St Chad's Church, Over

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St Chad's Church, Over
St Chad's Church, Over (Cheshire)
St Chad's Church, Over
Shown within Cheshire
Basic information
Location Winsford, Cheshire, England
Geographic coordinates 53°10′55″N 2°31′23″W / 53.1820, -2.5230Coordinates: 53°10′55″N 2°31′23″W / 53.1820, -2.5230
Religious affiliation Anglican
District Diocese of Chester
Ecclesiastical status Parish church
Architectural description
Architect(s) Ewan Christian and
W Milford Teulon
John Douglas
Architectural type Church
Architectural style Gothic, Gothic Revival
Year completed 1926
Specifications
Height (max) 74 feet (23 m)
Materials Red sandstone ashlar
Lead roof.

St Chad's Church, Over is in the town of Winsford, Cheshire, England (grid reference SJ650651). It was formerly in the separate town of Over, but with the growth of Winsford it has become part of this town. It is a Grade II* listed building.[1]

Contents

[edit] History

The church originates from the 14th century and it has been modified on a number of occasions. The original church consisted of a nave with a narrow north aisle, a wide south aisle and a chancel. The south aisle was built in 1543 by Hugh Starkie of Oulton, a gentleman usher to Henry and a benefactor to Cheshire churches.[2] In 1870 the church was restored by Ewan Christian and W Milford Teulon. The north aisle was widened in 1904 by John Douglas.[1] The south aisle and nave were lengthened in 1926 but the 14th century east window was retained.[2]

[edit] Structure

The church is built of red sandstone ashlar with a lead roof.[1] Its plan consists of a tower at the west end, a nave with aisles, a chancel, a vestry to the northeast, and a southeast porch. At the east end of each aisle is a chapel.[3] The porch has two storeys, the upper projecting over the lower one.[2] Most of the church is in Perpendicular style although the east window is Decorated.[4]

[edit] Fittings and furnishings

In the porch is a lavishly decorated stoup.[4] The octagonal font is dated 1641. In the sanctuary is Hugh Starkie's tomb.[2] In the chancel is a decorated Saxon stone.[3] This consists of a sarcophagus is a recess with a brass effigy.[4] There are fragments of medieval and 19th century glass in one of the north windows.[4] Three of the stained glass windows in the north aisle are by Kempe.[5][6] The church plate includes a silver chalice dated 1663 and a paten and two flagons dated 1747. The ring is of eight bells. The parish registers begin in 1558 and the churchwardens' accounts in 1733.[2]

[edit] External features

In the churchyard is a cross base dating from around 1543. It consists of a stepped octagonal base supporting the lower section of a cross shaft. It is listed Grade II.[7] The red sandstone churchyard walls and gate piers are also listed Grade II.[8]

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ a b c Images of England: Church of St Chad, Winsford. English Heritage. Retrieved on 2007-10-06.
  2. ^ a b c d e Richards, Raymond (1947). Old Cheshire Churches. London: Batsford, 263–267. 
  3. ^ a b Salter, Mark (1995). The Old Parish Churches of Cheshire. Malvern: Folly Publications, 61. ISBN 1871731232. 
  4. ^ a b c d Pevsner, Nikolaus; Edward Hubbard [1971] (2003). The Buildings of England: Cheshire. New Haven: Yale University Press, 389. ISBN 0 300 09588 0. 
  5. ^ Thornber, Craig (2005-06-28). A Scrapbook of Cheshire Antiquities: Over & Winsford. Retrieved on 2007-10-06.
  6. ^ Winsford, St Chad. Corpus Vitrearum Medii Aevi (CVMA). Retrieved on 2007-10-06.
  7. ^ Images of England: Cross base in churchyard of St Chad. English Heritage. Retrieved on 2007-11-30.
  8. ^ Images of England: Churchyard walls and gatepiers. English Heritage. Retrieved on 2007-11-30.