St Wilfrid's Church, Davenham facts for kids

Quick facts for kids St Wilfrid's Church, Davenham
St Wilfrid's Church, Davenham, from the east
Lua error in Module:Location_map at line 420: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value).
OS grid reference	SJ 663,713
Location	Davenham, Cheshire
Country	England
Denomination	Anglican
Website	St Wilfrid's, Davenham
History
Status	Parish church
Dedication	St Wilfrid
Architecture
Functional status	Active
Heritage designation	Grade II*
Designated	3 January 1967
Architect(s)	Edmund Sharpe Sharpe and Paley Paley and Austin
Architectural type	Church
Style	Gothic Revival
Completed	1870
Specifications
Materials	Red sandstone ashlar Slate roof
Administration
Parish	Davenham
Deanery	Middlewich
Archdeaconry	Chester
Diocese	Chester
Province	York

St Wilfrid's Church is a beautiful old church located in the village of Davenham, Cheshire, England. It is a very special building, listed as Grade II* on the National Heritage List for England. This means it's an important historical building that is protected by law. The church is an active Anglican parish church, which means it's a busy place of worship for the local community, part of the Church of England.

The Church's Long History

The story of St Wilfrid's Church goes way back! A church was first mentioned on this very spot in the Domesday Book of 1086. The Domesday Book was a huge survey ordered by William the Conqueror to record everything in England.

Later, in the 1300s, a new church was built. Parts of it, like the chancel (the area around the altar), were rebuilt in 1680 and again in 1795.

Building the Modern Church

The church you see today was mostly built between 1842 and 1844. The main part of the church was replaced. The tower and spire were also repaired by an architect named Edmund Sharpe from Lancaster.

The main hall of the church, called the nave, was made longer, taller, and wider. They also added galleries on three sides, which are like balconies inside the church.

Damage and Rebuilding

On July 16, 1850, disaster struck! Lightning hit the church tower and damaged it. A new tower was then designed by Edmund Sharpe and his partner, E. G. Paley.

The chancel and transepts (the parts that stick out on the sides, making the church look like a cross) were added in 1870. These were designed by later partners in the same architectural firm, Paley and Austin.

What the Church Looks Like

St Wilfrid's Church is built from red sandstone blocks, which are called ashlar. It has a slate roof.

Outside the Church

The church has a tall tower at the west end. The main part of the church, the nave, has five sections and a clerestory (a row of windows high up). There are also north and south aisles (passageways on the sides).

At the east end, there's a chancel with a small room called a vestry on the north side. On the south side, there's a special chapel called a chantry chapel. You can also enter through a porch on the southwest side.

The tower has an eight-sided spire that points towards the sky. This spire has three levels of small windows called lucarnes.

Inside the Church

Inside the chancel, you'll find a sedilia, which is a set of seats for the clergy (church leaders). The reredos, a decorated screen behind the altar, has a beautiful alabaster carving. It shows a scene from The Last Supper.

The church also has several monuments. These include memorials to:

• William Tomkinson (died 1770), made by Benjamin Bromfield.
• Mrs. France (died 1814), made by S. and F. Franceys of Liverpool.
• Mrs. Harper (dated 1833), made by Francesco Pozzi of Florence. This one has a carving of a mother and child.
• Frederick and Cecil France-Hayhurst (died 1915), made by Underwood.

In the south aisle, there is a special war memorial chapel. It was designed by Sir Robert Lorimer. This chapel has a reredos with carvings of virtues (good qualities). It's decorated with carved friezes and posts topped with angels.

The church has lovely stained glass windows. Some are from the early 1800s by David Evans of Shrewsbury. Others are by J. C. Bewsey and date from 1932.

The Church Bells

St Wilfrid's has a ring of six bells. Four of these bells were made by Rudhall of Gloucester in the 1700s (1757, 1761, 1761, and 1765). Another bell, from 1826, was made by Thomas Mears II at the Whitechapel Bell Foundry. The sixth bell was made by William Noone, but its exact date is unknown.

Outside the Church Grounds

The churchyard is the area around the church. It holds some interesting historical features.

Important Memorials

• There's a table tomb for William Worthington of Leftwich, a merchant who died in 1808, and his family. This tomb is also listed as Grade II, meaning it's historically important.
• The lych gate, which is a covered entrance to the churchyard, dates from the late 1800s. It was designed by E. G. Paley. It's also a Grade II listed structure.
• You'll also find a memorial to the Russell Allen family, including dates up to 1927. This was also designed by Robert Lorimer.

War Graves

The churchyard is also a place of remembrance. It contains 18 war graves of British service personnel. Thirteen of these are from World War I, and five are from World War II.

See also

• Grade II* listed buildings in Cheshire West and Chester
• Listed buildings in Davenham
• List of architectural works by Edmund Sharpe
• List of works by Sharpe and Paley
• List of ecclesiastical works by Paley and Austin