St Christopher's Church, Pott Shrigley facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Christopher's Church, Pott Shrigley |
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St Christopher's Church, Pott Shrigley, from the southeast
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| OS grid reference | SJ 945 792 |
| Location | Pott Shrigley, Cheshire |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Anglican |
| Website | St Christopher, Pott Shrigley |
| History | |
| Status | Parish church |
| Dedication | Saint Christopher |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Heritage designation | Grade I |
| Designated | 14 April 1967 |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Style | Gothic |
| Specifications | |
| Materials | Sandstone, stone-slate roof |
| Administration | |
| Parish | St Christopher, Pott Shrigley |
| Deanery | Macclesfield |
| Archdeaconry | Macclesfield |
| Diocese | Chester |
| Province | York |
St Christopher's Church is a beautiful old church in the small village of Pott Shrigley, which is in Cheshire, England. It's a very important building, listed as Grade I. This means it's considered to be of exceptional national interest. The church is still active today and is part of the Anglican faith, serving the local community. It belongs to the diocese of Chester.
Contents
History of St Christopher's Church
This church was first built as a "chapel of ease." This means it was a smaller church created to help people who lived far from the main church in Prestbury. It was probably started in the late 1300s. The church got its current shape when the Downes family added a special chapel, called a chantry chapel, to it. The large window at the east end of the church was fixed up in 1872.
What Does the Church Look Like?
Outside the Church Building
The church has a tall tower at the west (front) end. It also has a main area called the nave, and wider sections on the north and south sides called aisles. At the east end is the chancel, which is where the altar is. The tower is quite big for the church's size. It has a fancy top with battlements (like on a castle) and pointed decorations called pinnacles. There's also a clock on the tower from 1809.
The roofs over the nave and chancel are the original ones and are still in good shape. The nave roof has a special design called a camber beam and a small window, a dormer, was added later. The style of the church's outside is mostly Perpendicular Gothic, which was popular in the late Middle Ages.
Inside the Church Building
Inside, you'll find some old wooden seats, called box pews. These were moved here from another church, St James' Church, Gawsworth, when it was repaired in the 1800s. There's a holy table in the north aisle that dates back to 1695, and the rails around the altar are also very old. The baptismal font, where baptisms take place, is made of grey marble and is likely from the late 1700s.
Two chairs in the sanctuary (a sacred area) are from the late 1600s. Above the arch leading to the chancel, you can see the Royal arms of King George III. Many monuments inside the church remember the Downes and Lowther families. The large window at the east end still has much of its original stained glass, even after being fixed in 1872.
The Church Bells
The church has a set of six bells. The two oldest bells are from around 1499. Another bell is from 1607, and one from 1796. The newest bells were made in 1986. The church keeps records of baptisms starting from 1629. Records for burials and marriages began in 1685. The accounts from the churchwardens (people who help manage the church) start in 1833.
Features Outside the Church
In the churchyard, there is a very old preaching cross. The bottom part of the cross, made of two large square blocks, is probably from the Middle Ages. The tall, eight-sided shaft and the cross piece at the top were likely added later when the cross was repaired. This cross is also a very important historical item, listed as Grade II, and is a scheduled monument.
More About the Bells
The original bells were a set of three made by Robert Crowch. Each bell had his special mark and the three leopard badge of the Plantagenet kings. People believe they were made in 1439, during the time of King Henry VI. However, the largest bell was remade in 1607, and so Crowch's marks on that one are now gone.
The old writing on the bells, in a style called English Black letter, says:
- Treble bell: "Sancte Xstophere ora pro nobis" – This means "St. Christopher pray for us."
- Second bell: "Nomen Magdalene gerit campana melodie" – This means "In the name of Magdalene make a joyous ring."
See also
- Grade I listed buildings in Cheshire East
- Grade I listed churches in Cheshire
- Listed buildings in Pott Shrigley
