Old Church Of Saint Werburg

SJ 68 NE WARBURTON WIGSEY LANE (north-west side)

5/194 Old Church of 5.3.59 Saint Werburg

G.V. I

Church, now redundant. Ancient structure mostly re- constructed in the second quarter of C17; north aisle late C16; west front and south aisle dated 1645, north transept late C16, chancel and vestry early C17, sanctuary and tower (at east end) 1711 on keystone. Ashlar sandstone, English garden wall bond brick except for chancel which is Flemish bond, timber internal frame, timber-framed north aisle and graduated Kerridge stone slate roof. Nave with aisles under same roof, and west door. South aisle has datestone over blocked door leading to former gallery; one 5-light and one 2- light double-chamfered mullion window with semi-circular heads and one 2-light chamfered window of a later date. Brick chancel aisle is roofed axially, built off a stone plinth and has a 3-light flat-faced mullion window. The square tower has 2 semi-circular brick arches at belfry level, stone eaves cornice and 6 sugar loaf pinnacles. Its east face has a semi-circular headed doorway with dated keystone and oval light above. West end has 4 buttresses little higher than the projecting stone plinth. The central studded and cross-battened door has a chamfered semi- circular head and 3-light window above (as above). North aisle of 2 bays, close studded with middle rail with plaster infill on a stone plinth each with a 3 or 4-light timber mullioned leaded light and a blocked doorway (formerly to gallery) in bay 3 with semi-circular head and carved responds. Chancel projects slightly with coped gable and kneelers and a 3-light east window. Interior: 2-bay nave in which massive arcade posts support a tie-beam truss and an arcade plate both with diagonal braces. Where the chancel meets the nave a group of 3 posts on the north and 4 on the south give evidence of various periods of construction/repair. 3-bay chancel has braced tie-beam truss with diagonal struts and 2 arch-braced collar trusses. Bell dated 1575. Octagonal font. inscribed "William Drinkwater the Keeper 1603". Jacobean pulpit, altar 1645 and C17 turned-baluster altar rail which was adapted to accommodate the choir seats in 1857. Box pews 1813. Stained glass east window by Wailes, and Minton sanctuary floor tiles both 1857. Sarcophagus maybe C12. Reverend G. E. Warburton, Warburton Old Church. Raymond Richards, Old Cheshire Churches, 1973.

Listing NGR: SJ6969589575