St Nicholas Church, Burton facts for kids

Quick facts for kids St Nicholas Church, Burton
St Nicholas Church from the southwest
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OS grid reference	SJ 317 744
Location	[[Burton, Cheshire West and Chester], Cheshire
Country	England
Denomination	Anglican
Website	St Nicholas, Burton
History
Status	Parish church
Architecture
Functional status	Active
Heritage designation	Grade II*
Designated	27 December 1962
Architectural type	Church
Completed	1870
Specifications
Materials	Red sandstone Grey slate roofs
Administration
Parish	Burton
Deanery	Wirral South
Archdeaconry	Chester
Diocese	Chester
Province	York

St Nicholas Church is a historic church located in the village of Burton, in Cheshire, England. It is an active Anglican parish church, which means it serves the local community.

The church is recognized as a special and important building. It is listed as a Grade II* listed building on the National Heritage List for England. This listing helps protect the church for future generations to enjoy.

The History of St Nicholas Church

The story of St Nicholas Church goes back hundreds of years. Parts of an even older church from the 12th century have been found in the churchyard. These old stones, carved in the Norman style, are now kept safe inside the church's porch and tower.

Most of the church you see today was built in 1721. However, one part, the Massey chapel, is much older and was built in 1380. The chancel, which is the area around the altar, was rebuilt in 1870 to update its style.

Exploring the Church's Architecture

The church is built from a beautiful red sandstone and has grey slate roofs. It sits on high ground, looking over the village of Burton.

The Outside of the Church

To reach the church, you pass between grand gate posts made in the Georgian style. The church's design includes:

• A west tower with four levels.
• A main body, called the nave, which flows into the chancel.
• A north aisle running alongside the nave.
• The historic Massey chapel at the end of the aisle.

The tower has doors on its north and south sides. Above the south door is a window and a clock that has only one hand. The top of the tower has special windows called louvres and a solid wall called a parapet. A coffin lid from the 13th century, decorated with a fancy cross, is built into one of the tower walls.

Inside the Church

The inside of St Nicholas Church is filled with interesting historical items.

• Font and Altar Rails: The font, used for baptisms, is large and simple with a fancy wooden cover. The altar rails are from the Jacobean era and have beautifully carved posts called balusters.
• Furniture and Glass: There is a special chair in the sanctuary that dates back to the time of King Charles II. The stained glass window at the east end of the church was made by the famous artist Kempe.
• Memorials: The church has memorials to the Massey family, one made of marble from 1579 and another of alabaster from 1794. There are also memorials to the Congreve family, including one for Richard Congreve that features a carving of a weeping angel, known as a putto.
• Organ and Bells: The organ was built around 1935 and was improved in 1985. The church has a ring of six bells. Five were made in 1724 by Rudhall of Gloucester, and the sixth was added in 1896 by John Taylor and Company.

The church's records, called parish registers, began in the year 1538 and provide a fascinating look into the past.

Features in the Churchyard

The churchyard surrounding St Nicholas Church is also historically important. It contains a group of 18 large stone tombs, called chest tombs, and another group of eight raised grave slabs. These are so significant that they are listed as Grade II historic features.

Also in the churchyard is a red sandstone sundial from the 18th century. It has a vase-shaped pillar on a square base. The churchyard is also the final resting place for a soldier from the Royal Engineers who died in the First World War.

See also

• Grade II* listed buildings in Cheshire West and Chester
• Listed buildings in Burton, Neston, Cheshire