St Lawrence's Church, Over Peover

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St Lawrence's Church, Over Peover
St Lawrence's Church, Over Peover (Cheshire)
St Lawrence's Church, Over Peover
Shown within Cheshire
Basic information
Location Over Peover, Cheshire, England
Geographic coordinates 53°15′33″N 2°20′28″W / 53.2591, -2.3411Coordinates: 53°15′33″N 2°20′28″W / 53.2591, -2.3411
Religious affiliation Anglican
District Diocese of Chester
Ecclesiastical status Parish church
Architectural description
Architect(s) J. Garlive
William Turner
Architectural type Church
Architectural style Neoclassical, Gothic
Gothic Revival
Year completed 1811
Specifications
Materials Brick tower and body
Stone chapels with leaded roofs

St Lawrence's Church, Over Peover is in an isolated position approached by a lane in the civil parish of Peover Superior. The only other buildings nearby are Peover Hall and a farm. It lies some 3 miles (5 km) south of the town of Knutsford, Cheshire, England (grid reference SJ772736). The church is a Grade I listed building.[1] It is noted for its old chapels and for the monuments to the Mainwaring family.

Contents

[edit] History

It is thought that the original church was built in the reign of Edward III.[2] The present tower was built of brick in 1739, probably by J. Garlive. The nave and chancel were rebuilt in brick in 1811 by William Turner. During the restoration the pre-existing stone chapels were preserved. The south chapel dates from 1456 and the north chapel from 1648.[1] The north chapel was built by Ellen, widow of Philip Mainwaring.[2]

[edit] Structure

The plan consists of a west tower, a four-bay undivided nave and chancel, south and north chapels, a south porch and a north vestry. The tower is in three stages.[1] It has round windows and arched bell-windows with pilasters.[3] The south chapel has two bays with three buttresses surmounted by gargoyles and a battlemented parapet. The north chapel is one of the earliest regular classical buildings in the region.[1]

[edit] Fittings and furniture

The south chapel is approached through a porch and contains a canopied tomb with the effigies of Randle Mainwaring in a complete suit of plate armour, his feet resting on a lion and his head on the family crest, and his wife Margery in a long robe and an ornate head-dress. The Franciscan altar cross, brass candlesticks and hanging lamps are from Florence. The north chapel contains the marble effigies of Philip Mainwaring in plate armour, his feet resting on a lion and his head on the family crest, and Ellen with a bear at her feet. In this chapel are monuments to other members of the Mainwaring family.[2] The ceiling contains a carved coat of arms in its centre. The north chapel screen is by F. W. Crossley.[3] In both chapels are fragments of medieval stained glass.[4]

In the chancel are effigies of further members of the Mainwaring which date from the 15th century. These possibly represent John, son of Randle, and his second wife Joan. In the main body of the church is the 15th century font which is set on a base dating from a later period. An altar dating from the 17th century has been moved to the south chapel. The pulpit is Jacobean. On the north wall of the church is a painting of The Boy Daniel by John Rogers Herbert (1810–1890).[2]

The ring consists of three bells, the oldest being dated 1626 and 1669. The church plate consists of a silver paten, chalice and flagon dated 1772. The churchwardens' accounts commence in 1674.[2]

During the Second World War General George Patton and his staff worshipped in the church while they were stationed in Peover Hall. In commemoration of this an American flag was placed in the church with an explanatory bronze plaque.[2]

[edit] External features

In the churchyard is an old cross base bearing a more modern cross. The cross base dates from the 15th century and consists of three steps rising to square plinth carrying an octagonal shaft base. The cross is dated 1907 and consists of an octagonal shaft toped by a gabled canopy over a cross and two figures of saints. It is listed Grade II.[5] Also in the churchyard is a sundial which was constructed in the 19th century using part of the shaft of the original 15th century cross. The shaft stands on two square steps. It is also listed Grade II.[6]

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ a b c d Images of England: Church of St Lawrence, Peover Superior. English Heritage. Retrieved on 2007-08-05.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Richards, Raymond (1947). Old Cheshire Churches. London: Batsford, 267-273. 
  3. ^ a b Pevsner, Nikolaus; Edward Hubbard [1971] (2003). The Buildings of England: Cheshire. New Haven: Yale University Press, 298. ISBN 0 300 09588 0. 
  4. ^ Over Peover, St Lawrence. Corpus Vitrearum Medii Aevi.
  5. ^ Images of England: Cross base and cross in churchyard. English Heritage. Retrieved on 2007-11-25.
  6. ^ Images of England: Sundial in churchyard. English Heritage. Retrieved on 2007-11-25.

[edit] External links