Church of St Mary the Virgin, Bowdon
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| Church of St Mary the Virgin, Bowdon | |
Church of St Mary the Virgin, Bowdon |
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  Shown within Greater Manchester
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| Basic information | |
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| Location | Bowdon, Altrincham, Greater Manchester, England |
| Geographic coordinates | Coordinates: |
| Religious affiliation | Anglican |
| District | Diocese of Chester |
| Ecclesiastical status | Parish church |
| Website | St Mary's, Bowdon |
| Architectural description | |
| Architect(s) | W. H. Brakspear |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Architectural style | Gothic Revival |
| Year completed | 1860 |
| Specifications | |
| Materials | Sandstone, slate roof |
The Church of St Mary the Virgin, Bowdon is in the village of Bowdon near Altrincham, Greater Manchester, England (grid reference SJ758868). It is a Grade II* listed building.[1]
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[edit] History
The presence of a church on the site was noted in the Domesday Book. It is likely that a new church was built in the 14th century and remodelled in the 16th century. The church was completely rebuilt between 1858 and 1860 by W. H. Brakspear, although the 16th century roofs of the aisles were retained and incorporated into the new structure.[2]
[edit] Structure
The church is built in pink sandstone[3] with a slate roof.[1] Its plan consists of a west tower, a six-bay nave with clerestory, north and south aisles, north and south transepts, and a chancel with an organ loft and vestry on the north side and a chapel on the south.[3] The tower is in four stages and has diagonal buttresses, ornate clock faces, four-light belfry openings, gargoyles, and its top is castellated. The aisles and clerestory are also castellated. The transepts have corner pinnacles.[1]
[edit] Fittings and furniture
The 16th century roofs of the aisles are camber beam in type and are elaborately carved with bosses and coats of arms.[4] The nave roof is hammerbeam in type.[1] In the north transept is an altar table from the early 18th century and a chest dated 1635. The sanctuary chairs are Jacobean and a 15th century octagonal font has been placed in the north aisle.[2]
In the medieval church there were many tombs and some of these have been included in the present church. The oldest are a pair of damaged reclining effigies in the north transept, one of which is of Sir William Baguley who died around 1320. Also in the north transept is the Brereton monument with recumbent effigies of William Brereton who died in 1630 and his wife Jane under a canopy. On the side of the tomb are kneeling figures of their seven children. In the chapel are two memorials by André Carpentière. One is to Henry Booth, 1st Earl of Warrington who died in 1694, his wife Mary and their family, which includes figures of Wisdom and Vanity. The other is to Langham Booth who died in 1724 and Henry Booth who died in 1727. A mural tablet to the Asshetons is by Richard Westmacott.[2]
In the north transept is a collection of loose carved stones some of which are from the Norman period.[3] In the church is stained glass by Kempe and by Clutterbuck. The pulpit dating from around 1910 is by Temple Moore.[1] The ring is of eight bells, six of which date from 1714 and two more were added in 1923. The silver communion plate includes an alms dish dated 1705–6 and chalices, patens and flagons dated 1775–6. Parish registers begin in 1628.[2]
[edit] External features
In the churchyard is a sandstone sundial post of uncertain date which consists of an octagonal shaft on a square base.[5] Also in the churchyard is a sandstone war memorial dating from around 1920 by Arthur Hennings.[6]
[edit] See also
[edit] Notes
- ^ a b c d e Images of England: Church of Mary the Virgin, Altrincham. English Heritage. Retrieved on 2007-12-15.
- ^ a b c d Richards, Raymond (1947). Old Cheshire Churches. London: Batsford.
- ^ a b c St Mary, Bowdon. Corpus of Romanesque Sculpture of Great Britain and Ireland. Retrieved on 2007-12-15.
- ^ Morant, Roland W. (1989). Cheshire Churches. Birkenhead: Countyvise, 113. ISBN 0 907768 18 0.
- ^ Images of England: Sundial post. English Heritage. Retrieved on 2007-12-15.
- ^ Images of England: War memorial. English Heritage. Retrieved on 2007-12-15.
[edit] External links
- Bowdon, St Mary. Corpus Vitrearum Medii Aevi (CVMA) of Great Britain (Stained glass). Retrieved on 2007-12-15.
