St James' and St Paul's Church, Marton

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St James' and St Paul's Church, Marton

St James' and St Paul's Church, Marton
St James' and St Paul's Church, Marton (Cheshire)
St James' and St Paul's Church, Marton
Shown within Cheshire
Basic information
Location Marton, Cheshire, England
Geographic coordinates 53°12′32″N 2°13′31″W / 53.2090, -2.2254Coordinates: 53°12′32″N 2°13′31″W / 53.2090, -2.2254
Religious affiliation Anglican
District Diocese of Chester
Ecclesiastical status Parish church
Architectural description
Architect(s) J. M. Derick
William Butterfield
Architectural type Church
Specifications
Materials Timber framing, rendered brick infill, slate roof

The Church of St James and St Paul, Marton is situated to the south of the village of Marton, Cheshire, England (grid reference SJ849680). It is a Grade I listed building.[1]

The church differs from the majority of churches in Cheshire in that its body is timber framed. It is one of the oldest timber framed churches in Europe.[2] Only a handful of churches of this type remain in England;[3] other surviving examples include churches at Lower Peover and Baddiley (Cheshire), Melverley (Shropshire), Besford (Worcestershire) and Hartley Wespall (Hampshire).[4]

Contents

[edit] History

The church was founded and endowed in 1343 by Sir John de Davenport and his son Vivian.[2] Further land was donated by the family in 1370.[5] The belfry was added subsequently; it dates from around 1540.[5] The roof was lowered in 1804.[6]

Restorations were carried out by J. M. Derick in 1850 and William Butterfield in 1871.[1] Derick replaced two-light windows with windows of three lights. Butterfield tidied some of the timbers in the tower.[7] At that time, the existing entrance at the west end was also added.[5] Further restoration was carried out in 1930–31, including renewal of some wall panels, rafters and belfry shingles.[5] A brick extension to the chancel was constructed in the 20th century.[1]

[edit] Structure

The timber frame features close studding with a middle rail.[1] It rests on a stone plinth, the infill is rendered brick and the roof is of slate. At the west end is a shingled square tower with a shingled broach spire ending in a weather cock. This is surrounded by lean-to roofed aisles on the north, west and south sides. The tower has a western arched door with a 20th-century door which incorporates 17th-century iron strap hinges.[1] The body of the church consists of a three-bay nave with north and south aisles, a two-bay chancel and north and south chapels at the ends of the aisles, and a south porch.[7] The timber piers are octagonal in shape.

[edit] Fittings and furniture

Two damaged stone effigies of 14th-century knights are in the belfry;[7] the heads rest on the Davenport crest, suggesting the figures might depict the church's founders, John and Vivian de Davenport.[5] The pulpit carries a coat of arms and dates from 1620. There are three surviving bells, the oldest being inscribed 'God Save the Queen and Realme 1598'.[5] Other features include an Elizabethan parish chest[2] and an ancient handmade wooden ladder accessing the bell-ringing platform.[1][8] The church plate includes a chalice made in London and dated 1597.[9] The ring consists of three bells which are dated 1598, 1663 and 1758. The parish registers begin in 1563.[6]

Inside the church are traces of some early medieval paintings on the west wall, which were discovered under plaster in 1930.[10] The triangular painting, which possibly represents the Last Judgement (a common subject of medieval church paintings), is divided into sections by the timbering. A haloed male figure with long yellow hair at the top right possibly represents Christ, and a haloed kneeling female figure opposite might represent the Virgin Mary. The bottom left panel contains figures with raised hands mainly looking towards the viewer; these possibly represent souls under judgement. Other figures carry items, perhaps instruments of the Passion.[10] Also in the church is an 18th-century oil painting by Edward Penney of Moses and Aaron holding the Ten Commandments.[5]

[edit] External features

Square Tower
Square Tower

In the churchyard is a cross dating from the 14th or 15th century which has been subsequently restored. It is listed Grade II.[11]

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Images of England: Church of St James and St Paul, Marton. English Heritage. Retrieved on 2007-07-29.
  2. ^ a b c Bilsborough, Norman (1983). The Treasures of Cheshire. Manchester: The North West Civic Trust, 151. ISBN 0901347353. 
  3. ^ Clifton-Taylor, Alec (1974). English Parish Churches as Works of Art. London: Batsford, 52. ISBN 0713427760. 
  4. ^ Harris, Richard (1993). Discovering Timber-framed Buildings, 3rd ed, Princes Risborough: Shire Publications, 89. ISBN 0-7478-0215-7. 
  5. ^ a b c d e f g Thornber, Craig (June 2005). A Scrapbook of Cheshire Antiquities: Marton. Retrieved on 2007-08-03.
  6. ^ a b Richards, Raymond (1947). Old Cheshire Churches. London: Batsford, 229–231. 
  7. ^ a b c Salter, Mark (1995). The Old Parish Churches of Cheshire. Malvern: Folly Publications, 51. ISBN 1871731232. 
  8. ^ Crossroads around Congleton. Cheshire County Council. Retrieved on 2007-08-02.
  9. ^ Pevsner, Nikolaus; Edward Hubbard [1971] (2003). The Buildings of England: Cheshire. New Haven: Yale University Press, 278–279. ISBN 0 300 09588 0. 
  10. ^ a b Marshall, Anne (2001). Marton, Cheshire (Chester) Doom (?), C.14?. Anne Marshall. Retrieved on 2007-08-02.
  11. ^ Images of England: Cross in Churchyard. English Heritage. Retrieved on 2007-11-28.