St Chad's Church, Farndon

St Chad's Church is in the village of Farndon, Cheshire, England. It is an active Anglican parish church in the diocese of Chester, the archdeaconry of Chester and the deanery of Malpas. Its benefice is combined with that of St Mary, Coddington.[1] The church is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade II* listed building.[2]

St Chad's Church, Farndon
St Chad's Church, Farndon, from the northeast
St Chad's Church, Farndon
Location in Cheshire
OS grid referenceSJ 413,544
LocationFarndon, Cheshire
CountryEngland
DenominationAnglican
WebsiteSt Chad's, Farndon
History
StatusParish church
DedicationChad of Mercia
EventsDamaged during the Civil War
Architecture
Functional statusActive
Heritage designationGrade II*
Designated1 March 1967
Architect(s)Kelly and Edwards,
John Douglas
Architectural typeChurch
StyleGothic
Specifications
MaterialsRed sandstone,
grey slate roofs
Administration
ParishFarndon, St Chad
DeaneryMalpas
ArchdeaconryChester
DioceseChester
ProvinceYork
Clergy
Vicar(s)Rev Captain David Scurr
Laity
Reader(s)Raymond Moulton,
Steve Peaurt

History

A church was present on the site at the time of the survey for the Domesday Book and it is likely that Saxon churches had previously been there.[3] The base of the tower and the plan of the church date from the 14th century although around 1622 the historian Webb described it as "a fair new church". During the civil war the church was badly damaged. In 1643 it was being used as a barracks for the Parliamentarians under Sir William Brereton when it was attacked by Royalists. During the battle the church was set on fire. It continued to be used by the Parliamentarians until 1645 when it was abandoned and left derelict.[4] Apart from the tower the church was completely rebuilt in 1658 by William Barnston. Further restorations were carried out in the 19th and 20th centuries.[4] The 19th-century restoration was carried out by Kelly and Edwards, other than the southeast chapel which was by John Douglas.[5]

Architecture

Exterior

The church is built in red sandstone with grey slate roofs.[2] The lower three stages of the tower date from the 14th century and the top section dates from the 17th century.[3] The plan of the church consists of a nave with clerestory, north and south aisles, a chancel and a north porch. Protruding from the east end of the south wall are a vestry and the Barnston chapel. The tower is at the west end.[6]

Interior

The furniture includes a 17th-century holy table, and a parish chest dated 1729. Three benefaction boards are dated 1672, 1786 and 1838.[3] In the Barnston chapel is the Civil War window which depicts some of the Cheshire Royalists,[4][7] among them Richard Grosvenor, Sir William Mainwaring, William Barnston and Sir Francis Gamull of Buerton.[8] The chapel also contains wall memorials to the members of the Barnston family, including two Randle Holme memorial boards.[9] There is a ring of eight bells, all cast in 1841 by John Taylor and Company.[10] The parish registers begin in 1603 and the churchwardens' accounts in 1744.[3]

External features

A pair of table tombs in the churchyard are listed at Grade II. They are of yellow sandstone and date from the early 18th century. On one is an image of an hourglass, on the other a skull and crossbones.[11] A sundial in the churchyard is dated 1793.[3]

See also

References
  1. Farndon, St Chad, Church of England, retrieved 8 October 2009
  2. Historic England, "Church of St Chad, Farndon (1279424)", National Heritage List for England, retrieved 1 August 2012
  3. Richards, Raymond (1947), Old Cheshire Churches, London: B. T Batsford, pp. 153–156, OCLC 719918
  4. St Chad's, Farndon: History, St Chad's Church, Farndon, retrieved 1 September 2007
  5. Hartwell, Clare; Hyde, Matthew; Hubbard, Edward; Pevsner, Nikolaus (2011) [1971], Cheshire, The Buildings of England, New Haven and London: Yale University Press, pp. 358–359, ISBN 978-0-300-17043-6
  6. Salter, Mark (1995), The Old Parish Churches of Cheshire, Malvern: Folly Publications, p. 36, ISBN 1-871731-23-2
  7. Farndon, St Chad, Corpus Vitrearum Medii Aevi (CVMA) of Great Britain (Stained glass), retrieved 2 January 2011
  8. Coward, Thomas Alfred (1903). Picturesque Cheshire. London & Manchester: Sherratt and Hughes.
  9. Morant, Roland W. (1989), Cheshire Churches, Birkenhead: Countyvise, p. 131, ISBN 0-907768-18-0
  10. Farndon S Chad, Dove's Guide for Church Bell Ringers, retrieved 10 August 2008
  11. Historic England, "Pair of adjacent table tombs in Churchyard (south of St Chad's Church, east of path to church porch, Farndon (1228746)", National Heritage List for England, retrieved 1 August 2012
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