Building record 1771/1/1 - Church of St Mary

<1> Richards R, 1947, Old Cheshire Churches, p.330-332 (Book). SCH2309.

St Mary’s Church, Tilson: there is documentary evidence for a church here in the thirteenth century, and its origins are probably earlier still. It consists of a tower, nave, chancel and small north chapel appropriated to Stretton Hall (dated 1659). Restoration of the Church was undertaken between 1877 and 1878 and, with the exception of the Stretton Chapel and the tower, constitutes a rebuilding (see Ormerod).

Built of red sandstone, the tower is the least restored part of the church’s fabric. It conforms to the usual Cheshire type of sixteenth century ecclesiastical architecture, having comer buttresses, a west doorway, a west window, belfry windows on all four sides, with the summit embattled. The tower is of three storeys with a string course bellow the belfry windows. The west doorway is well moulded, with low Tudor head. Above is a large window of three lights, with a hood resting on stone corbels carved with animal heads. There is a small niche with carved canopied head, with the ringers' window placed off centre to the north of it. In the belfry the windows have obtuse heads with cusped lights. The tower arch leading to the name is without capitals.

During the nineteenth century restoration, the Elizabethan painted carved roof to the nave was remove and parts re-used for the chancel roof. The north porch contains a carved beam bearing the arms and the initials of Peterand Ann Warburton, survival from the nave gallery which was removed in 1879. The altar rails are dated 1677 and the altar table is of a similar date. The pulpit is early Georgian of octagonal design, standing on a new stone base.

The church also contains two eighteenth century memorials (1773 and 1776) and one memorial dating from 1659. Some fragments of old stained glass were retained during the restoration. There are four bells, three of which date from 1665-1678 and one dated 1852. All are inscribed.

<2> English Heritage, 2005, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest, 55187 (Digital Archive). SCH4666.

Church, sixteenth century, on site of earlier church (Rectors since 1301), with probably earlier work in tower. 1659 Leche chapel. Major rebuild by J Douglas, 1877-79, including new chancel, vestry and nave roof. Red sandstone with steeply pitched tile roof. Nave, chancel, west tower, north doorway, chapel and vestry. Three bay nave has deeply recessed three- light mullion windows with Perpendicular hood moulds between stepped buttresses with splayed plinths. Perpendicular hood moulds to north and blocked south doorways. Sundial on south-west buttress. Embattled tower with stepped corner buttresses, low pitched early Tudor west doorway with hood mould. Blocked south doorway. Deeply recessed pointed window with reticulated tracery and bell openings. Canopied niche over west doorway. Figure stops to hood moulds, figure gargoyles.

Interior: Beam inscribed "PW (ARBURTON) 1618 AW (ARBURTON)". Reused Elizabethan coffering in chancel. J Douglas scissor truss nave roof. Slat baluster altar rail and gate, gate dated 1677. Altar table (altered) dated 1677, and eighteenth century early Georgian octagonal pulpit. Most glass is nineteenth century, some early medieval painted glass. (see 1 & 3).

<3> Pevsner N & Hubbard E, 1971, The Buildings of England: Cheshire, p.363 (Book). SCH3078.

<4> Ordnance Survey, 1870-1982, Ordnance Survey Archaeological Record Card, SJ45 SE 6 (Index). SCH2487.

Rebuilt 1877-8. The sixteenth century tower remains (see 1). [BRS 14/12/1962]. Remains in normal use [TP Waggott FI 11/11/1964].

<5> Ormerod, G., 1882, The History of the County Palatine and City of Chester, Vol.II p.698 (Book). SCH1389.

“…The church itself is a respectable and venerable fabric of red stone, now grey with age… It consists of a tower, nave, chancel, and small north chancel appropriated to Stretton Hall… In the chancel, and other parts of the church and church yard… [are] memorials of the Leches of Carden and of Stretton… The windows contain numerous fragments of stained glass. Dr. Cowper mentions a kneeling figure of Henry Waterford [instituted before 1441], in the north window, habited in his clerical dress… In 1625 the church contained… [8] coats in painted glass, which are described in a volume of church notes. On the timber of the gallery, [the arms of ] Dutton… quartering Warburton and Warburton antient, with the initials P. W. and A. W. 1618, referring to judge Warburton of Grafton…”