St Edith's Church, Shocklach facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Edith's Church, Shocklach |
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St Edith's Church, Shocklach, from the southwest
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| OS grid reference | SJ 431 502 |
| Location | Shocklach, Cheshire |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Anglican |
| Website | St Edith, Shocklach |
| History | |
| Status | Parish church |
| Dedication | St Edith |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Style | Norman |
| Groundbreaking | c. 1150 |
| Completed | 1926 |
| Specifications | |
| Materials | Red sandstone, slate roof |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Shocklach |
| Deanery | Malpas |
| Archdeaconry | Chester |
| Diocese | Chester |
| Province | York |
St Edith's Church, Shocklach, is a very old church in Cheshire, England. It stands near the River Dee, about 1 kilometre (0.6 miles) north of the village of Shocklach. This small church was built in the Norman style. It is one of the oldest church buildings in Cheshire.
St Edith's Church is a special building. It is listed as a Grade I building on the National Heritage List for England. This means it is very important and protected. Its simple Norman design is unique in Cheshire. Today, it is an active Anglican parish church. It serves the local community as part of the diocese of Chester.
Contents
Exploring St Edith's Church History
How the Church Was Built
The church was likely built around 1150. A person named Thomas de Shocklach probably started it. The church is named after Saint Edith of Wilton, an old Anglo-Saxon saint. This makes people think an even older church might have been here before.
Changes Over the Years
The chancel (the area around the altar) and its arch were added in the early 1300s. In the 1600s, the west wall of the nave (the main part of the church) was fixed. A small baptistry (where baptisms happen) was also added then. A new ceiling was put in in 1813. The belfry, which holds the bells, was built in 1815.
Victorian Updates and Modern Touches
In 1878, the church had a big update. This was part of a common trend called "Victorian restoration." A new wooden floor was put in, raising the floor level. The churchyard, which is the land around the church, was made bigger in 1905 and again in 1922. In 1926, the vestry (a room for clergy) was rebuilt.
In 1974, during another restoration, a round window was added to the west wall. To celebrate the year 2000, a new stained glass window was installed. This special window was designed by children from Shocklach Primary School.
Discovering the Church's Architecture
Outside the Church: What to See
St Edith's Church is built from red sandstone blocks. It has a grey slate roof. The church has a simple shape: a nave, a small baptistry at the west end, and a chancel with a vestry.
On the south side, you can see a beautiful Norman doorway. It is in great condition. The doorway has a round arch with three decorated layers. These layers have patterns like zigzags and twisted ropes. The arch rests on square pillars with carved heads. This doorway is considered one of the best Norman examples in the area. The church door itself is made of oak and has iron studs. Another door on the north side was blocked up and turned into a window.
The east window has three sections and simple patterns. It might have been moved from another church. At the west end, there is a simple open bellcote holding two bells. A cross sits on the roof at the east end. On the outside of the north wall, there is an old, weathered carving. No one knows exactly what it shows. Some think it was added after the English Civil War.
Inside the Church: Hidden Treasures
The nave has a curved plaster ceiling with plaster flower shapes. The round arch leading to the chancel is very old, from the medieval period. The chancel has a wooden roof with arched supports.
The wooden benches (pews) inside the church are from 1697. The rails around the altar are from the late 1700s. The two chairs in the sanctuary (the area around the altar) are also very old. The font, used for baptisms, is unusual because it has seven sides. The communion rail is from the 1700s. The oak pulpit, where sermons are given, is plain and dated 1687.
On the west wall of the nave, you can see the royal arms of King George III from 1760. There is also a hatchment (a special painting) for the Purleston family. A piece of glass from the old east window is kept in a frame. On it, someone scratched a message from 1756 about bad roads! The church's records, called parish registers, go all the way back to 1538.
The Mystery of the Carved Stone
On the north wall, there is a carved stone about 30 centimetres (12 inches) square. It is worn down by time, but you can still see a figure on horseback. People have wondered what this carving means. The church's leaflet says it "seems to show a military figure on horseback." Some have suggested it shows the "Flight into Egypt" from the Bible.
However, a different idea comes from Dan Robinson, a museum curator. He noticed that the horse seems to have more than four legs. This could mean it shows Sleipnir, the eight-legged horse of Odin. Odin is a powerful god from Viking stories. If this is true, the carving could be from the Viking age!
Outside the Church: More to See
In the churchyard, there is part of an old medieval cross made of red sandstone. The base has four steps, and on top is an eight-sided pillar. The top part of the cross is missing. This cross is also a protected historical site. The churchyard also has the war grave of a soldier from World War I. The hay meadows near the church are important for nature. Outside the churchyard, there is a restored stable building from around 1700.
See also
- Grade I listed buildings in Cheshire West and Chester
- Grade I listed churches in Cheshire
- Norman architecture in Cheshire
- Listed buildings in Church Shocklach
