St Mary's Church, Congleton facts for kids

Quick facts for kids St Mary's Church, Congleton
St Mary's Church, Congleton
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OS grid reference	SJ 852 631
Location	West Road, Congleton, Cheshire
Country	England
Denomination	Roman Catholic
Website	St Mary's Catholic Chapel, Congleton
History
Status	Parish church
Dedication	Virgin Mary
Architecture
Functional status	Active
Heritage designation	Grade II
Designated	4 April 1975
Architect(s)	Father John Hall
Architectural type	Church
Completed	1826
Specifications
Materials	Brick, slate roof

St Mary's Church is a Roman Catholic church located in West Road, Congleton, Cheshire, England. It is a very old and important building. The government has given it a special protection status. This means it is a Grade II listed building. The building next door, called the presbytery, is also part of this special listing. A presbytery is where the priest lives.

History of St Mary's Church

St Mary's Church was built a long time ago, in 1826. It was designed by a priest named Father John Hall, who came from Macclesfield. The presbytery, the house next to the church, was built a few years later, in 1830.

What the Church Looks Like

The church is made from red bricks and has a roof covered in slate. It stands on a stone base, which is like a strong foundation.

Outside the Church

The front of the church, which faces the road, has two main levels. In the middle, there is a main door with a rounded top. Above the door, there is a special window called a fanlight, which looks like a fan. There are also two other windows with rounded tops. At the very top of the church's front, there is a triangular shape called a pediment. Inside this pediment, there is a small alcove, or niche, which holds a statue of the Virgin Mary. The back of the church is shaped a bit like a polygon, which means it has several sides.

Inside the Church

Inside St Mary's Church, you will find a special screen that divides the space into three parts. This screen is supported by columns that are designed in an old Greek style called Ionic. Experts who wrote the Buildings of England books said that, apart from the statue of the Virgin Mary, the church looks quite similar to Methodist churches built around the same time.

The Presbytery

The presbytery, the house next to the church, also has a doorway with a rounded top and a fanlight window above it. The windows in the presbytery are sash windows, which means they slide up and down to open.

More to Explore

• Listed buildings in Congleton