England
Cheshire

Cheshire Travel Guide - Historic Churches

Bunbury, St Boniface Church   The first record of a church at Bunbury comes from around 755 AD. That early building was constructed of wood, but we know that a church existed on the site in 1086, when it was mentioned in the Domesday Book. The first stone church that we know of dates to 1135, but this was replaced by the current building in 1320. Vicarage Lane, Bunbury, Cheshire, England, CW6 9PZ Attraction Type: Church Heritage Highlight: Superb chancel and chantry, 14th century alabaster tomb Heritage Rating:   ? Location: At the junction of Wyche Road, Vicarage Lane, and Bowes Gate Road, in the centre of Bunbury Website: Bunbury, St Boniface Church Location map OS SJ566577 Nearest attractions and accommodation     Nearest: hotels - cottages - Bed and Breakfasts

Chester Cathedral    Here is a church which suffers much from the well-intentioned efforts of Victorian restorers. Chester was originally built by Saxon canons in the name of Saint Werburgh, a lady whose claim to sainthood was not harmed by having three Saxon kings as relatives. The church was raised to cathedral status by Henry VIII. In the interim the church gained magnificent woodcarving in the choirstalls (about 1380). Look closely at the carvings on the misericords and bench ends; aside from the obvious (St. Werburgh), there are details of Arthurian legend, Aesop's fables, and fabulous mythical beasts. At the shrine to St. Werburgh you can see the niches where medieval sufferers rested their heads while spending the night in a prayer for healing. 12 Abbey Square, Chester, Cheshire, England, CH1 2HU Attraction Type: Cathedral Heritage Highlight: 14th century carvings in the choir stalls Heritage Rating:   ? Website: Chester Cathedral Phone: 01244 324 756 Fax: 01244 341 110 Location map Details of Chester Cathedral OS SJ405 666 Nearest attractions and accommodation     Nearest: hotels - cottages - Bed and Breakfasts

Chester, St John the Baptist Church    One of the finest pre-Conquest churches in England, and the most impressive Norman church in Cheshire, St John the Baptist was founded in 689 AD by AEthelred, King of Mercia, as a Saxon Minster church. AEthelred probably reused the site of a much earlier Romano-Chritian shrine or church building. The Parish Church of St John the Baptist Chester, Vicar's Lane/Little St John Street Chester, Cheshire, England, CH1 1SN Attraction Type: Church Heritage Highlight: Supern 12th century Norman architecture and a history dating to the 7th century Heritage Rating:   ? Website: Chester, St John the Baptist Church Phone: 01244 403634 Fax: 01244 403634 Location map OS SJ408660 Nearest attractions and accommodation     Nearest: hotels - cottages - Bed and Breakfasts

Forest Chapel   Technically known as St Stephens this simple 17th century building is more popularly called the 'Forest Chapel'. St Stephen's was built in 1673 as a chapel of ease for Prestbury, and became the church for the combined parish of Macclesfield Forest and Wildboarclough in 1906. It is now merged with Rainow parish. Macclesfield Forest, Peak District, Cheshire, England Attraction Type: Church Heritage Rating:   ? Location: In the hamlet of Macclesfield Forest, signposted as 'Forest Chapel' from nearby minor roads. Best access is off the A537 about 5 miles east of Macclesfield. Phone: 01625 572013 OS SJ974721 Nearest attractions and accommodation     Nearest: hotels - cottages - Bed and Breakfasts

Gawsworth, St James Church   St James church in the leafy Cheshire village of Gawsworth stands on a rise above a picturesque pond, facing the medieval manor house of Gawsworth Hall. One of the most famous inhabitants of the Hall was Mary Fitton, once a lady in waiting to Elizabeth I, but more on her in a moment. Church Lane, Gawsworth, Cheshire, England, SK11 9RJ Attraction Type: Church Heritage Highlight: Fitton family memorials Heritage Rating:   ? Location: On Church Lane, beside Gawsworth Hall, just off the A536. Plenty of on road parking space. Location map OS SJ889697 Nearest attractions and accommodation     Nearest: hotels - cottages - Bed and Breakfasts

Macclesfield, Christ Church    A Georgian town church built by a wealthy industrialist. Charles Roe made his fortune in the silk trade, and he provided the money for a fine new church in the centre of the burgeoning town of Macclesfield. Bridge Street, Macclesfield, Cheshire, England, SK11 6EG Attraction Type: Church Heritage Highlight: Early example of cast iron columns in church architecture Heritage Rating:   ? Location: In Macclesfield town centre on Bridge Street. There is a car park beside the church. Website: Macclesfield, Christ Church Churches Conservation Trust Location map OS SJ914736 Nearest attractions and accommodation     Nearest: hotels - cottages - Bed and Breakfasts

Marton, St James and St Paul's Church   Architectural historian Nickolaus Pevsner called Marton church 'one of the architectural gems of Cheshire', and when you see this delightful little timber framed church it is easy to see why; it is one of the earliest and best-preserved timber-framed churches in England, indeed, in all of Europe Congleton Road, Marton, Cheshire, England, SK11 9HE Attraction Type: Church Heritage Highlight: One of the oldest timber framed churches in Europe Heritage Rating:   ? Location: At the southern edge of Marton village, on the A34. Parking area beside the church. Location map OS SJ850680 Nearest attractions and accommodation     Nearest: hotels - cottages - Bed and Breakfasts

Over Peover, St Lawrence Church   St Lawrence Church at Over Peover is an odd building, a curious mix of medieval and later Georgian architecture. It began in the 12th century as a chapel of ease for Rostherne, 7 miles distant. The Georgian nature of the church is most immediately obvious, as a curious two-faced sundial memorial dated to 1717 stands at the entrance to the footpath leading to the church. In the churchyard is a restored preaching cross thought to have been damaged by Parliamentary troops during the Civil War. Peover Park, Over Peover, Cheshire, England, WA16 9HW Attraction Type: Church Heritage Highlight: Superb Mainwaring tombs Heritage Rating:   ? Location: In the grounds of Peover Hall, beside the manor Website: Over Peover, St Lawrence Church Location map OS SJ771733 Nearest attractions and accommodation     Nearest: hotels - cottages - Bed and Breakfasts

Siddington, All Saints Church   Siddington church stands on a hill overlooking the A34 on one side and idyllic countryside on the other. It is appart from the village core, as if it wandered off to gain some privacy. The first church here dates to the 14th century, but the earliest written record we have dates to 1474, when it appears to have been a chapel of ease for Prestbury, or possibly a domestic chapel for the Fittons of Siddington Hall. Pexhill Road, Siddington, Cheshire, England, SK11 9PJ Attraction Type: Church Heritage Highlight: 14th century screen Heritage Rating:   ? Location: On Pexhill Road, just off the A34 (east side) Location map OS SJ869729 Nearest attractions and accommodation     Nearest: hotels - cottages - Bed and Breakfasts