St John's Church, High Legh
Encyclopedia
St John's Church, High Legh, is in the village of High Legh
, Cheshire
, England. It is an active Anglican
parish church
in the deanery of Knutsford, the archdeaconry of Macclesfield, and the diocese of Chester
. Its benefice
was united with that of St Paul, Over Tabley until 1 March 2011. Each parish now has its own benefice
. The church has been designated by English Heritage
as a Grade II listed building.
front, to a design by Thomas Harrison
. The chapel burnt down in 1891. The remaining stone walls were used as a base for a new church designed by Edmund Kirby
in 1893. The roof was re-tiled in 1982. In 2008 a new stained glass window was installed depicting Christ and Fishermen, designed by Roy Coomber and made by Pendle Stained Glass.
stone and brick, with a tiled roof. On the exterior of the church is apparent timber framing
with rendered
infill. The whole of the interior of the church is brick-faced. The church's plan consists of a narthex
at the west end, a three-bay
nave
with a south porch and a vestry
projecting to the south, and a chancel
. The west end consists of the narthex at ground level, and a two-stage tower above it. The projecting west front of the narthex has a central window with four casements
and a two-light window on each side. Above the window is a timber-framed gable
. The lower stage of the tower contains a bay window
with four mullion
ed and transomed
lights on the front and similar two-light windows on the sides. Above the bay window is another timber-framed gable. The top stage consists of a brick belfry
with louvred
bell openings. At the top of the tower is a double-pitched roof with a lead spire. The south front of the church is clad with close studding
, and it contains four-light windows with Perpendicular-style tracery
. The vestry has a half-hipped
roof and a six-light casement window. In the chancel is an east window.
An extension, in keeping with the design and appearance of the original building, was added to the south side of the vestry in 1993. This was enlarged in 2010 and now includes a Parish Room, kitchen, toilet and storage facilities.
High Legh
High Legh is a village and civil parish in the unitary authority of Cheshire East and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. It lies six miles north west of Knutsford, seven miles east of Warrington and seventeen miles south west of Manchester City Centre....
, Cheshire
Cheshire
Cheshire is a ceremonial county in North West England. Cheshire's county town is the city of Chester, although its largest town is Warrington. Other major towns include Widnes, Congleton, Crewe, Ellesmere Port, Runcorn, Macclesfield, Winsford, Northwich, and Wilmslow...
, England. It is an active Anglican
Anglicanism
Anglicanism is a tradition within Christianity comprising churches with historical connections to the Church of England or similar beliefs, worship and church structures. The word Anglican originates in ecclesia anglicana, a medieval Latin phrase dating to at least 1246 that means the English...
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 deanery of Knutsford, the archdeaconry of Macclesfield, and 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...
. Its benefice
Benefice
A benefice is a reward received in exchange for services rendered and as a retainer for future services. The term is now almost obsolete.-Church of England:...
was united with that of St Paul, Over Tabley until 1 March 2011. Each parish now has its own benefice
Benefice
A benefice is a reward received in exchange for services rendered and as a retainer for future services. The term is now almost obsolete.-Church of England:...
. The church 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.
History
St John's originated as a chapel for High Legh East Hall. It was built in about 1814, with an IonicIonic order
The Ionic order forms one of the three orders or organizational systems of classical architecture, the other two canonic orders being the Doric and the Corinthian...
front, to a design by Thomas Harrison
Thomas Harrison (architect)
Thomas Harrison was an English architect and engineer. He built a number of bridges, including Grosvenor Bridge in Chester. He also rebuilt parts of Chester and Lancaster castles...
. The chapel burnt down in 1891. The remaining stone walls were used as a base for a new church designed by Edmund Kirby
Edmund Kirby
Edmund Kirby was an English architect. He was born in Liverpool, educated at Sedgeley Park School and Oscott College. He was articled to E. W. Pugin, then worked for Hardman & Co., and for John Douglas in Chester. By 1863 he was practising in Birkenhead and by 1866 his office was in Derby...
in 1893. The roof was re-tiled in 1982. In 2008 a new stained glass window was installed depicting Christ and Fishermen, designed by Roy Coomber and made by Pendle Stained Glass.
Architecture
The church is constructed in ashlarAshlar
Ashlar is prepared stone work of any type of stone. Masonry using such stones laid in parallel courses is known as ashlar masonry, whereas masonry using irregularly shaped stones is known as rubble masonry. Ashlar blocks are rectangular cuboid blocks that are masonry sculpted to have square edges...
stone and brick, with a tiled roof. On the exterior of the church is apparent timber framing
Timber framing
Timber framing , or half-timbering, also called in North America "post-and-beam" construction, is the method of creating structures using heavy squared off and carefully fitted and joined timbers with joints secured by large wooden pegs . It is commonplace in large barns...
with rendered
Stucco
Stucco or render is a material made of an aggregate, a binder, and water. Stucco is applied wet and hardens to a very dense solid. It is used as decorative coating for walls and ceilings and as a sculptural and artistic material in architecture...
infill. The whole of the interior of the church is brick-faced. The church's plan consists of a narthex
Narthex
The narthex of a church is the entrance or lobby area, located at the end of the nave, at the far end from the church's main altar. Traditionally the narthex was a part of the church building, but was not considered part of the church proper...
at the west end, a three-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 a south porch and a 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....
projecting to the south, 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...
. The west end consists of the narthex at ground level, and a two-stage tower above it. The projecting west front of the narthex has a central window with four casements
Casement window
A casement window is a window that is attached to its frame by one or more hinges. Casement windows are hinged at the side. A casement window (or casement) is a window that is attached to its frame by one or more hinges. Casement windows are hinged at the side. A casement window (or casement) is a...
and a two-light window on each side. Above the window is a timber-framed gable
Gable
A gable is the generally triangular portion of a wall between the edges of a sloping roof. The shape of the gable and how it is detailed depends on the structural system being used and aesthetic concerns. Thus the type of roof enclosing the volume dictates the shape of the gable...
. The lower stage of the tower contains a bay window
Bay window
A bay window is a window space projecting outward from the main walls of a building and forming a bay in a room, either square or polygonal in plan. The angles most commonly used on the inside corners of the bay are 90, 135 and 150 degrees. Bay windows are often associated with Victorian architecture...
with four mullion
Mullion
A mullion is a vertical structural element which divides adjacent window units. The primary purpose of the mullion is as a structural support to an arch or lintel above the window opening. Its secondary purpose may be as a rigid support to the glazing of the window...
ed and transomed
Transom (architectural)
In architecture, a transom is the term given to a transverse beam or bar in a frame, or to the crosspiece separating a door or the like from a window or fanlight above it. Transom is also the customary U.S. word used for a transom light, the window over this crosspiece...
lights on the front and similar two-light windows on the sides. Above the bay window is another timber-framed gable. The top stage consists of a brick belfry
Bell tower
A bell tower is a tower which contains one or more bells, or which is designed to hold bells, even if it has none. In the European tradition, such a tower most commonly serves as part of a church and contains church bells. When attached to a city hall or other civic building, especially in...
with louvred
Louver
A louver or louvre , from the French l'ouvert; "the open one") is a window, blind or shutter with horizontal slats that are angled to admit light and air, but to keep out rain, direct sunshine, and noise...
bell openings. At the top of the tower is a double-pitched roof with a lead spire. The south front of the church is clad with close studding
Close studding
Close studding is a form of timber work used in timber-framed buildings in which vertical timbers are set close together, dividing the wall into narrow panels...
, and it contains four-light windows with Perpendicular-style tracery
Tracery
In architecture, Tracery is the stonework elements that support the glass in a Gothic window. The term probably derives from the 'tracing floors' on which the complex patterns of late Gothic windows were laid out.-Plate tracery:...
. The vestry has a half-hipped
Hip roof
A hip roof, or hipped roof, is a type of roof where all sides slope downwards to the walls, usually with a fairly gentle slope. Thus it is a house with no gables or other vertical sides to the roof. A square hip roof is shaped like a pyramid. Hip roofs on the houses could have two triangular side...
roof and a six-light casement window. In the chancel is an east window.
An extension, in keeping with the design and appearance of the original building, was added to the south side of the vestry in 1993. This was enlarged in 2010 and now includes a Parish Room, kitchen, toilet and storage facilities.