All Saints' Church, Daresbury

Last updated

All Saints' Church, Daresbury
All Saints Church, Daresbury.jpg
All Saints' Church from the south
Cheshire UK location map.svg
Red pog.svg
All Saints' Church, Daresbury
Location in Cheshire
53°20′26″N2°37′52″W / 53.3406°N 2.6312°W / 53.3406; -2.6312
OS grid reference SJ 580,828
Location Daresbury, Cheshire
CountryEngland
Denomination Church of England
Churchmanship Liberal Catholic
Website www.daresburycofe.org.uk
History
Status Parish church
Architecture
Functional statusActive
Heritage designationGrade II*
Designated8 January 1970
Architect(s) Paley and Austin
Architectural typeChurch
Style Gothic, Gothic Revival
Completed1872;152 years ago (1872)
Specifications
Materials Red sandstone, slate roof
Administration
Province York
Diocese Chester
Archdeaconry Chester
Deanery Great Budworth
Parish All Saints, Daresbury
Clergy
Curate(s) Rev Gill Younger
Laity
Reader(s) Linda Mills, Gill Younger
Director of music Claire Longstaff
Organist(s) Bob Owens
Churchwarden(s) Doug Johnson,
Brian Heakin
Parish administratorStuart Wigley
Tower Daresbury church tower.jpg
Tower

All Saints' Church is in the village of Daresbury, Cheshire, England. It is known for its association with Lewis Carroll who is commemorated in its stained glass windows depicting characters from Alice's Adventures in Wonderland . It is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade II* listed building. [1] The church is an active Church of England parish church in the diocese of Chester, the archdeaconry of Chester and the deanery of Great Budworth. [2] The author Lewis Carroll was born in All Saints' Vicarage in 1832 when his father, Charles Dodgson, was perpetual curate at the church. [3] This was commemorated in March 2012 when the Lewis Carroll Centre, attached to the church, was opened. [4]

Contents

History

In the 12th century a chapelry was founded on the site of the present church as a daughter house of Norton Priory. [5] It was a chapel of ease within the parish of Runcorn. [6] After the Reformation the patronage of the Runcorn parish passed into the hands of Christ Church, Oxford. [5] It is likely that the stone tower was built shortly after this time. Over the years there were frequent disputes between the worshippers at Daresbury and the mother church at Runcorn relating to financial matters. [7]

Other than the tower, the church was largely rebuilt between 1870 and 1872 by the Lancaster architects Paley and Austin. They lengthened the church, extended the clerestory to the east, and added a new north porch and vestry, for £6,000 (equivalent to £680,000 in 2023). [8] [9] During the restoration an old rood loft and screen were destroyed. Richards identified this as of "pure Welsh type" and its loss as "nothing short of a major calamity". [10] Daresbury became a parish separate from Runcorn in February 1880. [11] Families who have been associated with the church over the centuries are those of Greenall, Rylands, Chadwick, Heron, Milner, Houghton, and Okell. The tower was restored in 1872 by Sir Gilbert Greenall. [5]

Architecture

Exterior

The church is built in red sandstone with a slate roof. [1] The architectural style of the body of the church is Perpendicular. [lower-alpha 1] The plan of the church consists of a five-bay nave with north and south aisles, a tower at the west at the end of the nave, and entrances opposite each other in the north and south aisles. [1] The tower has corner buttresses and is crenellated. On its top is a weather vane in the shape of a fish. The west window is plain with four lights and the belfry windows are also plain with two lights. The date 1110 is carved on the south side. It is thought that this date was originally 1550 but that the number had weathered and it was mistaken by restorers. [10] At the east end of the south aisle is the Daniell Chapel. The chapel had formerly been called the Chadwick Chapel but its name was changed to the Daniell chapel to commemorate one of Cheshire's ancient families who had connections with Daresbury. [5]

Interior

Inside the church, the arcades are carried on plain octagonal columns. [1] The pulpit is Jacobean with carvings of heads of angels which Richards considers to be possibly the most elaborate of their kind in the county. [10] It also includes a carving similar to the griffin in Alice's Adventures. [5] The font dates from the 19th century and was the gift of Miss Elizabeth Wood. Its elaborate wooden cover was given by Lady Greenall. There is a green man carved in the re-used Jacobean rood screen behind the altar. [5] The oak bench ends are carved with "inventive tracery-work". [13] In the belfry is a board with an acrostic on the name "Daresbury". [14]

Interior Daresbury Church - Interior.jpg
Interior
The green man Daresbury Church - Green Man.jpg
The green man
The Nativity window commemorating Lewis Carroll Window commemorating Lewis Carroll, All Saints, Daresbury - geograph.org.uk - 284591.jpg
The Nativity window commemorating Lewis Carroll

The stained glass in the windows of the south aisle depicts the eleven apostles without Judas Iscariot. They were donated in the middle of the 19th century by the Stubbs family, industrialists in Warrington. [5] The east window of the Daniell chapel includes characters from Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. The window was erected in 1935, following a memorial fund to celebrate the centenary of Carroll's birth. It was designed by Geoffrey Webb and dedicated on 30 June 1935 by Herbert Gresford Jones, Bishop of Warrington. The upper panels depict a nativity scene surmounted by eight angels, and the leftmost panel shows Lewis Carroll himself accompanied by Alice Liddell. The windows incorporate symbolic panels relating to Carroll's life, including the Cheshire wheatsheaf, the arms of Rugby School and Christ Church, Oxford, and mathematical instruments. Across the base of the window are five panels which include characters from the Alice books together with words from Carroll's poem Christmas Greetings. The characters are based on the illustrations by John Tenniel. On the south wall are windows designed by Trena Cox depicting The Flight into Egypt and The Annunciation which were donated to the church in 1960 in memory of the Broome family of Preston-on-the-Hill. [5]

On the south wall of the church is a memorial by John Gibson which was preserved from the old church. It commemorates Sarah, wife of Henry Byrom of Liverpool, who died in 1833. [15] Elsewhere in the church are memorials to Radulphus Starkie who died in the 17th century, to Rebecca Rutter, who died in 1725, and a memorial by E. Ashworth to Henry Byrom, who died in 1804. [16] In the chancel is a memorial to George Heron, a canon of Chester Cathedral who baptised Lewis Carroll. [5] Also in the chancel are two brasses to members of the Greenall family who died in 1861 and 1867. [16] In the Daniell chapel are memorials to members of the Chadwick family of Daresbury Hall. [5] The two-manual organ was built by Jardine and restored in 2002 by A. J. Carter. [17] There is a ring of eight bells, all of which were cast by John Warner and Sons in 1913. [18] The parish registers date from 1617, and the churchwardens' accounts from 1663. [10]

External features

The churchyard contains a 16th-century font in which, amongst many others, Lewis Carroll was baptised. [5] Also in the churchyard are the war graves of two soldiers and a Royal Navy schoolmaster of World War I. [19]

Lewis Carroll Centre

The centre consists of a semicircular sandstone structure with tall windows attached to the north of the church and approached through the north door. On the walls are descriptive panels giving information about Charles Dodgson, Lewis Carroll, and other members of the family. Hanging in the room is the meeting bell that formerly called canal people to worship in the floating mission church at Preston Brook on the nearby Bridgewater Canal. The centre also serves as a meeting room for schools and other groups. The church and centre are open every day, and there is no admission charge. [4]

Panels depicting characters from Alice

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Daresbury</span> Human settlement in England

Daresbury is a village and civil parish in the Borough of Halton, Cheshire, England. At the 2011 census, it had a population of 246.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Luke's Church, Farnworth</span> Church in Cheshire, England

St Luke's Church, Farnworth, Widnes, is a church in Farnworth, which was once a separate village but is now part of the town of Widnes, Cheshire, England. The church dates back to the 12th century and contains several items of historical interest, particularly hatchments and memorials. It is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade II* listed building, and is an active Anglican parish church in the diocese of Liverpool, the archdeaconry of Warrington and the deanery of Widnes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Peter's Church, Aston-by-Sutton</span> Church in Cheshire , England

St Peter's Church is in the small hamlet of Aston-by-Sutton, Cheshire near to the town of Runcorn. The church is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade I listed building. It is an active Anglican parish church in the diocese of Chester, the archdeaconry of Chester and the deanery of Great Budworth. It is one of three parish churches in the parish of Aston-by-Sutton, Little Leigh and Lower Whitley. The other two being St Michael and All Angels, Little Leigh and St Luke, Lower Whitley. The three were previously individual parishes united in a benefice along with St Mark, Antrobus. The listing describes it as "a most pleasing late 17th to early 18th-century church, inside and out". The church stands in a relatively isolated position in the south side of Aston Lane in the hamlet.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Wilfrid's Church, Grappenhall</span> Church in Cheshire, England

St Wilfrid's Church is the parish church of Grappenhall, in the Borough of Warrington in Cheshire, England. It is designated by Historic England as a Grade I listed building. It is an active Anglican church in the diocese of Chester, the archdeaconry of Chester and the deanery of Great Budworth.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Mary's Church, Nantwich</span> Church in Cheshire, England

St Mary's Church is an Anglican parish church in Nantwich, Cheshire, England. The church is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade I listed building. It has been called the "Cathedral of South Cheshire" and it is considered by some to be one of the finest medieval churches, not only in Cheshire, but in the whole of England. The architectural writer Raymond Richards described it as "one of the great architectural treasures of Cheshire", and Alec Clifton-Taylor included it in his list of "outstanding" English parish churches.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Mary and All Saints' Church, Great Budworth</span> Church in Cheshire, England

St Mary and All Saints Church is in the centre of the village of Great Budworth, Cheshire, England. It is an active Anglican parish church in the diocese of Chester, the archdeaconry of Chester and the deanery of Great Budworth. The church is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade I listed building. Clifton-Taylor includes it in his list of 'best' English parish churches. Richards describes it as "one of the finest examples of ecclesiastical architecture remaining in Cheshire". The authors of the Buildings of England series express the opinion that it is "one of the most satisfactory Perpendicular churches of Cheshire and its setting brings its qualities out to perfection".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Helen Witton Church, Northwich</span> Church in Cheshire, England

St Helen Witton Church, Northwich, is in the centre of the town of Northwich, Cheshire, England. It is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade I listed building. The church is now known as "St Helen's, Witton" or "Northwich Parish Church". It is an active Anglican parish church in the diocese of Chester, the archdeaconry of Chester and the deanery of Middlewich. Alec Clifton-Taylor includes it in his list of 'best' English parish churches.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Oswald's Church, Winwick</span> Church in Cheshire, England

St Oswald's Church, is in the village of Winwick, Cheshire, England. The church is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade I listed building. It is an active Anglican parish church in the diocese of Liverpool, the archdeaconry of Warrington and the deanery of Winwick.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Chad's Church, Over</span> Church in Cheshire, England

St Chad's Church, Over, is in the town of Winsford, Cheshire, England. It was formerly in the separate town of Over, but with the growth of Winsford it has become part of that town. The church is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade II* listed building. It is an active Anglican parish church in the diocese of Chester, the archdeaconry of Chester and the deanery of Middlewich.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St John the Evangelist's Church, Weston</span> Church in Cheshire, England

St John the Evangelist's Church is in Weston, once a separate village and now part of the town of Runcorn, Cheshire, England. The church is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade II* listed building. It is an active Anglican parish church in the diocese of Chester, the archdeaconry of Chester and the deanery of Frodsham. Its design has been described as "bold and original".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Mary's Church, Halton</span> Church in Cheshire, England

St Mary's Church is in Halton, which was formerly a separate village, but is now part of the town of Runcorn, Cheshire, England. It is an active Anglican parish church in the diocese of Chester, the archdeaconry of Chester and the deanery of Frodsham. The church is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade II listed building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">All Saints' Church, Runcorn</span> Church in Cheshire, England

All Saints' Church is the parish church of Runcorn, Cheshire, England, sited on the south bank of the River Mersey overlooking Runcorn Gap. There is a tradition that the first church on the site was founded by Ethelfleda in 915. That was replaced, probably in about 1250, by a medieval church that was altered and extended in the 14th and 15th centuries. By the 19th century the building's structure had deteriorated and become dangerous, and it was replaced by a new church, built between 1847 and 1849 to the designs of Anthony Salvin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St George's Church, Heaviley</span> Church in Greater Manchester, England

St George's Church is in Buxton Road, Heaviley, an area of Stockport, Greater Manchester, England. It is an active Anglican parish church in the deanery of Stockport, the archdeaconry of Macclesfield, and the diocese of Chester. Its benefice is united with that of St Gabriel, Adswood. The church is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade I listed building. The authors of the Buildings of England series express the opinion that it is "by far the grandest church of Stockport", and state "St George is a church on a splendid scale". According to the visitors' guide to the church, the Rt Revd Geoffrey Fisher, former archbishop of Canterbury, said that it is "the finest church built in England since the Reformation".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Wilfrid's Church, Davenham</span> Church in Cheshire, England

St Wilfrid's Church is in the village of Davenham, Cheshire, England. The church is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade II* listed building. It is an active Anglican parish church in the diocese of Chester, the archdeaconry of Chester and the deanery of Middlewich.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Cross Church, Knutsford</span> Church in Cheshire, England

St Cross Church is in the town of Knutsford, Cheshire, England. It is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade II* listed building, in the deanery of Knutsford, the archdeaconry of Macclesfield, and the diocese of Chester. It is an active Anglican parish church, with two services every Sunday, a midweek Eucharist each Wednesday, and Morning Prayer most weekdays. The Parish Electoral Roll is 140, and about sixty people attend Sunday morning services.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St John the Baptist's Church, Atherton</span> Church in Greater Manchester, England

St John the Baptist's Church is in Market Place, Atherton, Greater Manchester, England. It is an active Anglican parish church in the archdeaconry of Salford, and diocese of Manchester. Together with St George's and St Philip's Churches in Atherton and St Michael and All Angels at Howe Bridge, the church is part of the United Benefice of Atherton and Hindsford with Howe Bridge. It is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade II listed building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St James with Holy Trinity Church, Scarborough</span> Church in Scarborough, North Yorkshire, England

St James with Holy Trinity Church is in Seamer Road, Scarborough, North Yorkshire, England. It is an active Anglican parish church in the deanery of Scarborough, the archdeaconry of East Riding, and the diocese of York. The church is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade II listed building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Silas' Church, Blackburn</span> Church in Lancashire, England

St Silas' Church is in Preston New Road, Blackburn, Lancashire, England. It is an active Anglican parish church in the deanery of Blackburn with Darwen, the archdeaconry of Blackburn, and the diocese of Blackburn. The church is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade II* listed building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Mary Magdalene's Church, Alsager</span> Church in Cheshire, England

St Mary Magdalene's Church is in Crewe Road, Alsager, Cheshire, England. It is an active Anglican parish church in the deanery of Congleton, the archdeaconry of Macclesfield, and the diocese of Chester. Dedicated to Jesus' companion Mary Magdalene, it is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade II listed building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">All Saints' Church, Hertford</span> Church in Hertfordshire, England

All Saints' Church is in Queens Road, Hertford, Hertfordshire, England. It is an active Anglican parish church in the deanery of Hertford and Ware, the archdeaconry of Hertford, and the diocese of St Albans. It is the civic church of the town and of the county. The church is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade II* listed building. It is the largest church in Hertfordshire, other than St Albans Cathedral, and can seat up to 1,000 people.

References

Notes

  1. Brandwood et al note that this is a relatively early example of the use of the Perpendicular style in the Gothic Revival. They also state that it is "faithful to a church of the late 15th century". [12]

Citations

  1. 1 2 3 4 Historic England, "Church of All Saints, Daresbury (1130450)", National Heritage List for England , retrieved 11 April 2012
  2. All Saints, Daresbury, Church of England , retrieved 16 December 2010
  3. Clark 1979, p. 10–11.
  4. 1 2 About Us, Lewis Carroll Centre & All Saints Daresbury PCC, retrieved 11 April 2012
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 All Saints' Church, Daresbury, Church booklet
  6. Starkey 1990 , p. 12.
  7. Starkey 1990, pp. 46–47.
  8. UK Retail Price Index inflation figures are based on data from Clark, Gregory (2017). "The Annual RPI and Average Earnings for Britain, 1209 to Present (New Series)". MeasuringWorth . Retrieved 7 May 2024.
  9. Brandwood et al. 2012, p. 224.
  10. 1 2 3 4 Richards 1947, pp. 141–143.
  11. Starkey 1990 , p. 99.
  12. Brandwood et al. 2012, pp. 95–96.
  13. Brandwood et al. 2012, p. 96.
  14. Bilsborough 1983, p. 155.
  15. Thornber, Craig (25 May 2002), A Scrapbook of Cheshire Antiquities: Daresbury , retrieved 3 August 2007
  16. 1 2 Hartwell et al. 2011, p. 325.
  17. Cheshire, Daresbury, All Saints, Daresbury Lane (J00045), British Institute of Organ Studies , retrieved 16 December 2010
  18. Daresbury All Saints, Dove's Guide for Church Bell Ringers , retrieved 10 August 2008
  19. DARESBURY (ALL SAINTS) CHURCHYARD, Commonwealth War Graves Commission , retrieved 2 February 2013

Sources