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 a beautiful old church located just north of the village of Mobberley in Cheshire, England. It's a very important building, listed as a Grade I building, which means it's considered to be of exceptional historical and architectural interest. The church is still active today, serving the local community as an Anglican parish church.

History of St Wilfrid's Church
Architecture of St Wilfrid's Church
Churchyard Features
Images for kids
See also

History of St Wilfrid's Church

Early Beginnings and Discoveries

During some repair work in 1888, builders found parts of an even older church from the Saxon period. The first written record of a church here dates back to 1206. At that time, a man named 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.

Building Through the Centuries

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

Over time, the church was changed and made bigger. In 1450, a row of windows was added high up on the walls (a clerestory), and a new roof was put on. The side aisles were also made wider. The old tower was replaced in 1533 because it had fallen into disrepair.

Victorian Changes and Family Connections

In 1888, the chancel area was largely rebuilt by an architect named J. S. Crowther. A new arch was also added between the nave and the chancel. St Wilfrid's Church has a long and special connection with the Mallory family, who have been part of the local community for many years.

Architecture of St Wilfrid's Church

Outside the Church

The church is built from ashlar stone, which means the stones are finely cut and shaped. It has a grey slate roof. The church's shape includes a tower at the west end, connected to the main part of the church (the nave) which has aisles on both sides. There's also the chancel, a small room called a vestry on the north side, and a porch on the south side. The tower has three main levels, with decorative stone bands separating them. The very top of the tower has a battlement design, like a castle wall.

Inside the Church

The ceiling in the nave is not very steep and has strong wooden beams. These beams are supported by short carved posts that have figures of angels at their base. One of the most impressive features inside is the rood screen, which dates from around 1500. It is beautifully carved and is considered one of the best rood screens in all of Cheshire.

In the chancel, you can see a carved double sedilia (seats for the clergy) and a piscina (a basin for washing sacred vessels). The piscina is very old, from the 13th century. The south window of the chancel has stained glass from the 14th century, showing the coats of arms of important local families. There are also small pieces of old glass in the windows of the south aisle.

Ancient Wall Paintings and Special Features

Above the arches in the nave, you can still see faded wall paintings. One painting clearly shows the figure of St Christopher, and on the north wall, there's a picture of St George slaying the dragon. The baptismal font (where baptisms take place) has a bowl from the Victorian era, but its base is actually an upside-down font from the Tudor period!

At the back of the church, there's a gallery where the bell ringers stand. The church has a ring of six bells. Four of these bells were made in 1772 by Thomas Rudhall, and the other two were remade in 1891 by John Taylor and Company. The church also has a memorial window dedicated to George Mallory, a famous climber who disappeared while climbing Mount Everest in 1924. This window was created by A. K. Nicholson. The church's official records, called parish registers, go all the way back to 1578.

Churchyard Features

In the churchyard, there is an old cross base. It's a large square sandstone block with a hole where a cross might have once stood. A sundial plate, which used to tell the time using the sun, is attached to its top, though its pointer (gnomon) is broken. This cross base is also a protected historical monument.

The churchyard is also the resting place for 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 were once used to punish people. The Church Inn, a pub across from the church, is also a listed building.

Images for kids

St Wilfrid's Church, Mobberley, from the north

St Wilfrid's Church, Mobberley facts for kids

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