St John the Evangelist's Church, Norley facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St John the Evangelist's Church, Norley |
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St John the Evangelist's Church, Norley
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| OS grid reference | SJ 561,728 |
| Location | Norley, Cheshire |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Anglican |
| Website | Norley, St John the Evangelist |
| History | |
| Status | Parish church |
| Dedication | John the Evangelist |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Heritage designation | Grade II* |
| Designated | 17 April 1986 |
| Architect(s) | J. L. Pearson |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Style | Gothic Revival |
| Groundbreaking | 1878 |
| Completed | 1879 |
| Construction cost | £3,500 |
| Specifications | |
| Materials | Red ashlar sandstone Red tile roof |
| Administration | |
| Parish | St John, Norley |
| Deanery | Frodsham |
| Archdeaconry | Chester |
| Diocese | Chester |
| Province | York |
St John the Evangelist's Church is a beautiful old church located just west of the village of Norley, in Cheshire, England. It's a very special building, listed as a Grade II* historic site. This means it's considered an important part of England's heritage. The church is still actively used today by the Anglican faith. It serves as a local parish church within the diocese of Chester. It also works closely with Christ Church in Crowton and St John the Evangelist in Kingsley.
Contents
History of the Church Building
The very first church on this spot was a smaller building. It was built in 1833 and officially opened in 1835. This first church was called a "chapel of ease." This meant it was a smaller church built for people who lived far from the main parish church.
The church you see today was built later, between 1878 and 1879. It was designed by a famous architect named John Loughborough Pearson. The land for the original church was given by Samuel Woodhouse, who lived at Norley Hall. The new church cost about £3,500 back then. That would be like spending a lot of money today!
Exploring the Church's Design
The church is built in a style called Gothic Revival. This means it looks like churches from the 13th century. It uses red sandstone for its walls and has a red tile roof.
Outside the Church
The church has a main area called the nave. It also has a north aisle and a chancel, which is the area near the altar. There's also a vestry, where the clergy get ready. A tall tower stands in the middle of the church. There's also a north transept (a part that sticks out like an arm) and a south porch. You walk up 11 steps to reach the porch.
The nave and the tower have windows with two sections. Above the tower window, you can see a clock face. Higher up, there are two openings with louvred bells. These are like angled slats that let sound out but keep rain away. At the very top of the tower is a plain wall called a parapet. The chancel windows are tall and narrow, called lancets. On the east side, there are three very tall windows.
Inside the Church
Inside the chancel, there's a special seat called a sedilia. This was used by priests during services. The beautiful screen behind the altar, called the reredos, was added in 1930. The altar itself was added in 1937. Other screens were put in place in 1919 and 1921. All these were designed by F. H. Crossley.
Most of the colorful stained glass windows were made in the early and mid-1900s by William Morris of Westminster. A window in the north aisle, made in 1950, was designed by Trena Cox. In the transept, there's a large Willis organ. This organ was repaired in 1985. The baptismal font, which is used for baptisms, is square. It might have come from the older church that stood here before.
Churchyard Features
Outside the church, in the churchyard, you can find a memorial for the Woodhouse family. The earliest date on it is 1840. This large monument is made of limestone and has marble plaques. It stands about three meters (nearly 10 feet) tall. On top, there's a stone coffin shape called a sarcophagus, resting on claw feet. This memorial is also a listed historic site.
The churchyard also holds three war graves. Two of these graves belong to soldiers who died in World War I. They are located at the northeast corner of the church. The third grave is for a soldier from World War II, found west of the church.
See also
- Listed buildings in Norley
- List of new ecclesiastical buildings by J. L. Pearson
