Church of St Mary the Virgin, Bowdon
Encyclopedia
The Church of St Mary the Virgin, Bowdon is in the village of Bowdon
near Altrincham
, Greater Manchester
, England. It has been designated by English Heritage
as a Grade II* listed building. It is an active Anglican parish church
in the diocese of Chester
, the archdeaconry of Macclesfield and the deanery of Bowdon.
. 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 aisle
s were retained and incorporated into the new structure.
with a slate
roof. Its plan consists of a west tower, a six-bay
nave
with clerestory
, north and south aisles, north and south transept
s, and a chancel
with an organ loft and vestry
on the north side, and a chapel on the south. The tower is in four stages and has diagonal buttress
es, ornate clock faces, four-light belfry openings, gargoyle
s, and its top is castellated. The aisles and clerestory are also castellated. The transepts have corner pinnacle
s.
in type and are elaborately carved with bosses
and coats of arms
. The nave roof is hammerbeam
in type. 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.
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 in about 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 to Henry Booth who died in 1727. A mural tablet to the Asshetons
is by Richard Westmacott
.
In the north transept is a collection of loose carved stones some of which are from the Norman
period. In the church is stained glass by Kempe
and by Clutterbuck. The pulpit
, dating from around 1910, is by Temple Moore. The three-manual
organ was built in 1875 and minor alterations were made to it in 1960 by J. W. Walker & Sons Ltd
. The parish registers begin in 1628. The ring
is of eight bells, cast in 1964 by Taylor & Co.
post of uncertain date, which consists of an octagonal shaft on a square base. There is a sandstone war memorial dating from around 1920 by Arthur Hennings. The third structure consists of the piers
, railings and walls surrounding the churchyard.
Bowdon, Greater Manchester
Bowdon is a suburban village and electoral ward in the Altrincham area of the Metropolitan Borough of Trafford, in Greater Manchester, England.-History:...
near Altrincham
Altrincham
Altrincham is a market town within the Metropolitan Borough of Trafford, in Greater Manchester, England. It lies on flat ground south of the River Mersey about southwest of Manchester city centre, south-southwest of Sale and east of Warrington...
, Greater Manchester
Greater Manchester
Greater Manchester is a metropolitan county in North West England, with a population of 2.6 million. It encompasses one of the largest metropolitan areas in the United Kingdom and comprises ten metropolitan boroughs: Bolton, Bury, Oldham, Rochdale, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford, Wigan, and the...
, England. It has been designated by English Heritage
English Heritage
English Heritage . is an executive non-departmental public body of the British Government sponsored by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport...
as a Grade II* listed building. It is an active Anglican parish church
Parish church
A parish church , in Christianity, is the church which acts as the religious centre of a parish, the basic administrative unit of episcopal churches....
in the diocese of Chester
Diocese of Chester
The Diocese of Chester is a Church of England diocese in the Province of York based in Chester, covering the county of Cheshire in its pre-1974 boundaries...
, the archdeaconry of Macclesfield and the deanery of Bowdon.
History
The presence of a church on the site was noted in the Domesday BookDomesday Book
Domesday Book , now held at The National Archives, Kew, Richmond upon Thames in South West London, is the record of the great survey of much of England and parts of Wales completed in 1086...
. 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 aisle
Aisle
An aisle is, in general, a space for walking with rows of seats on both sides or with rows of seats on one side and a wall on the other...
s were retained and incorporated into the new structure.
Exterior
The church is built in pink sandstoneSandstone
Sandstone is a sedimentary rock composed mainly of sand-sized minerals or rock grains.Most sandstone is composed of quartz and/or feldspar because these are the most common minerals in the Earth's crust. Like sand, sandstone may be any colour, but the most common colours are tan, brown, yellow,...
with a slate
Slate
Slate is a fine-grained, foliated, homogeneous metamorphic rock derived from an original shale-type sedimentary rock composed of clay or volcanic ash through low-grade regional metamorphism. The result is a foliated rock in which the foliation may not correspond to the original sedimentary layering...
roof. Its plan consists of a west tower, a six-bay
Bay (architecture)
A bay is a unit of form in architecture. This unit is defined as the zone between the outer edges of an engaged column, pilaster, or post; or within a window frame, doorframe, or vertical 'bas relief' wall form.-Defining elements:...
nave
Nave
In Romanesque and Gothic Christian abbey, cathedral basilica and church architecture, the nave is the central approach to the high altar, the main body of the church. "Nave" was probably suggested by the keel shape of its vaulting...
with clerestory
Clerestory
Clerestory is an architectural term that historically denoted an upper level of a Roman basilica or of the nave of a Romanesque or Gothic church, the walls of which rise above the rooflines of the lower aisles and are pierced with windows. In modern usage, clerestory refers to any high windows...
, north and south aisles, north and south transept
Transept
For the periodical go to The Transept.A transept is a transverse section, of any building, which lies across the main body of the building. In Christian churches, a transept is an area set crosswise to the nave in a cruciform building in Romanesque and Gothic Christian church architecture...
s, and a chancel
Chancel
In church architecture, the chancel is the space around the altar in the sanctuary at the liturgical east end of a traditional Christian church building...
with an organ loft and vestry
Vestry
A vestry is a room in or attached to a church or synagogue in which the vestments, vessels, records, etc., are kept , and in which the clergy and choir robe or don their vestments for divine service....
on the north side, and a chapel on the south. The tower is in four stages and has diagonal buttress
Buttress
A buttress is an architectural structure built against or projecting from a wall which serves to support or reinforce the wall...
es, ornate clock faces, four-light belfry openings, gargoyle
Gargoyle
In architecture, a gargoyle is a carved stone grotesque, usually made of granite, with a spout designed to convey water from a roof and away from the side of a building thereby preventing rainwater from running down masonry walls and eroding the mortar between...
s, and its top is castellated. The aisles and clerestory are also castellated. The transepts have corner pinnacle
Pinnacle
A pinnacle is an architectural ornament originally forming the cap or crown of a buttress or small turret, but afterwards used on parapets at the corners of towers and in many other situations. The pinnacle looks like a small spire...
s.
Interior
The 16th-century roofs of the aisles are camber beamCamber beam
In building, a camber beam is a piece of timber cut archwise, or with an obtuse angle in the middle, commonly used in platforms, as church leads, and other occasions where long and strong beams are required....
in type and are elaborately carved with bosses
Boss (architecture)
In architecture, a boss is a knob or protrusion of stone or wood.Bosses can often be found in the ceilings of buildings, particularly at the intersection of a vault. In Gothic architecture, such roof bosses are often intricately carved with foliage, heraldic devices or other decorations...
and coats of arms
Coat of arms
A coat of arms is a unique heraldic design on a shield or escutcheon or on a surcoat or tabard used to cover and protect armour and to identify the wearer. Thus the term is often stated as "coat-armour", because it was anciently displayed on the front of a coat of cloth...
. The nave roof is hammerbeam
Hammerbeam roof
Hammerbeam roof, in architecture, is the name given to an open timber roof, typical of English Gothic architecture, using short beams projecting from the wall.- Design :...
in type. In the north transept is an altar table from the early 18th century and a chest dated 1635. The sanctuary chairs are Jacobean
Jacobean era
The Jacobean era refers to the period in English and Scottish history that coincides with the reign of King James VI of Scotland, who also inherited the crown of England in 1603 as James I...
and a 15th-century octagonal font
Baptismal font
A baptismal font is an article of church furniture or a fixture used for the baptism of children and adults.-Aspersion and affusion fonts:...
has been placed in the north aisle.
In the medieval
Middle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
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
Effigy
An effigy is a representation of a person, especially in the form of sculpture or some other three-dimensional form.The term is usually associated with full-length figures of a deceased person depicted in stone or wood on church monuments. These most often lie supine with hands together in prayer,...
in the north transept, one of which is of Sir William Baguley who died in about 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
Canopy (building)
A canopy is an overhead roof or else a structure over which a fabric or metal covering is attached, able to provide shade or shelter. A canopy can also be a tent, generally without a floor....
. 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
Henry Booth, 1st Earl of Warrington
Henry Booth, 1st Earl of Warrington was a Member of Parliament, Privy Councillor, Protestant protagonist in the Revolution of 1688, Mayor of Chester and author.-Life:...
who died in 1694, his wife Mary and their family, which includes figures of Wisdom
Wisdom
Wisdom is a deep understanding and realization of people, things, events or situations, resulting in the ability to apply perceptions, judgements and actions in keeping with this understanding. It often requires control of one's emotional reactions so that universal principles, reason and...
and Vanity
Vanity
In conventional parlance, vanity is the excessive belief in one's own abilities or attractiveness to others. Prior to the 14th century it did not have such narcissistic undertones, and merely meant futility. The related term vainglory is now often seen as an archaic synonym for vanity, but...
. The other is to Langham Booth who died in 1724, and to Henry Booth who died in 1727. A mural tablet to the Asshetons
Assheton Baronets
-Assheton Baronets of Lever, Lancs :*Sir Ralph Assheton, 1st Baronet*Sir Ralph Assheton, 2nd Baronet*Sir Edmund Assheton, 3rd Baronet*Sir John Assheton, 4th Baronet...
is by Richard Westmacott
Richard Westmacott
Sir Richard Westmacott, Jr., RA was a British sculptor.-Life and career:He studied under his father, Richard Westmacott the Elder, before going to Rome in 1793 to study under Antonio Canova...
.
In the north transept is a collection of loose carved stones some of which are from the Norman
Norman architecture
About|Romanesque architecture, primarily English|other buildings in Normandy|Architecture of Normandy.File:Durham Cathedral. Nave by James Valentine c.1890.jpg|thumb|200px|The nave of Durham Cathedral demonstrates the characteristic round arched style, though use of shallow pointed arches above the...
period. In the church is stained glass by Kempe
Charles Eamer Kempe
Charles Eamer Kempe was a well-known Victorian stained glass designer. After attending Twyford School, he studied for the priesthood at Pembroke College, Oxford, but it became clear that his severe stammer would be an impediment to preaching...
and by Clutterbuck. The pulpit
Pulpit
Pulpit is a speakers' stand in a church. In many Christian churches, there are two speakers' stands at the front of the church. Typically, the one on the left is called the pulpit...
, dating from around 1910, is by Temple Moore. The three-manual
Manual (music)
A manual is a keyboard designed to be played with the hands on a pipe organ, harpsichord, clavichord, electronic organ, or synthesizer. The term "manual" is used with regard to any hand keyboard on these instruments to distinguish it from the pedalboard, which is a keyboard that the organist plays...
organ was built in 1875 and minor alterations were made to it in 1960 by J. W. Walker & Sons Ltd
J. W. Walker & Sons Ltd
J. W. Walker & Sons Ltd is a British firm of organ builders established in 1828 by Joseph William Walker in London. Walker organs were popular additions to churches during the Gothic Revival era of church building and restoration in Victorian Britain, and instruments built by Walker are found in...
. The parish registers begin in 1628. The ring
Ring of bells
"Ring of bells" is a term most often applied to a set of bells hung in the English style, typically for change ringing...
is of eight bells, cast in 1964 by Taylor & Co.
External features
In the churchyard are three structures that have been designated as Grade II listed buildings. One is a sandstone sundialSundial
A sundial is a device that measures time by the position of the Sun. In common designs such as the horizontal sundial, the sun casts a shadow from its style onto a surface marked with lines indicating the hours of the day. The style is the time-telling edge of the gnomon, often a thin rod or a...
post of uncertain date, which consists of an octagonal shaft on a square base. There is a sandstone war memorial dating from around 1920 by Arthur Hennings. The third structure consists of the piers
Pier (architecture)
In architecture, a pier is an upright support for a superstructure, such as an arch or bridge. Sections of wall between openings function as piers. The simplest cross section of the pier is square, or rectangular, although other shapes are also common, such as the richly articulated piers of Donato...
, railings and walls surrounding the churchyard.
See also
- Grade II* listed buildings in Greater Manchester
- List of churches in Greater Manchester