Church Of St Chad

Church of St Chad

Parish church. The building dates from the early 13th century, with further work in the early and late 14th century and 15th century. A chapel was added around 1622. The church was sympathetically restored between 1917 and 1923 by Currey and Thompson following a fire in 1917. It is constructed of sandstone ashlar with some rubble sandstone to the north elevation and sandstone dressings. The south chapel and chancel have a moulded plinth. The roofs are shallow-pitched and leaded, with embattled parapets featuring ridgeback copings and a continuous string course at eaves level.

The church comprises a three-stage western tower, a clerestoried nave with a south aisle, a chancel with a chapel to the south, and a south porch.

The tower is 13th century except for the top stage, which is 15th century. Each stage is slightly smaller than the one below. A staircase tower stands against the south-west corner and tapers into the wall at the third stage. The first stage has set-back buttresses to the western corners. Each side features a central narrow lancet window with a similar window above near the top of the stage, and a similar window appears on the west side of the staircase. Above these are narrow flat-headed windows on all three sides, with a smaller similar one to the south of the staircase. Higher still are deeply recessed pointed Y-tracery bell openings to all sides, topped with projecting embattled parapets with ridgeback copings.

The north elevation has a chamfered lancet with hoodmould to the west and a low pointed chamfered doorcase with continuous hoodmould to the east. Beyond to the east are two 3-light flowing traceried pointed windows with hoodmoulds and carved head label stops. Buttresses appear between each opening and at either end. Above are four 15th century flat-headed 2-light windows with cusped mouchettes to the top, set in deeply recessed cavetto moulded surrounds. Embattled parapets with mutilated gargoyles crown this elevation.

The north elevation of the chancel has two flat-headed 2-light 15th century windows, larger than but similar to the clerestory windows, with a stepped buttress between them. Below the western window is a chamfered segment-headed 19th century doorcase. The east elevation features stepped corner buttresses and a central 3-light window with panel tracery in a deep cambered-headed surround.

Attached to the south is the chapel of around 1622, which has a central 3-light intersecting tracery pointed east window with hoodmould and embattled parapets above. The south elevation of the chapel contains two 3-light flat-headed windows with unusual panel tracery consisting of ogee-headed lights with pierced spandrels in a semicircular top. Between these windows and to the east are stepped buttresses with unusual moulded copings.

To the west, the south aisle has two 13th century 3-light Y-tracery windows with hoodmoulds and buttresses between, followed by a similar 19th century window beyond the south porch. The south porch, dating to the 15th century, has a lapped stone roof with a double-chamfered pointed doorcase featuring a soffit on moulded corbels and wide buttresses to each side. The inner door is a wide double-chamfered arch with hoodmoulds. Inside the porch, chamfered ribs on moulded corbels support the roof. Small 2-light windows similar to those in the clerestory are present, now blocked externally by the buttresses. Above, the clerestory has five flat-headed windows, of which the three to the west appear to be 15th century. Embattled parapets above contain several gargoyles.

Interior

The interior is largely of 1917–1923 date. A four-bay south arcade comprises double-chamfered arches on octagonal stone columns with moulded capitals and grey stone banding. One pier bears the date 1923 inscribed upon it. The chancel arch is pointed with soffit moulding on corbels. Adjacent to the south is the remains of a former staircase leading to the rood screen and a squint through to the chancel. Beyond this is the lower double-chamfered arch leading through to the south chapel. The tower at the west end of the nave contains a small pointed doorcase opening into the nave.

The chancel has two 15th century windows similar to those on the north chancel wall, with an opening through to the chapel on the south side. On the south side is a trefoil-headed piscina. The north wall features an inset 13th century gravestone and a wall memorial that formerly bore brasses of around 1513 to Hugh Willoughby and his wife. On the floor is a 14th century alabaster tomb slab with incised figures and Latin inscription around the edge, commemorating Hugh Willoughby, who died in 1491.

The altar, altar rails, choir stalls, screens across the chancel arch and south chapel arch, the pulpit, and the nave pews are all of around 1923 and were created by Currey and Thompson in the Arts and Crafts style. The south aisle has a late 19th century pierced wooden screen at its west end.

The south chapel, built by the Willoughbys in 1622, is lavishly decorated. It features a Flemish tiled floor, three stained glass windows by Van Linges (also Flemish), and carved coats of arms at the centre of the cambered tie beams.

Two fine monuments stand within the chapel. The first, erected in 1622, commemorates Sir John and Lady Willoughby of Risley, who built the chapel. It is constructed of painted alabaster with a deep base bearing four kneeling figures. Above is a large semi-circular headed aedicule with a coffered ceiling, double columns to either side with a pulvinated frieze over, and steeple finials to the corners. A large central achievement encased in strapwork occupies the apex. Within the niche are the recumbent figures of Sir John and his wife with a slate inscription set in a cartouche flanked by putti behind them.

The second wall memorial, dating to around 1688, commemorates Ann Grey. It comprises a slate plinth with a fluted base and central marble inscription. Above are weeping putti to either side of a large urn bearing the Grey family achievement carved on its base. The urn has fluting to the base of the neck, a swagged neck, and a gadrooned top with a flame finial.

The font comprises part of a re-used Saxon cross. Nave windows are mostly clear glass with margin lights, except for a late 19th century east window to the south aisle and the west window of the north elevation, which was created by H and B Notty in 1938.