St Chad's Church, Farndon facts for kids

Quick facts for kids St Chad's Church, Farndon
St Chad's Church, Farndon, from the northeast
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OS grid reference	SJ 413,544
Location	Farndon, Cheshire
Country	England
Denomination	Anglican
Website	St Chad's, Farndon
History
Status	Parish church
Dedication	Chad of Mercia
Events	Damaged during the Civil War
Architecture
Functional status	Active
Heritage designation	Grade II*
Designated	1 March 1967
Architect(s)	Kelly and Edwards, John Douglas
Architectural type	Church
Style	Gothic
Specifications
Materials	Red sandstone, grey slate roofs
Administration
Parish	Farndon, St Chad
Deanery	Malpas
Archdeaconry	Chester
Diocese	Chester
Province	York

St Chad's Church is a historic church located in the village of Farndon, Cheshire, England. It is an active Anglican church, meaning it belongs to the Church of England. This church serves the local community as a parish church. It is part of the diocese of Chester and works closely with St Mary's Church in Coddington. St Chad's Church is very important, so it is protected as a Grade II* listed building. This means it is a building of special historical interest.

History of St Chad's Church

A church has stood on this spot for a very long time. Records show there was a church here when the Domesday Book was created in 1086. It's likely that even older churches from the Anglo-Saxon period were here before that. The bottom part of the church tower and the overall layout of the building come from the 1300s. However, a historian named Webb described it as a "fair new church" around 1622.

The English Civil War and Rebuilding

The church was badly damaged during the English Civil War (1642–1651). In 1643, soldiers called Parliamentarians were using the church as a base. They were led by Sir William Brereton. Soldiers loyal to the King, known as Royalists, attacked the church. During the fight, the church caught fire. The Parliamentarians continued to use it until 1645, when they left it completely ruined.

Most of the church, except for the tower, was rebuilt in 1658. A person named William Barnston paid for this work. More repairs and updates, called restorations, happened in the 1800s and 1900s. The main restoration in the 1800s was done by architects Kelly and Edwards. However, the southeast chapel was restored by another famous architect, John Douglas.

Architecture of the Church

St Chad's Church is built from red sandstone, which is a type of rock. Its roofs are made of grey slate.

Outside the Church

The lower three sections of the church tower are from the 1300s. The very top part of the tower was added in the 1600s. The church has a main area called a nave, with a row of windows above it called a clerestory. There are also side sections called north and south aisles. At the east end is the chancel, which is where the altar is. There is also a porch on the north side. A vestry (a room for clergy) and the Barnston chapel stick out from the south wall. The tower is at the west end of the church.

Inside the Church

Inside, you can find some old pieces of furniture. There is a holy table from the 1600s and a parish chest from 1729. Three special boards, called benefaction boards, list donations made to the church in 1672, 1786, and 1838.

The Civil War Window

In the Barnston chapel, there is a special window called the Civil War window. It shows pictures of some of the Royalist soldiers from Cheshire. These include Richard Grosvenor, Sir William Mainwaring, William Barnston, and Sir Francis Gamull of Buerton. The chapel also has memorials on the walls for members of the Barnston family. These include two memorial boards created by Randle Holme.

Bells and Records

The church has a set of eight bells. All of these bells were made in 1841 by a company called John Taylor and Company. The church's parish registers, which record births, marriages, and deaths, start from 1603. The records of the churchwardens (people who look after the church) begin in 1744.

Outside the Church Grounds

In the churchyard, there are two old stone tombs called table tombs. They are made of yellow sandstone and date back to the early 1700s. One tomb has an image of an hourglass, which reminds people that time passes quickly. The other has a skull and crossbones, a symbol used to remember that everyone will eventually die. There is also a sundial in the churchyard from 1793, which tells time using the sun's shadow.

The churchyard is also home to war graves for two British soldiers. These soldiers, Sergeant Joseph Easter and Private Thomas Harrison, died during World War I.

See also

• Listed buildings in Farndon, Cheshire
• List of church restorations, amendments and furniture by John Douglas