St Mary's Church, Rostherne facts for kids

Quick facts for kids St Mary's Church, Rostherne
St Mary's Church, Rostherne
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OS grid reference	SJ 743 837
Location	Rostherne, Cheshire
Country	England
Denomination	Anglican
Website	St Mary, Rostherne
History
Status	Parish church
Architecture
Functional status	Active
Heritage designation	Grade I
Designated	5 March 1959
Architect(s)	John Rowson Sir Arthur Blomfield
Architectural type	Church
Style	Gothic, Neoclassical
Completed	1888
Specifications
Materials	Sandstone Slate and lead roof
Administration
Parish	Rostherne with Bollington
Deanery	Knutsford
Archdeaconry	Macclesfield
Diocese	Chester
Province	York

St Mary's Church is a historic church located in Rostherne, a village in Cheshire, England. It stands near Rostherne Mere, a beautiful lake. This church is very important, so it is listed as a Grade I building. This means it is one of the most important historic buildings in England. St Mary's is an active Anglican parish church, which means it is still used for church services today. It is part of the diocese of Chester.

The History of St Mary's Church

The early history of St Mary's Church is a bit of a mystery. We don't know exactly when it was first built. However, a document from 1188 shows that a church was already standing here.

Changes Over the Centuries

In 1533, a tall tower, called a steeple, was added to the church. But this steeple didn't last forever. In November 1741, after many years of wear and tear, it fell down! The fall damaged the rest of the church building.

From 1742 to 1744, the church was rebuilt. John Rowson was the architect who designed the new parts. Later, in 1888, more parts of the church were added or updated. These included the chancel (the area around the altar) and a north vestry (a room used by the clergy). These additions were designed by a famous architect named Sir Arthur Blomfield. The south porch, which is an entrance area, was added around 1886.

The church was also restored in 1888. This work was paid for by Wilbraham Egerton, 1st Earl Egerton. He wanted to honor his father, Baron Egerton.

What Does St Mary's Church Look Like?

The church is built from a type of stone called sandstone. Its roof is made of slate and lead.

Outside the Church

The main tower is at the west end of the church. The church also has a long main hall called a nave, with side aisles. There's a chancel and side chapels, plus a vestry. The tower has three levels, getting smaller as they go up. You can see a clock on the south side of the tower. The windows for the bells are in a special "Venetian" style. The top of the tower has a curved edge with decorative vases.

Unusually, the roof of the nave has dormer windows. These are windows that stick out from the sloping roof. The church's style is mostly Perpendicular Gothic. This is a type of Gothic architecture with tall, straight lines. However, some parts, like the north doorway, have Decorated Gothic features.

Inside the Church

Inside, St Mary's Church mixes different styles. You'll see both Gothic architecture and classical designs.

In the chancel, there's a stone statue of a knight lying down. This statue is very old, from around the time of King Henry III. It was discovered after the steeple fell in 1741.

There's also a special memorial to Charlotte Lucy Beatrix Egerton. She sadly drowned in Rostherne Mere in 1845, just before her wedding. The memorial was created by Richard Westmacott Jr. It shows Charlotte lying on her side, with an angel leaning over her.

Another important monument is for Samuel Egerton, made by John Bacon in 1792. It's made of beautiful white and grey marble. It features figures that represent Hope and Patience. John Bacon also made a monument for Jonas Langford Brooke, who passed away in 1784. You can find other memorials to important local families like the Egertons, Venables, Cholmondeleys, Leighs, and Brookes throughout the church.

The church organ was built in 1906. It was later rebuilt between 1970 and 1979. The church has a set of six bells. The oldest bells are from 1630 and 1655. The other four were made by Rudhall of Gloucester in the 1700s. The church records, called parish registers, go all the way back to 1595!

Outside the Church Grounds

Outside the church, you'll find a lych gate from 1640. This is a covered gateway at the entrance to the churchyard. It even has a special closing system to keep animals out!

There's also a sundial in the churchyard from around 1730. It's also a Grade II listed building, meaning it's historically important. You can also see the ashlar sandstone Simpson tomb, from about 1831, which is also listed. The churchyard is also the resting place for five soldiers who died in World War I.

Images for kids

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  St Mary's Church, Rostherne

See also

• Grade I listed buildings in Cheshire East
• Grade I listed churches in Cheshire
• Listed buildings in Rostherne