | Knutsford |
| Archdeaconry | Macclesfield |
| Diocese | Chester |
| Province | York |
St Bartholomew's Church is a historic church located in Wilmslow, Cheshire, England. It is a very important building, listed as a Grade I building on the National Heritage List for England. This means it is considered to be of exceptional national interest. The church is an active Anglican parish church, serving the local community. It belongs to the diocese of Chester.
Contents
A Look at the Church's History
When Was the Church Built?
The first mention of a church on this spot dates back to 1246. While nothing from that very first church remains, there is an old underground room, called a crypt, beneath the chancel (the area around the altar) that is even older than the current church building. Most of the church you see today was built in the early 1500s. However, the lower part of the tower might be even older, possibly from the 1400s.
In 1700, a part called the Hawthorne Chapel was added to the south side. This replaced an even older chapel from 1520. The church has been repaired and updated several times over the years. Major work happened in 1862-63 and again in 1878. In 1898, a clerestory (a row of windows above the main roof) was added to the chancel.
Old Records of the Church
The church has kept detailed records for a very long time. The parish registers, which record births, marriages, and deaths, start in 1558. The accounts from the churchwardens, who manage the church's money, go back to 1585. These records help us learn a lot about the church's past.
Exploring the Church's Design
What Does the Outside Look Like?
The church is built from buff sandstone, which is a light brown stone. Its roof is made of Kerridge stone-slate. At the west end of the church, there is a tall tower. The main part of the church, called the nave, has five sections or "bays." On either side of the nave are the north and south aisles.
The church also has a chancel, with smaller chapels on its north and south sides. There's a room called a vestry to the north, a south porch, and the Hawthorne Chapel sticking out from the south wall.
What's Inside the Church?
Inside the north aisle, you can find an old aumbry, which is a small cupboard in the wall. At the east end of the north aisle is the Trafford Chapel, which used to be called the Jesus Chapel. At the east end of the south aisle is the Booth or Prescott Chapel.
In the Booth Chapel, there is a large tomb for Captain John Worrall. The Hawthorne Chapel has some old wooden panels and seating from the early 1700s.
Special Features in the Chancel
The chancel has a crypt chapel that dates back to about 1300. You can reach it by a spiral staircase. Inside, it has a triple sedilia, which are three seats for the clergy. On the chancel floor, you can see the oldest brass in Cheshire. It's from 1460 and remembers Sir Robert del Booth and his wife, Douce.
The chancel also holds the tomb of Henry Trafford, who was the rector (head priest) of Wilmslow starting in 1522. His statue on the tomb shows him in his church robes. In the north wall of the chancel, there are two carved stone figures made of red sandstone.
Stained Glass and Music
Only small pieces of the original old stained glass windows remain. However, three beautiful windows from 1920 were designed by Dearle and made by a famous company called Morris and Company.
The church has a large organ. It was first built in 1866 and has been rebuilt and improved several times. In late 2017, the organ had a big restoration. Over £250,000 was raised to save and restore it. It was upgraded to have three keyboards and 42 different sounds. The church also has a set of six bells that were made in 1733.
Things to See Outside the Church
In the churchyard, you can find an old medieval font (a basin for baptisms) made of buff sandstone. There's also a sundial from the late 1600s. The lych gate, which is the covered entrance to the churchyard, was built in 1904. It has an open wooden frame on a stone base and a stone-slate roof. There are stone seats on each side. All these structures are also listed as Grade II buildings, meaning they are important.
The churchyard also has one of the oldest gravestones in Cheshire, dating back to 1596. You will also find the war graves of eight soldiers and a sailor from the Royal Navy who died in World War I.
See also
- Grade I listed buildings in Cheshire East
- Grade I listed churches in Cheshire
- Listed buildings in Wilmslow
- List of works by J. S. Crowther
