St Chad's Church, Over facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Chad's Church, Over |
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St Chad's Church, Over, from the southeast
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| OS grid reference | SJ 650,651 |
| Location | Winsford, Cheshire |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Anglican |
| Website | St Chad, Over |
| History | |
| Status | Parish church |
| Dedication | Saint Chad |
| Dedicated | 11 October 1949 |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Heritage designation | Grade II* |
| Architect(s) | Ewan Christian and W Milford Teulon John Douglas Austin and Paley |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Style | Gothic, Gothic Revival |
| Groundbreaking | 14th century |
| Completed | 1926 |
| Specifications | |
| Height | 74 feet (23 m) |
| Materials | Red sandstone ashlar, lead roof |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Over |
| Deanery | Middlewich |
| Archdeaconry | Chester |
| Diocese | Chester |
| Province | York |
St Chad's Church, Over, is a historic church located in Winsford, Cheshire, England. It used to be in a separate town called Over. But as Winsford grew, the church became part of the larger town. This church is very important. It is listed as a Grade II* building on the National Heritage List for England. This means it's a special building with a lot of history. Today, it is an active Anglican parish church. It belongs to the diocese of Chester.
Contents
Church History
The church was first built way back in the 14th century. Over the years, it has been changed and added to many times. The first church had a main area called a nave. It also had a narrow north aisle (a side part) and a wider south aisle. There was also a chancel, which is the area near the altar.
In 1543, a man named Hugh Starkie helped build the south aisle. He was a gentleman who worked for King Henry VIII. He also helped other churches in Cheshire.
Later, in 1870, the church was fixed up. This was part of a big movement called the Victorian restoration. Architects Ewan Christian and W. Milford Teulon worked on it. In 1897–98, the architects Austin and Paley added vestries (rooms for clergy) and a room for the organ.
The north aisle was made wider in 1904 by John Douglas. Around 1906, Austin and Paley did more restoration work. They added 56 more seats and put in heating. The south aisle and nave were made longer in 1926. However, the original 14th-century east window was kept.
Church Architecture
Outside the Church
St Chad's Church is built from red sandstone. It has a lead roof. The church has a tall tower at its west end. There's a main nave with aisles on the sides. It also has a chancel. There's a vestry on the northeast side and a porch on the southeast.
At the east end of each aisle, there is a small chapel. The porch has two levels. The top part sticks out over the bottom part. Most of the church is built in the Perpendicular style. This was a popular style of Gothic building. However, the east window is in the older Decorated style.
Inside the Church
When you enter the porch, you can see a beautifully decorated stoup. This is a basin for holy water. Hugh Starkie's tomb is in the sanctuary area. The font, where baptisms take place, is shaped like an octagon and is from 1641.
In the chancel, there is an old stone from the Saxon period. It has decorations on it. This stone is part of a sarcophagus (a stone coffin) in a special space. There's also a brass effigy (a statue of a person) there.
Some of the windows have pieces of medieval and 19th-century stained glass. Three of the stained glass windows in the north aisle were made by Kempe. The organ has two manuals (keyboards). It was built in 1916 and rebuilt in 1987. The church's parish registers, which record births, deaths, and marriages, started in 1558. The churchwardens' accounts, which track church money, began in 1733.
Church Bells
The church first had four bells from 1513. These were melted down and recast into five new bells in 1733. Today, the church has a ring of eight bells. These bells were made in 1915 by John Taylor and Company. They were re-hung in 1938.
Outside the Churchyard
In the churchyard, there is an old cross base from around 1543. It has an octagonal (eight-sided) base with steps. On top of it is the bottom part of a cross. This cross base is also a Grade II listed structure. The red sandstone walls around the churchyard and the gate pillars are also listed as Grade II.
Want to Learn More?
- Grade II* listed buildings in Cheshire West and Chester
- Listed buildings in Winsford
- List of ecclesiastical works by Austin and Paley (1895–1914)
- List of church restorations, amendments and furniture by John Douglas
