St Elizabeth's Church, Ashley facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Elizabeth's Church, Ashley |
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| OS grid reference | SJ 772 844 |
| Location | Ashley Road, Ashley, Cheshire |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Anglican |
| Website | St Elizabeth's, Ashley Church and Community Centre |
| History | |
| Status | Parish church |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Heritage designation | Grade II |
| Designated | 20 September 1984 |
| Architect(s) | Wilbraham Egerton |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Style | Gothic Revival |
| Completed | 1880 |
| Specifications | |
| Materials | Brick and terracotta Tiled roofs |
| Administration | |
| Parish | St Elizabeth, Ashley |
| Deanery | Bowdon |
| Archdeaconry | Macclesfield |
| Diocese | Chester |
| Province | York |
St Elizabeth's Church is a beautiful old church located in Ashley, Cheshire, England. It is an active church for the Anglican faith, which means people still go there for services and community events. It works closely with St Peter's Church in Hale. This church is also a "listed building," meaning it is an important historical place protected by the government. It has a Grade II listing, showing its special value.
Contents
History of St Elizabeth's Church
The church was built in 1880. At first, it was a "chapel of ease." This means it was a smaller church built to help people who lived far from the main parish church, St Mary's in Bowdon.
Just one year later, in 1881, St Elizabeth's became its own parish. A parish is a local area that has its own church and priest. The church was designed by Wilbraham Egerton, who later became a very important person called the 1st Earl Egerton.
Architecture and Design
St Elizabeth's Church is built using red bricks and red terracotta, which is a type of baked clay. It has a roof made of red tiles.
Church Layout
The church has a simple layout. It includes a main area called the nave, where people sit. There is also a chancel, which is the part of the church near the altar. On the sides, there are north and south transepts, which are like arms extending from the main building. A small room called a vestry is on the northeast side. There is also a porch at the southwest entrance.
Outside Features
On the west side of the roof, you can see a stone bellcote. This is a small structure that holds the church bell. The windows in the nave have a design called Perpendicular tracery. This means the stone patterns in the windows have strong vertical lines. The windows in the transepts and the large east window have a different design called Decorated tracery, which is more flowing and ornamental.
The windows in the chancel are shaped like spherical triangles. At the very front of the church, there are three tall, narrow windows called lancet windows. These windows have a special top shape called a trefoil, which looks like a three-leaf clover. Above them, there is a round window called a rose window, also shaped like a trefoil. You can also spot some gargoyles on the bellcote. These are carved stone figures, often shaped like animals, that were originally used as water spouts.
Inside the Church
Inside, the area behind the altar is called the reredos. It has a tiled lower part, known as a dado, and panels decorated with flowers. The beautiful stained glass windows were made in 1925. However, we don't know who created them.
The church also has a large organ with three keyboards, called a three-manual organ. It was built in 1885 by A. Young and Sons from Manchester. Interestingly, this organ was first used in someone's house before it came to the church.
See also
- Listed buildings in Ashley, Cheshire
