St Mary's Church, Whitegate facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Mary's Church, Whitegate |
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St Mary's Church, Whitegate, from the southwest
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| OS grid reference | SJ 628,694 |
| Location | Whitegate, Cheshire |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Anglican |
| Website | St Mary's, Whitegate |
| History | |
| Status | Parish church |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Heritage designation | Grade II |
| Designated | 11 October 1949 |
| Architect(s) | John Douglas |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Completed | 1875 |
| Specifications | |
| Materials | Brick with tiled roof |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Whitegate, St Mary |
| Deanery | Middlewich |
| Archdeaconry | Chester |
| Diocese | Chester |
| Province | York |
St Mary's Church is located in the village of Whitegate, Cheshire, England. It is an active Anglican parish church, meaning it's a local church for the community. It belongs to the diocese of Chester. The church is officially recognized as a Grade II listed building, which means it's an important historic place. Experts say the church looks "perfect" in its setting, nestled among trees on a hillside.
Contents
History of St Mary's Church
A small church, or chapel, has been on this spot since 1277. This was when the Cistercian monks built their Abbey of Vale Royal nearby. The Cistercians were known as "white monks," which is why the village at the abbey's gate was called Whitegate.
Records show that the church needed repairs between 1602 and 1646. By 1715, the church was made of wood and plaster and was in very bad shape. Around 1728, it was rebuilt using bricks. The side sections (aisles) were made wider, and the walls of the main hall (nave) were raised to add balconies.
In 1874–75, the church was rebuilt again. Lord Delamere paid for most of this work. The architect was John Douglas from Chester. Douglas changed almost all of the outside of the church. However, he kept many of the older parts inside.
Architecture and Design
Outside the Church
The church is built with bricks and has a roof made of tiles. It has a main hall (nave) with six sections and side aisles. There is also a special area for the altar (chancel) and a porch on the south side. At the west end, there is a small tower with an eight-sided spire covered in wooden tiles. A small room for the clergy (vestry) is located to the southwest.
Inside the Church
Inside, you can still see the eight-sided wooden pillars from the church that stood here before. The decorative screen behind the altar (reredos) and the arches in the chancel were added around 1876–77. Experts believe these parts were not designed by John Douglas.
The church has a set of eight tubular bells. These bells were put in place to celebrate Queen Victoria's 60th year as queen (her Diamond Jubilee). An old bell from the Middle Ages was given to the church by Thomas Cholmondeley in 1810. The church's official records, called parish registers, go all the way back to 1559.
Outside Features
The gateposts at the church entrance have round tops and are dated 1736. The iron gates were given in memory of Miss Emily Katherine Cholmondeley. In the churchyard, there are also war graves for two soldiers and a Royal Air Force officer who died in World War II.
See also
- Listed buildings in Whitegate and Marton
- List of church restorations, amendments and furniture by John Douglas
