St Mary's Church, Coddington facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Mary's Church, Coddington |
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St Mary's Church, Coddington, from the south
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| OS grid reference | SJ 454 554 |
| Location | Coddington, Cheshire |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Anglican |
| Website | St Mary's, Coddington |
| History | |
| Status | Parish church |
| Consecrated | 1834 |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Heritage designation | Grade II |
| Designated | 19 June 1984 |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Completed | 1914 |
| Construction cost | £1314 |
| Specifications | |
| Materials | Sandstone, grey slate roof |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Coddington, St Mary |
| Deanery | Malpas |
| Archdeaconry | Chester |
| Diocese | Chester |
| Province | York |
St Mary's Church is a historic church located in the village of Coddington, Cheshire, England. It is officially recognized as a Grade II listed building, meaning it's an important building with special historical or architectural value. The church is an active Anglican parish church, serving the local community. It is part of the diocese of Chester and works together with St Chad's Church in Farndon.
Contents
History of St Mary's Church
The area of Coddington has had a church for a very long time. The parish of Coddington was first created between the years 627 and 653. After the Norman Conquest, the land was given to Hugh Lupus, who was the first Earl of Chester.
The church is even mentioned in the Domesday Book, which was a big survey of England completed in 1086. In 1093, important people like Hugh and Ralph de Arscio were in charge of the church's affairs. Later, from 1098, the Abbey of St Werburg in Chester took over. After the dissolution of the monasteries (when monasteries were closed down), the church's patronage was shared by Chester Cathedral and the Duke of Westminster.
The very first church building was constructed between the 8th and 10th centuries. It was made of sandstone and had a thatched roof, with a bell tower in the middle. This old church eventually became unsafe. So, in 1833, a new church was built in its place. This new design was created by an architect named John Atkinson. Much later, in 1914, a west porch was added to the church. This porch was built to remember Canon F. Royds, who was the church's rector (a type of priest) for many years, from 1855 to 1904.
Church Architecture and Design
St Mary's Church is built using sandstone, a common building material in the area. Its roof is made of grey slate. The church's layout includes a main hall (called a nave) and a chancel (the area around the altar). It has five sections, or bays, along with a porch at the west end and a small room called a vestry on the north side.
Outside the Church
At the west end of the church, you'll see a stone bellcote. This is a small structure that holds the church bells. It has a crenellated top, which looks like the top of a castle wall, and openings for two bells. On top of the bellcote is a short, square spire.
The church windows are designed in the Perpendicular style. This style was popular in England during the late Middle Ages. Above the west porch, there is a clock. This clock was made by a company called Joyce in Whitchurch. It was put in place to honor the men from the parish who died in the First World War.
Inside the Church
When you go inside St Mary's Church, you'll find a gallery at the west end. Many items inside the church are very old, dating back to the 17th century. These include the pulpit (where sermons are given), the reading desk, and the altar rails. There's also a parish chest, which was used to store important church documents. A special painting called a hatchment remembers the Aldersley family.
The church also has a monumental brass dedicated to members of the Massie family from Coddington. The beautiful east window is a memorial to Samuel Aldersey, who passed away in 1855. Another window, in the southeast, remembers Hugh Robert Aldersey, who died at the young age of 20 in 1848. Both of these windows were created by an artist named Wailes. A third window was made by Frampton. It honors Canon Royd's son, who was a lieutenant in the Royal Navy and died from his wounds in 1884.
The altar was given to the church in 1912 to remember Albert Lowe. The beautifully carved oak reredos (a screen or decoration behind the altar) was also given in the same year, in memory of Catherine Hughes. The communion rails date back to 1833. The processional cross, used in church services, was given to remember John James Rutter, who was a churchwarden (a church official) from 1917 to 1926. The litany desk, used for prayers, remembers Thomas Moore, who was a churchwarden for 55 years, and his wife Mary Ellen. At the west end of the church, you can see two old Bibles: a Breeches Bible and a Bishop's Bible.
External Features
In the churchyard, there used to be a sundial with the date 1795 carved into it. This sundial was also a Grade II listed item. However, it has since been moved from the churchyard to a safe place for protection.
See also
- Listed buildings in Coddington, Cheshire
