St Wilfrid's Church, Mobberley facts for kids

Quick facts for kids St Wilfrid's Church, Mobberley
St Wilfrid's Church, Mobberley, from the north
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OS grid reference	SJ 791 803
Location	Mobberley, Cheshire
Country	England
Denomination	Anglican
Website	St Wilfrid's Parish Church, Mobberley
History
Status	Parish church
Dedication	St Wilfrid
Architecture
Functional status	Active
Heritage designation	Grade I
Designated	5 March 1959
Architect(s)	J. S. Crowther
Architectural type	Church
Style	Gothic, Gothic Revival
Completed	1888
Specifications
Materials	Ashlar stone Grey slate roof
Administration
Parish	Mobberley
Deanery	Knutsford
Archdeaconry	Macclesfield
Diocese	Chester
Province	York

St Wilfrid's Church is located north of the village of Mobberley in Cheshire, England. It is a very important historical building. The church is listed as a Grade I building on the National Heritage List for England. This means it is one of the most important historic buildings in the country.

St Wilfrid's is an active Anglican church. This means it is a Christian church that is part of the Church of England. It serves the local community as a parish church. A famous expert on churches, Alec Clifton-Taylor, even called it one of the 'best' parish churches in England!

History of St Wilfrid's Church

When the church was being repaired in 1888, builders found parts of an even older church from the Saxon period. The first written record of a church here is from 1206. At that time, Patrick de Mobberley started a small Augustinian priory (a type of monastery). However, this priory didn't last long. By 1240, it had joined with another priory in Staffordshire.

The oldest parts of the church you see today were built around 1245. Back then, it had a main area (called a nave) and a special part for the altar (called a chancel). These were under one roof. It also had narrow side areas (called aisles) and a separate tower.

Changes Over Time

• In 1450, the church got a new roof. A clerestory was added, which is a row of windows high up to let in more light. The side aisles were also made wider.
• The old tower was falling apart, so a new one was built in 1533.
• In 1888, the chancel was mostly rebuilt by an architect named J. S. Crowther. A new arch was put in to separate the chancel from the nave.

The church has a long connection with the Mallory family, a well-known local family.

Architecture and Design

St Wilfrid's Church is built from large, cut stones called ashlar. Its roof is made of grey slate. The church has a tower at the west end. It connects to the main part of the church (the nave) which has aisles on both sides. There's also a chancel with a small room (a vestry) to its north, and a porch on the south side.

Outside the Church

The tower has three levels. Each level is separated by decorative stone bands called string courses. The very top of the tower has a battlement design, which looks like the top of a castle wall.

Inside the Church

The ceiling of the nave is not very high. It has strong wooden beams that are supported by short posts. At the bottom of these posts, you can see carved figures of angels.

Special Features Inside

• Rood Screen: There is a beautifully carved wooden screen from around 1500. It's called a rood screen. Experts say it's the best one in all of Cheshire!
• Chancel Details: In the chancel, there's a carved double sedilia (seats for priests) and a piscina (a basin for washing sacred vessels). The piscina is very old, from the 13th century.
• Stained Glass: The south window in the chancel has stained glass from the 14th century. It shows the coats of arms (family symbols) of local families. You can also find small pieces of old glass in the windows of the south aisle.
• Wall Paintings: Above the arches (called arcades) in the nave, you can still see faded wall paintings. One painting clearly shows St Christopher. On the north wall, there's a picture of St George fighting the dragon.
• Font: The font (where baptisms happen) has a bowl from the Victorian era. It sits on a base that was once an older font from the Tudor period, but it's now upside down!

Other Interesting Items

At the west end of the church, there's a gallery for bell ringers. The church's website mentions that the organ (which has since been replaced) used to belong to a famous musician, Sir Charles Hallé. It was moved from a concert hall in Manchester.

There's a special window in the church that remembers George Mallory. He was a famous climber who, along with Andrew Irvine, sadly died while climbing Mount Everest in 1924. This window was made by A. K. Nicholson.

The church has a ring of six bells. Four of these bells were made in 1772 by Thomas Rudhall. The other two were remade in 1891 by John Taylor and Company. The church's records of births, deaths, and marriages (called parish registers) go all the way back to 1578.

Outside the Church Grounds

In the churchyard, there's an old cross base. It's a large square sandstone block that probably once held a cross. A sundial plate, which used to tell time by the sun, is attached to its top, but its pointer (called a gnomon) is broken. This cross base is also a Grade II listed building and a protected historical site.

The churchyard also has the graves of two soldiers who died in the World War I and World War II. Just outside the churchyard wall, you can see the old parish stocks, which are also a Grade II listed building. They are right across from the Church Inn, which is also a Grade II listed building.

See also

• Grade I listed buildings in Cheshire East
• Grade I listed churches in Cheshire
• Listed buildings in Mobberley
• List of works by J. S. Crowther