St Oswald's Church, Brereton facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Oswald's Church, Brereton |
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St Oswald's Church, Brereton, from the south
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| OS grid reference | SJ 782 648 |
| Location | Brererton Green, Cheshire |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Anglican |
| Website | St Oswald, Brereton |
| History | |
| Status | Parish church |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Heritage designation | Grade II* |
| Designated | 14 February 1967 |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Style | Perpendicular |
| Specifications | |
| Materials | Red sandstone |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Brereton |
| Deanery | Congleton |
| Archdeaconry | Macclesfield |
| Diocese | Chester |
| Province | York |
St Oswald's Church is a historic church located near Brereton Green in Cheshire, England. It stands next to Brereton Hall and close to the River Croco. This church is very special and is listed as a Grade II* building, meaning it's an important historical site. Experts describe it as a "complete late Perpendicular church," which means it shows a specific old building style very well. St Oswald's is an active Anglican church, part of the diocese of Chester. It serves the local community along with two other churches nearby.
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History of St Oswald's Church
A small chapel stood on this spot way back when King Richard I was ruling England. This was a very long time ago! At first, it was part of a larger church area called Astbury. Later, during the time of King Henry VIII, it became its own separate church for the local community. The church building you see today was mostly built around the year 1550. It was later repaired and updated in 1903 to keep it in good condition.
What Does the Church Look Like?
St Oswald's Church is built using a style called Perpendicular. This style was popular in England a long time ago. The church is made from red sandstone, which gives it a warm, earthy color.
Outside the Church
The church has a tall tower at its western end. This tower is surrounded by the ends of the side sections, called aisles. The top of the tower has a special wall with square shapes, called a battlemented parapet, and pointy decorations called crocketed pinnacles.
The main part of the church, called the nave, has four sections. It also has a clerestory, which is a row of windows high up to let in light. On either side of the nave are the north and south aisles. The front part of the church, called the chancel, has two sections. The roof of the chancel is a bit lower than the nave's roof. Both the nave and aisle roofs have special walls on top, while the chancel roof has a similar battle-like design.
Inside the Church
The roofs inside the nave and chancel are made of wood beams and panels, giving them a special look. You can see some very old and beautiful items inside. The rails around the altar, where the priest stands, are from the 1600s and are "very ornamental," meaning they are highly decorated. The altar table itself and a fancy carved chair in the sanctuary are also from the mid-1600s.
The baptismal font, which is a large bowl used for baptisms, was made in 1660. The colorful pictures in the windows, called stained glass, were created by an artist named William Wailes. The large window at the east end has five sections of glass.
You can also find monuments inside the church. There's one for William Brereton, who passed away in 1618. Another monument in the south aisle remembers William Smethwick (who died in 1643) and his wife Frances (who died in 1632).
The church has an organ that was rebuilt in 1974. There are also six bells that can be rung. Three of these bells are very old, cast in 1634! Other bells were added later in 1739, 1905, and 2003. The church has kept records of births, marriages, and deaths, called parish registers, since 1538.
Things to See Outside
In the churchyard, there's a unique stone sundial. It's probably from the 1700s. It has a round base and a cross-shaped stand with a top that holds the copper dial and pointer (called a gnomon) that tells time by the sun. This sundial is also a listed building, meaning it's historically important.
Near the churchyard gate, you can spot an old stone mounting block from the 1700s. People used these blocks to help them get onto horses. Also in the churchyard is the grave of a First World War Canadian soldier.
Famous Burials
Some notable people from the Brereton family are buried here:
- William Brereton, 1st Baron Brereton
- William Brereton, 2nd Baron Brereton
- John Brereton, 4th Baron Brereton
See also
- Grade II* listed buildings in Cheshire East
- Listed buildings in Brereton, Cheshire
