St Peter's Church, Aston-by-Sutton facts for kids

Quick facts for kids St Peter's Church, Aston-by-Sutton
St Peter's Church, Aston-by-Sutton, from the southwest
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OS grid reference	SJ 555 785
Location	Aston Lane,Sutton Weaver, Cheshire WA7 3ED
Country	England
Denomination	Anglican
Churchmanship	Central
Website	Parish of Aston-by-Sutton, Little Leigh & Lower Whitley
History
Status	Parish church
Dedication	St Peter
Architecture
Functional status	Active
Heritage designation	Grade I
Designated	8 January 1970
Architect(s)	John Vanbrugh (?)
Architectural type	Church
Style	Georgian
Groundbreaking	1520s
Specifications
Materials	Sandstone, Roof of grey slate tiles
Administration
Parish	Aston-by-Sutton, St Peter
Deanery	Great Budworth
Archdeaconry	Chester
Diocese	Chester
Province	York

St Peter's Church is a beautiful old church located in a small village called Aston-by-Sutton. This village is in Cheshire, not far from the town of Runcorn in England. The church is very special because it's listed as a Grade I building. This means it's considered a very important historical site.

St Peter's Church is an active Anglican church. It serves the local community as one of three churches in the area. People have described it as a "most pleasing" church, both inside and out. It's a peaceful place, standing a bit by itself on the south side of Aston Lane.

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History of St Peter's Church

How the Church Began

The very first religious building here was a small chapel built in 1236. It was known as the chapel of Poosey. Later, this chapel fell apart and became a ruin.

A new chapel was built on the current church site in the early 1500s. The only part left from this old chapel is a stone in the churchyard. This stone was once used to sharpen spears and knives!

Changes Over Time

This chapel was damaged during the English Civil War. In 1637, it was fixed up by Sir Thomas Aston. Then, in 1697, the part of the church called the chancel was built. The main part of the church, the nave, was rebuilt between 1736 and 1740.

Over the years, more changes happened. An organ room was added in 1897. The church was rebuilt again in 1907.

Damage During World War II

On November 28, 1940, the church was badly damaged by a land mine during World War II. The roof and the inside of the church were destroyed. Even though the roof was replaced, the church couldn't be used for services.

It stayed in ruins until restoration work began in 1949. The repairs were finished in June 1950. The church was officially reopened on June 27, 1950. Before the bomb damage, it was one of the oldest churches of its kind in the area. The explosion mainly hit the south side and the east end of the church.

What the Church Looks Like

Outside the Church

The church is built from sandstone found in Runcorn. Its roof is made of grey slate tiles. The church has a chancel and a nave, which are the main parts of the building. It also has porches on the north and south sides.

At the west end, there's a tower with a small belfry on top. This belfry has a round window and a clock. The chancel is narrower than the nave. Both parts have a flat top edge called a parapet.

There are no windows on the north side of the chancel. Instead, there's a door that used to lead to the burial area for the local lord and his family. On the south side, there are three round-headed windows. The north porch has a date of 1736 and looks like it was designed by a famous architect named Vanbrugh. The south porch and a sundial that were damaged in the explosion have been repaired.

Inside the Church

The floor of the chancel is very old, from the 1600s. It's made of white stones with small black marble pieces. The church has an organ that was built in 1906 and installed in 1908. It sits on a west gallery, supported by four wooden pillars.

The pews, where people sit, are made of oak. The pulpit, where the priest speaks, is also oak and likely from the 1600s. It has carvings of scrolls and hanging decorations. The altar table is also from the 1600s and is in a style called Jacobean.

The ceiling is smooth and plastered. Above the south door, you can see the royal arms from 1664. Above the north door, there's a special panel from the early 1700s that shows the family crest of the Aston family.

The font, used for baptisms, was added in 1857. It's made of carved wood with a marble bowl and a domed lid. There's also a painted board in the church that shows the Aston family's coat of arms. This board is probably from 1636.

The church has several memorials to members of the Aston family. Some are painted and gilded tablets from the 1600s. One special monument from 1702, for Sir Willoughby Aston, is thought to have been made by a famous carver named Grinling Gibbons.

After the bomb damage in 1940, the organ was rebuilt. The church has one bell, which is thought to have been a ship's bell from 1870. The church records for baptisms and deaths go back to 1635.

Churchyard Features

The churchyard has some interesting features. Parts of the sandstone wall around the churchyard and the lych gate (a covered gateway) are listed as Grade II historical structures.

There's also an old red sandstone font in the churchyard, likely from the early 1600s. It has a unique arched cover carved from two large stones.

Many old tombs are also listed as Grade II. These include tombs for the Okell family from the 1600s and 1700s, and others from the 1600s.

The Story of Chloe Gambia

One very special memorial in the churchyard is the grave of Chloe Gambia. Chloe was a slave from Gambia in Africa. She was born around 1760 and came to Liverpool in 1767.

Chloe worked as a servant for the Aston family for 70 years and became their housekeeper. She passed away in 1838 at about 77 years old. Her gravestone tells her story:

Chloe Gambia a negress Who died at Aston Hall the 12th Sept. 1838 aged 77 years or thereabouts. She lived in the Aston family 70 years.

The churchyard also contains two war graves for soldiers from World War I.

See also

• Grade I listed buildings in Cheshire West and Chester
• Grade I listed churches in Cheshire