Church Of St Oswald

The Church of St Oswald is a church with a complex building history, primarily from the 13th to 19th centuries. The earliest parts include the bases of the north arcade from the early 13th century, walls of the Legh Chapel and Organ Chamber dating to 1330, and the west tower constructed in 1358. The walls and north arcade of the nave, excluding the Legh Chapel and Organ Chamber, were rebuilt in 1580. A south porch was added in 1720. The south arcade of the nave was rebuilt in 1836, incorporating stones likely dating from the 14th century. The chancel, sanctuary, and vestry were designed by Augustus Welby Northmore Pugin for the 13th Earl of Derby and built between 1847 and 1849. The external stonework, including tracery, underwent restoration in the 19th and 20th centuries. The church is built of sandstone with lead or metal roofs.

The church comprises a west tower with a recessed spire, an aisled nave of six bays, a south porch, a chapel in the east bay of each nave aisle, a chancel and sanctuary, and a north vestry.

The three-stage west tower with a stone spire has diagonal buttresses. It features a replaced double oak door, a three-light reticulated west window with restored figures of Saints Anthony and Oswald in niches with a carved pig beside St Anthony’s pig, a clock on the west and east faces, two-light bell openings, and a crenellated parapet. Aisle and clerestory windows of four lights with panel tracery are present; the clerestory windows are above the crowns of alternate aisle arches. Buttressed aisles have a plain parapet on the north side and a crenellated parapet on the south side. The steep-roofed chancel and sanctuary, of three bays, has a sanctus bellcote on the west gable and reticulated windows. The vestry shares the same design. The south porch has 20th-century replaced doors, square-set buttresses, and a crenellated parapet.

Inside, the south arcade rests on quatrefoil-section columns with bell caps. Each north arcade pillar has eight attached shafts and clumsily carved caps. Camber-beam panelled oak roofs dating to 1711 are present in the nave and aisles. The Legh Chapel retains a fine 16th-century panelled roof. A brass memorial is dedicated to Sir Peter Legh (died 1527), depicted in vestments and armour, alongside his wife. Monuments are also present for Richard Legh (died 1687), Benet Legh (died 1755 aged 8), and Mrs Ellen Legh (died 1831) by R J Wyatt, created in Rome, and a relief showing a husband, wife, and baby. The Gerrard Chapel holds a circa-1400 damaged font and a brass to Peter Gerard, who died in 1495. The chancel and sanctuary feature rearranged pews, furnishings, and stained glass designed by Augustus Welby Northmore Pugin, creating an impressive ensemble.

The church demonstrates a succession of medieval work, the particularly fine Legh Chapel and monuments, and a good example of Pugin's addition to an existing church, complete with furnishings.