St Michael and All Angels Church, Mottram

St Michael and All Angels Church stands on Warhill overlooking the village of Mottram in Longdendale, Greater Manchester, England. The church is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade II* listed building.[1] It is an active Anglican parish church in the diocese of Chester, the archdeaconry of Macclesfield and the deanery of Mottram.[2]

St Michael and All Angels Church, Mottram
St Michael and All Angels Church, Mottram, from the south
St Michael and All Angels Church, Mottram
Location in Greater Manchester
OS grid referenceSJ 997 953
LocationMottram in Longdendale,
Greater Manchester
CountryEngland
DenominationAnglican
WebsiteThe Parish of Mottram-in-Longdendale
History
StatusChurch
DedicationSt Michael
Architecture
Functional statusActive
Heritage designationGrade II*
Designated1 November 1966
Architectural typeChurch
StylePerpendicular
Completed1855
Specifications
MaterialsStone, slate roof
Administration
ParishMottram in Longdendale
DeaneryMottram
ArchdeaconryMacclesfield
DioceseChester
ProvinceYork
Clergy
Vicar(s)Rev James Halstead
Curate(s)Rev Dr Richard L Hills
Laity
Reader(s)John Walker
Churchwarden(s)Beryl Clayton, Callum Boothroyd
Parish administratorKate Best

History

The earliest evidence of a church on the site is in 1225 when clergy attached to the church were witnesses to local documents.[3] There is a further reference to the church in a taxation document dated 1291.[4] The present church dates from the end of the 15th century. A major restoration took place in 1854–55 by E. H. Shellard, during which the nave roof was raised.[3]

Architecture

Exterior

The church is built from local stone quarried from Tinsell-Norr[4] in Perpendicular style.[1] The plan consists of a west tower, a five-bay nave with a clerestory, north and south aisles, a two-bay chancel and a south porch. At the east end of each aisle is a chapel.[5] The north chapel is known as the Hollingworth Chapel and the south chapel is the Staley Chapel.[4] The tower is in four stages with angled buttresses, a three-light west window above which is a clock face and two-light belfry openings. In one corner is a stair turret. At the top is a castellated parapet with crocketed corner finials.[1]

Interior

The oldest item in the church is the barrel-shaped Norman font. Above the chancel arch are painted panels containing the Ten Commandments, the Lord's Prayer and Creed, together with a painting of Moses and Aaron.[6] The alabaster pulpit of 1885 is by Harry Hems.[1] The brass chandelier is dated 1755.[4] The stained glass windows include one by Kempe.[3]

The Hollingworth Chapel is now used as a choir vestry and meeting room, the organ having been replaced by an electronic instrument in 1998. In the chapel is a white marble monument to Reginald Bretland who died in 1703.[4] The Staley Chapel contains two sandstone effigies which are thought to be those of Sir Ralph Staveley and his wife dating from the early 15th century. There is a ring of eight bells which were cast in 1910 by John Taylor and Company.[7] The parish registers date from 1559 for marriages and burials and from 1562 for baptisms.[4]

External features

In the churchyard is a sundial with a dial dated 1811. It consists of a stone shaft with a copper dial and a gnomon. It is listed at Grade II.[8] Also listed at Grade II are the gatepiers, railings, steps and walls of the churchyard.[9] Near the church is a medieval cross which was restored in 1760 and again in 1897, the latter restoration being to celebrate the diamond jubilee of Queen Victoria. The octagonal shaft stands on a stepped circular ashlar plinth. On its top is a cubical sundial with three copper faces.[10] It is listed at Grade II*.[11]

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See also

References
  1. Historic England, "Church of St Michael and All Angels, War Hill (1356436)", National Heritage List for England, retrieved 5 August 2012
  2. St Michael & All Angels, Mottram-in- Longdendale, Church of England, retrieved 19 May 2011
  3. History of St. Michael & All Angels, The Parish of Mottram-in-Longdendale, retrieved 19 December 2007
  4. Richards, Raymond (1947), Old Cheshire Churches, London: Batsford, pp. 242–247
  5. Salter, Mark (1995), The Old Parish Churches of Cheshire, Malvern: Folly Publications, p. 54, ISBN 1-871731-23-2
  6. Thornber, Craig (10 February 2006), A Scrapbook of Cheshire Antiquities: Mottram-in-Longdendale, retrieved 19 December 2007
  7. Mottram S Michael, Dove's Guide for Church Bell Ringers, retrieved 11 August 2008
  8. Historic England, "Sundial in graveyard to south of Church of St Michael and All Angels, War Hill (1162742)", National Heritage List for England, retrieved 5 August 2012
  9. Historic England, "Gatepiers, railings, steps and walls to graveyard of Church of St Michael and All Angels, War Hill (1068029)", National Heritage List for England, retrieved 5 August 2012
  10. Pevsner, Nikolaus; Hubbard, Edward (2003) [1971], Cheshire, The Buildings of England, New Haven and London: Yale University Press, p. 488, ISBN 0-300-09588-0
  11. Historic England, "Cross, War Hill (1068028)", National Heritage List for England, retrieved 5 August 2012
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