St Michael's Church, Macclesfield

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Basic information
St Michael's Church, Macclesfield
St Michael's Church, Macclesfield
Shown within Cheshire
Location	Macclesfield, Cheshire, England
Geographic coordinates	53°15′37″N 2°07′25″W / 53.2604, -2.1237Coordinates: 53°15′37″N 2°07′25″W / 53.2604, -2.1237
Religious affiliation	Anglican
District	Diocese of Chester
Year consecrated	1278^[1]
Ecclesiastical status	Parish church
Leadership	Rev Graham Turner Team Rector
Website	St Michael's, Macclesfield
Architectural description
Architect(s)	Arthur Blomfield
Architectural type	Church
Architectural style	Gothic Gothic Revival
Year completed	1901
Specifications
Materials	Red sandstone stone-flagged roof

St Michael's Church, Macclesfield overlooks Market Place in the town of Macclesfield, Cheshire, England (grid reference SJ917737). It is a Grade II* listed building.^[2]

A church has been on the site since the 13th century. There have been two major reconstructions, the last being in 1898–1901. Two ancient chapels remain dating from the 15th and 16th centuries. Inside the church are a number of tombs and memorials, mainly to the memory of the Savage and Legh families.

1 History
2 Structure
3 Fittings and furniture
4 Chapels and monuments
5 External features
6 Notes
7 External links

[edit] History

The first church on this site was a chapel built around 1220, soon after the borough of Macclesfield was established. Around 1278 it was extended or rebuilt by Queen Eleanor, wife of Edward I and dedicated to All Saints or All Hallows. A chapel, known as the Legh chapel was built around 1442 for Sir Piers Legh who fought and died at the Battle of Agincourt. Between 1505 and 1507 the Savage Chapel, a larger chantry chapel, was built by Thomas Savage, Archbishop of York from 1501 to 1507.^[3]

There have since been a number of reconstructions of the church. In 1739–40 it was rebuilt in classical style and at this time it is likely that the church was rededicated to St Michael. In 1740 the wooden tower was taken down because it was considered dangerous. In 1819 the east end was rebuilt and a new chancel added. The last major rebuilding was in 1898–1901 by Arthur Blomfield when the whole church, other than part of the chancel and the Legh and Savage chapels, were replaced.^[4] Alterations were carried out in 2003–2004 to provide new meeting rooms and a kitchen.^[5]

[edit] Structure

The plan of the church consists of a six-bay nave with north and south aisles and a chancel with vestries to the north and south. The tower is at the west end of the south aisle. The Legh Chapel extends from the south aisle and the larger Savage Chapel is to the east of this. At the west end of the Savage Chapel is a porch surmounted by a tower.^[6] The main tower incorporates some of the earlier masonry and includes some of the original carved stones and heraldic shields representing local noble families. On its west face is a clock and beneath this is a niche containing statues representing the Virgin and Child, St John and St James. It contains a ring of 12 bells, which is the largest in Cheshire.^[4]

[edit] Fittings and furniture

The font consists of a baluster and a fluted bowl dated 1744. The reredos, altar table and communion rail were designed by Sir Charles Nicholson. The wardens' pew is Jacobean. Two chandeliers are present, one dated 1882, the other was donated in 1744 and was remodelled in 1822. One stained glass window in the north aisle dated 1901 is by Kempe and three windows elsewhere dated between 1901 and 1904 are by Powell. In the Legh chapel is a window by Shrigley and Hunt which is dated between 1900 and 1905 and in the church are many late windows by Morris & Co. The church plate includes two chalices and patens from 1624, two flagons dated 1724 and 1731, two dishes of 1757 and a tray given in 1812.^[1]

[edit] Chapels and monuments

The major points of interest in the church are the chapels and the monuments. The church contians more large monuments than any other church in Cheshire.^[1] The smaller Legh Chapel, built around 1422 and rebuilt in 1620, is now used as a baptistry. It contains a number of memorial brasses, including one to William Legh who died in 1630. In the Savage Chapel is the Pardon Brass in memory of Roger Legh who died in 1506. This was in three parts, one showing Roger kneeling with his six sons and one showing the mass of St Gregory; the other part, which is missing, is thought to have shown Roger's wife with their seven daughters.^[4] Its inscription shows that for five Paternosters, five Aves and one Creed, a pardon will be given for 26,000 years and 26 days.^[6]

Many of the tombs and memorials represent members of the Savage family and many of these have the forename of John. The tomb of Sir John Savage who died in 1597 and his wife, Lady Elizabeth Manners, are in the Savage Chapel. On the tomb are their recumbent effigies with Elizabeth, who was the daughter of the Earl of Rutland, at a higher level to reflect her superior rank. Above them is a canopy on which are two female figures. It was this John Savage who built the great mansion of Rocksavage near Runcorn. To the south of this tomb is a white alabaster tombstone which is thought to be in memory of George Savage, chancellor of the diocese of Chester who died in 1552. Also in the chapel is the effigy of a civilian, showing the head and shoulders and the feet, the centre being left as plain masonry. In the southeast corner of the chapel is the tomb of Sir John Savage who died in 1528 and his wife, Elizabeth, daughter of Charles Somerset, 1st Earl of Worcester.^[4]

In the apse of the chapel are a damaged piscina and aumbry, and a squint giving a view of the main altar. The altar in the chapel is the original one in stone. In the north wall of the chapel, between the chapel and the nave of the church, are two more tombs with effigies. One is Sir John Savage, the elder brother of Archbishop Savage. He had been a commander at the Battle of Bosworth Field in 1485 and was killed at a siege of Boulogne in 1492. The other is the tomb of his son, John Savage, who died in 1527 and who was Sheriff of Worcestershire for 24 years.^[4]

On the south side of the sanctuary is the tomb of Sir John Savage, who died in 1495, and his wife Katherine, daughter of Thomas Stanley, 1st Baron Stanley. This is considered to be the finest tomb in the church and contains recumbent alabaster effigies of the couple. On the south side of the sanctuary is another fine alabaster monument of a knight in armour which is known as the Downes effigy. This is thought to represent one of the Downes of Shrigley. At the east end of the south aisle is the tomb of Thomas Savage, 3rd Earl Rivers, who died in 1694. He is depicted in a robe with a wig, semi-reclining under a marble canopy which is supported by Corinthian columns.^[4]

[edit] External features

In the churchyard is a sundial dating probably from the 18th century. It consists of a baluster-pedestal on a stone base. It is listed Grade II.^[7] Also listed Grade II are the churchyard walls, railings, gates and gate piers.^[8]