St Matthew's Church, Stretton facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Matthew's Church, Stretton |
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Tower of St Matthew's Church, Stretton
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| OS grid reference | SJ 620 827 |
| Location | Stretton, Cheshire |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Anglican |
| Website | St Matthew, Stretton |
| History | |
| Status | Parish church |
| Dedication | St Matthew |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Heritage designation | Grade II |
| Designated | 8 January 1970 |
| Architect(s) | Sir George Gilbert Scott |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Style | Gothic Revival |
| Completed | 1870 |
| Specifications | |
| Spire height | 75 feet (23 m) |
| Materials | Red sandstone, Westmorland slate roofs |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Stretton |
| Deanery | Great Budworth |
| Archdeaconry | Chester |
| Diocese | Chester |
| Province | York |
St Matthew's Church is a beautiful old church located in the village of Stretton, Cheshire, England. It's a special building because it's listed as a Grade II historic site, which means it's important to protect. The church is still used today for Anglican services and is part of the diocese of Chester. It also works closely with St Cross Church in Appleton Thorn.
Contents
History of St Matthew's Church
The village of Stretton was owned by the Starkey family for a very long time. They likely built a small chapel here in the 1200s or 1300s. In 1527, this chapel was called the "Oratory of St Saviour."
However, by 1666, the old chapel was in bad shape. So, in 1826–27, a new church was built. It was designed by Philip Hardwick and could hold 250 people.
Later, in 1859, a church leader named Richard Greenall asked a famous architect, George Gilbert Scott, to add a chancel to the church. After Greenall passed away in 1867, the rest of the church was rebuilt in his memory. Scott was again the architect for this project.
Church Architecture
Outside the Church
The church is built from red sandstone and has roofs made of Westmorland slate. It has a long main area called a nave with a high row of windows called a clerestory. There are also side sections called aisles. The church has a chancel at the east end and a tower at the west end.
The tower has three levels and strong corner supports called buttresses. It also has a small, round tower on one corner. At the top, there are openings for bells and a flat, decorated wall called a parapet.
The tower has clock faces on its west and south sides. Since 1963, these clocks don't have numbers. Instead, they have special messages! Two of these messages are "Time is not all" and "Forget not God."
The church originally had six bells from 1850. They were re-hung in 1920 and again in 1987. In 2003, two more bells were added, making a total of eight. The first bells were made by Charles and George Mears. The newer bells were made by John Taylor Bellfounders.
Inside the Church
When you enter, you'll see a wooden screen at the west door. It was made in 1982 from oak. The roof of the main part of the church is made of red deal wood, and the pews (church benches) are made of oak.
The font, where baptisms take place, is made of stone and has a carved oak cover. It dates back to 1867. The pulpit, where sermons are given, was designed by Scott and put in place in 1859. The floor tiles in the special area called the sanctuary are colorful and were likely made by Minton. Other tiles in the church are black and red.
The church organ was built by Henry Willis in 1876. More parts were added to it in the early 1920s. The altar and the decorated screen behind it (called a reredos) were carved from oak in 1957. The large window at the east end was designed by Trena Cox and put in place in 1939. Many of the other beautiful stained glass windows in the church were made by Clayton and Bell.
Other Features Outside the Church
In the churchyard, there is a war memorial. It's a stone cross about 15 feet (4.6 meters) tall, standing on an eight-sided base. It was officially dedicated in 1923. The churchyard also has the graves of three soldiers from World War I and one airman from World War II.
The lych gate, which is a covered gateway to the churchyard, was built in 1889. The cross on its roof had to be removed in 1961 because of damage from insects.
See also
- List of new churches by George Gilbert Scott in Northern England
- Listed buildings in Stretton, Warrington
