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An Upper Chapel was known on
the current site
in
the 14th /15th century. This was probably the last of a long line of
wooden religious buildings dating back to Roman times. There
was also a Lower Chapel or Rood Chapel by the bridge before the hill on the edge of
town in 1400.
The main west door of St. Peters leads into the porch under the Tower,
the only part of the original early 15th century
half-timber chapel with stone tower and chancel which survives.
Inside
this Grade I listed building the main interior was designed and
built in a neo-classical
style, recognisable by the columns
of the North porch entrance, started in 1740
it was completed by 1742. The architect was probably
William Baker of Audlem. Only
the lower section
of the stone tower was retained and the restoration of this in
the pseudo-gothic style was not completed until 1786 as a bell tower. Several of the bells
are said to date from around this period.
Rebuilt and enlarged by the town council to accommodate the growing
population, as well as to rival the parish church at Astbury. The interior plan has not been
altered since then. However, substantial
sections have been remodelled in the succeeding two and half
centuries.
In the early 19th century most West
Gallery
pews were removed to make room for an organ, which in turn was
rebuilt and enlarged 1909-1911. Either side of the organ, raked galleries were built over the North and
South Porches to accommodate children from the National school just
across in Chapel Street 1838-1840.
At the same time the
large west front windows were inserted, and the north and south
windows replaced with matching cast iron frames. Downstairs the late Victorians removed the centrally placed
three deck 1740s pulpit adding two steps to the raised and newly
tiled sanctuary. It is likely that at the same time they removed the
original marble-topped Communion Table. They also moved the Font
from its central position in front of the pulpit to a more
“traditional” position just inside the west door. As well as
adding pews upstairs the Victorians built pews along the sides of
the north and south aisles, these were "free" to the poor of
the town. For some years temporary seating was also placed in the Central Aisle and in the West
Porch.
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After WW I (see memorial in the West porch), pews were removed from
the east end of both north and south aisles. On the north side a
Vestry was set up for the clergy, and on the south a Lady Chapel. In
the same period the original clear glass of the east Venetian style
window was replaced with the Resurrection in coloured glass
constructed by Mr Pearce of Wilmslow. Only the semi-circular head window, a hand-painted symbol of
the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove was
retained. Near the end
of the 20th century the Victorian pulpit was taken down
and replaced by sections of what
was believed to be the original Georgian woodwork, creating a more
flexible area at the front of the Nave.
The carved heavy oak reredos can be found at the east end of the
Nave and are original features of the Georgian rebuilding. They are surmounted by a Pelican
feeding her blood to her young. They carry the Lord's
Prayer, The Apostle's creed and the Ten Commandments on the sides.
Either side of the 20th century
contextually challenging stained glass memorial window in the Palladio
style are paintings of St Paul And St Peter c1748 by local Cheshire
artist Professor Edward Penny 1714-1791 (he studied in Rome and
London and was a founder member of the Royal Academy). There is
similar work at Marton Church.
Apart from the base of the
tower, only memorials and a limited amount of furnishings were kept
from the first timber framed chapel. In the south east corner two of
these surviving items can be seen: the
William III coat of arms (dated as 1702), and the medieval strong
box. Other Georgian features to look out for are the 1748 brass
candelabrum lit on special occasions, the Font and the Mayor's square oak pew, marked by a lion
paws mace holder. The Lectern with the Four Evangelists is nearby.
The main monumental memorials date from the 18th and 19th
centuries and include a number of mayors of the town, some of its principal mill owners, justices and
benefactors of the church.
Click here for St Peter's mural plaques
Further details of the history and rebuilding of this church can be
found in booklets on sale at the rear in the North aisle: a guided
walk round the church,
"Rebuilding
the House of God" and "St. Peter's Other People" by R J Drew.
A Study of the Heraldry in the Memorials of
the Church by James Blundell.
An idea of the original Georgian interior can be gained from a
postcard copy of an 1847 print.
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