St Lawrence's Church, Over Peover facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Lawrence's Church, Over Peover |
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St Lawrence's Church, Over Peover, from the south
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| OS grid reference | SJ 772 736 |
| Location | Over Peover, Cheshire |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Anglican |
| Website | St Lawrence, Over Peover |
| History | |
| Status | Parish church |
| Dedication | St Lawrence |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Heritage designation | Grade I |
| Designated | 5 March 1959 |
| Architect(s) | J. Garlive, William Turner |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Style | Gothic, Neoclassical, Gothic Revival |
| Completed | 1811 |
| Specifications | |
| Materials | Brick tower and body Stone chapels with leaded roofs |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Over Peover |
| Deanery | Knutsford |
| Archdeaconry | Macclesfield |
| Diocese | Chester |
| Province | York |
| Division | Peover Benefice |
St Lawrence's Church in Over Peover is a beautiful old church located near Peover Hall and a farm. It's about 3 miles (5 km) south of the town of Knutsford in Cheshire, England. This church is very special because it's listed as a Grade I building, which means it's a really important historical site. It's an active Anglican church, serving the local community in the diocese of Chester. The church is well-known for its ancient chapels and the impressive monuments dedicated to the Mainwaring family.
Contents
History of St Lawrence's Church
People believe that the first church here was built during the time of King Edward III. The brick tower you see today was built in 1739, likely by a person named J. Garlive. Later, in 1811, the main part of the church, called the nave (where people sit) and the chancel (near the altar), were rebuilt with bricks by William Turner.
During these changes, the older stone chapels were kept. The south chapel dates back to 1456, and the north chapel was built in 1648 by Ellen, who was the widow of Philip Mainwaring. The church was updated again in 1895 by architects Austin and Paley from Lancaster.
An interesting fact is that during World War II, General George Patton and his team attended church services here. They were stationed nearby at Peover Hall at the time.
Architecture of the Church
Outside the Church
The church has a tower at the west end. The main part of the church, which includes the nave and chancel, is one open space. There are also two special rooms called chapels, one on the south side and one on the north. You can enter through a porch on the south side, and there's a small room called a vestry on the north.
The tower has three levels. It has round windows and arched windows for the bells, with decorative columns called pilasters. The south chapel has two sections with three buttresses (supports on the outside walls) that have gargoyles on top. It also has a battlemented parapet, which looks like the top of a castle wall. The north chapel is one of the first buildings in the area to be built in a classical style.
Inside the Church
To reach the south chapel, you go through a porch. Inside, you'll find a special tomb with a stone statue, called an effigy, of Randle Mainwaring. He is shown wearing a full suit of plate armour, with his feet resting on a lion and his head on his family's crest. Next to him is a statue of his wife, Margery, in a long dress and a fancy head-dress. Some of the items in this chapel, like the altar cross, brass candlesticks, and hanging lamps, came all the way from Florence, Italy.
The north chapel also has marble statues of Philip Mainwaring, in his armour, with a lion at his feet, and Ellen, with a bear at her feet. This chapel has many other monuments dedicated to the Mainwaring family. The ceiling here has a carved coat of arms in the middle. The screen in the north chapel was made by F. W. Crossley. Both chapels still have small pieces of medieval stained glass.
In the chancel, there are more statues of Mainwaring family members from the 15th century. These might be John, Randle's son, and his second wife, Joan. In the main part of the church, there's a 15th-century baptismal font (a basin for baptisms) on a newer base. An altar from the 17th century has been moved to the south chapel. The pulpit (where the sermon is given) is in a style called Jacobean.
On the north wall, there is a painting called The Boy Daniel by John Rogers Herbert (1810–1890). To remember General Patton and his staff using the church during World War II, an American flag and a bronze plaque have been placed inside. The church organ was built in 1898 by Jardine. The church has a set of three bells, which were made around 1500, 1626, and 1669. The church's financial records, kept by the churchwardens, start from 1674.
Churchyard Features
In the churchyard, you'll find an old cross base with a newer cross on top. The base of the cross is from the 15th century and has three steps leading up to a square base, which then holds an eight-sided shaft base. The cross itself is from 1907 and has an eight-sided shaft with a gabled top, showing a cross and two figures of saints. This cross is listed as Grade II and is also a scheduled monument, meaning it's a nationally important historical site.
There's also a sundial in the churchyard, which was made in the 19th century using part of the original 15th-century cross shaft. This sundial stands on two square steps and is also listed as Grade II. The churchyard is also the resting place for three soldiers from World War I and an airman from World War II.
See also
- Grade I listed buildings in Cheshire East
- Grade I listed churches in Cheshire
- Listed buildings in Peover Superior
