St Oswald's Church, Backford facts for kids

Quick facts for kids St Oswald's Church, Backford
St Oswald's Church, Backford, from the southwest
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OS grid reference	SJ 388 717
Location	Backford, Cheshire
Country	England
Denomination	Anglican
Website	St Oswald, Backford
History
Status	Parish church
Architecture
Functional status	Active
Heritage designation	Grade II*
Designated	1 June 1967
Architect(s)	Ewan Christian (Remodelling)
Architectural type	Church
Style	Gothic
Completed	1879
Specifications
Materials	Sandstone, slate roof
Administration
Parish	Backford
Deanery	Wirral South
Archdeaconry	Chester
Diocese	Chester
Province	York

St Oswald's Church is a historic church located in the village of Backford, near Chester, Cheshire, England. It's an important building, recognized as a Grade II* listed building, which means it's considered a very special historic place. The church has parts that are over 600 years old, with new sections added and repaired over time.

This church is still active today as an Anglican parish church. It serves the local community as part of the diocese of Chester.

Exploring the Church's Past

The first records of a church standing here go back to the 13th century. Around that time, it was given to the Benedictine Priory in Birkenhead. Later, when monasteries were closed down, the church's ownership passed to the Diocese of Chester.

The oldest parts you can see today are the chancel (the area around the altar), which dates from the 14th century, and the tower, built in the 15th century. The main part of the church, called the nave, was rebuilt between 1728 and 1731. It was then updated again from 1877 to 1879 by an architect named Ewan Christian. In 1892, a decorative screen behind the altar, called a reredos, was added. It was designed by John Douglas.

What Does the Church Look Like?

Outside the Church: Materials and Style

St Oswald's Church is built from sandstone and has a slate roof. The tower is designed in a style called Perpendicular Gothic. This means it has a flat top with decorative battlements, pointy decorations called finials, and gargoyles that look like carved creatures.

The tower's west side has a main doorway with a window above it that has three sections. The windows in the bell tower have two sections. The church's layout includes a nave with three sections, a chancel, a small room on the north side called a vestry, and a porch on the south side. Some of the stone walls in the chancel are from the 14th century, and the large east window dates back to about 1375. The windows on the south wall are also in the Perpendicular style. The nave was originally built in a classical style but was later changed to the Gothic revival style in the 19th century to match the older parts of the church.

Inside the Church: Treasures and History

Inside St Oswald's, you can find some unique historical items. One special feature is an aumbry, which is a small cupboard in the wall used to store sacred items. There are not many of these left in Cheshire.

In the nave, there's a chained bible from 1617. It has been in the church since the 17th century. You can also see an oak chest from the early 17th century, made from wood that came from Chester Cathedral.

Above the arch leading to the chancel, there is a painting that shows the Creation story. You can also spot older wall paintings in other parts of the church, including some by Edward Frampton.

The church is home to six wooden memorial boards. These were painted by members of the Randle Holme family from Chester, who were well-known for their artistic work. Some of these boards were created without official permission, and there were attempts to destroy them in the 17th century. Luckily, the ones in St Oswald's Church were not found and still survive today!

The church's parish registers, which record births, marriages, and deaths, began in 1562. You can also see memorials to important people, like one for Samuel Griffiths from 1796 and another for Baskervyle Glegg from 1843.

The church has an organ with two keyboards, built by Franklin Lloyd. It was later updated around 1970. The church also has a set of six bells. Three of these bells were made in 1714, and the other three were cast in 1887, 1889, and 1974.

Discovering External Features

Outside the church, in the churchyard, there's a sundial that might be from the 18th century. It's also a Grade II listed building, meaning it's historically important. The churchyard walls and the gate leading into the church are also listed as Grade II. You can also find a special type of tomb called a table tomb.

There's a doorway in the churchyard that dates back to the Georgian period. This doorway provides a way to get into the grounds of Backford Hall, a nearby historic building.

See also

• Grade II* listed buildings in Cheshire West and Chester
• Listed buildings in Backford
• List of church restorations, amendments and furniture by John Douglas