Church in Cheshire, England
St Oswald's Church is north of the village of Brereton Green, adjacent to Brereton Hall , in the civil parish of Brereton , Cheshire , England, on the banks of the River Croco . It is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade II* listed building , and is described as "an unusually complete late Perpendicular church".[ 1] It is an active Anglican parish church in the diocese of Chester , the archdeaconry of Macclesfield and the deanery of Congleton. Its benefice is combined with those of Christ Church, Eaton, and St Michael, Hulme Walfield .[ 2]
A chapel was on the site of the church in the reign of Richard I . At that time it was in the parish of Astbury and it became a parish church in the reign of Henry VIII .[ 3] The present church dates from around 1550 and it was restored in 1903.[ 1]
The church is built in Perpendicular style in red sandstone . Its plan consists of a tower at the west end, a four-bay nave with a clerestory , north and south aisles , and a two-bay chancel . The tower is embraced by the west ends of the aisles.[ 4] It is surmounted by a battlemented parapet and crocketed pinnacles . There is no chancel arch, but the chancel roof is lower than that of the nave. The nave and aisle roofs have parapets while the chancel is embattled.[ 3]
The roofs of the nave and chancel are camber beamed and panelled.[ 1] The altar rails, which date from the 17th century, are "very ornamental". The altar table and the richly carved sanctuary chair are from the middle of the 17th century, and the octagonal font dated is 1660.[ 3] The stained glass in the east and west windows is by William Wailes .[ 1] The east window has five lights. In the sanctuary is a monument to William Brereton, who died in 1618, and in the south aisle is a monument to William Smethwick, who died in 1643, and his wife Frances, who died in 1632.[ 5] The organ was rebuilt in 1974 by Reeves.[ 6] There is a ring of six bells. Three of these were cast in 1634 by Paul Hutton. Later bells were cast by Abel Rudhall in 1739, Mears and Stainbank of the Whitechapel Bell Foundry in 1905 and by John Taylor Bellfounders in 2003.[ 7] The parish registers begin in 1538.[ 3]
Sundial in churchyard
In the churchyard is a stone sundial of unusual design dating probably from the 18th century. It consists of a circular plinth on a circular stone step which carries a battered cruciform stem with an octagonal cap. The dial and gnomon are copper. It is listed Grade II.[ 8] At the churchyard gate is an 18th-century mounting block .[ 5] Also in the churchyard is the war grave of a First World War Canadian soldier .[ 9]
^ a b c d Historic England , "Church of St Oswald, Brereton (1229297)" , National Heritage List for England , retrieved 30 March 2012
^ St Oswald, Brereton , Church of England , retrieved 2 October 2009
^ a b c d Richards, Raymond (1947), Old Cheshire Churches , London: Batsford, pp. 68–70
^ Salter, Mark (1995), The Old Parish Churches of Cheshire , Malvern: Folly Publications, p. 25, ISBN 1-871731-23-2
^ a b Morant, Roland W. (1989), Cheshire Churches , Birkenhead: Countyvise, pp. 113–114, ISBN 0-907768-18-0
^ "NPOR [D08253]" , National Pipe Organ Register , British Institute of Organ Studies , retrieved 1 July 2020
^ Brereton S Oswald , Dove's Guide for Church Bell Ringers , retrieved 9 August 2008
^ Historic England, "Sundial 10 metres south of east bay of nave of Church of St Oswald, Brereton (1138827)" , National Heritage List for England , retrieved 30 March 2012
^ BRERETON-CUM-SMETHWICK (ST. OSWALD) CHURCHYARD , Commonwealth War Graves Commission , retrieved 2 February 2013
Churches in Cheshire
St Mary's Church, Acton
Alderley Edge Methodist Church
St Philip's Church, Alderley Edge
St John the Baptist's Church, Aldford
Christ Church, Alsager
St Mary Magdalene's Church, Alsager
St John the Evangelist's Church, Alvanley
St Mark's Church, Antrobus
St Cross Church, Appleton Thorn
St Elizabeth's Church, Ashley
St John the Evangelist's Church, Ashton Hayes
St Mary's Church, Astbury
St Peter's Church, Aston-by-Sutton
Audlem Baptist Church
St James' Church, Audlem
St Oswald's Church, Backford
St Michael's Church, Baddiley
Christ Church, Barnton
St Bartholomew's Church, Barrow
St Bertoline's Church, Barthomley
Holy Trinity Church, Bickerton
St Wenefrede's Church, Bickley
Bollington Methodist Church
St John the Baptist's Church, Bollington
St Oswald's Church, Bollington
Church of St Mary the Virgin, Bosley
St Paul's Church, Boughton
St Oswald's Church, Brereton
Brown Knowl Methodist Church
St Mary's Church, Bruera
St Boniface's Church, Bunbury
St Mary's and St Michael's Church, Burleydam
St Nicholas' Church, Burton
St John's Church, Burwardsley
St John the Evangelist's Church, Byley
Holy Trinity Church, Capenhurst
Holy Trinity Chapel, Capesthorne
St John the Evangelist's Church, Chelford
English Presbyterian Church of Wales, Chester
Chester Cathedral
Christ Church, Chester
Holy Trinity Church, Chester
Northgate Church, Chester
St Andrew's Church, Chester
St Francis' Church, Chester
St John the Baptist's Church, Chester
St Peter's Church, Chester
Church of St Mary-on-the-Hill, Chester
St Michael's Church, Chester
St Nicholas' Chapel, Chester
St Olave's Church, Chester
St Thomas of Canterbury Church, Chester
St Werburgh's Church, Chester
Welsh Presbyterian Church, Chester
Zion Chapel, Chester
St Nicholas' Chapel, Cholmondeley
St James' Church, Christleton
All Saints Church, Church Lawton
St Bartholomew's Church, Church Minshull
St Mary's Church, Coddington
St Mary's Church, Congleton
St Peter's Church, Congleton
St Michael's Church, Coppenhall
St John's Church, Cotebrook
St Barnabas' Church, Crewe
St Mary's Church, Crewe
St Peter's Church, Crewe
Union Street Baptist Church, Crewe
St Michael and All Angels Church, Crewe Green
Christ Church, Croft
Christ Church, Crowton
All Saints' Church, Daresbury
St Wilfrid's Church, Davenham
St Peter's Church, Delamere
St Mary's Church, Disley
St Michael's Church, Ditton
St John's Church, Doddington
St Mary's Church, Dodleston
St Luke's Church, Dunham on the Hill
Christ Church, Eaton
St Mary's Church, Eccleston
Christ Church, Ellesmere Port
St Chad's Church, Farndon
St Luke's Church, Farnworth
Forest Chapel
St Laurence's Church, Frodsham
St James' Church, Gawsworth
St Wilfrid's Church, Grappenhall
St Luke's Church, Goostrey
St Mary and All Saints' Church, Great Budworth
All Saints Church, Great Saughall
Baptist Chapel, Great Warford
St John the Baptist's Church, Guilden Sutton
St Mary's Church, Hale
St Mary's Church, Halton
St Mary's Church, Handbridge
All Saints Church, Handley
St Peter's Church, Hargrave
St John's Church, Hartford
All Saints Church, Harthill
St Matthew's Church, Haslington
St Philip's Church, Hassall Green
St Paul's Church, Helsby
St Thomas' Church, Henbury
St John's Church, High Legh
St Mary's Chapel, High Legh
St Luke's Church, Holmes Chapel
Church of St Mary of the Angels, Hooton
St Michael's Church, Hulme Walfield
Holy Trinity Church, Hurdsfield
St James' Church, Ince
St Philip's Church, Kelsall
St John the Evangelist's Church, Kingsley
Brook Street Chapel, Knutsford
St Cross Church, Knutsford
St John the Baptist's Church, Knutsford
St Peter's Church, Little Budworth
St Michael and All Angels Church, Little Leigh
St Oswald's Church, Lower Peover
St Luke's Church, Lower Whitley
Lymm Baptist Church
St Mary's Church, Lymm
King Edward Street Chapel, Macclesfield
St Alban's Church, Macclesfield
St George's Church, Macclesfield
St Michael's Church, Macclesfield
St Paul's Church, Macclesfield
St Peter's Church, Macclesfield
Macclesfield United Reformed Church
St Oswald's Church, Malpas
St Michael's Church, Marbury
St James' and St Paul's Church, Marton
St Michael and All Angels, Middlewich
St Peter's Church, Minshull Vernon
Minshull Vernon United Reformed Church
St Wilfrid's Church, Mobberley
St Stephen's Church, Moulton
St Mary's Church, Nantwich
St Mary's and St Helen's Church, Neston
St Mary's Church, Nether Alderley
St John the Evangelist's Church, Norley
St Michael's Church, North Rode
Holy Trinity Church, Northwich
St Helen Witton Church, Northwich
St Luke's Church, Oakhanger
St Peter's Church, Oughtrington
St Catherine's Church, Over Alderley
St Lawrence's Church, Over Peover
St Paul's Church, Over Tabley
St Chad's Church, Over
Over United Reformed Church
St Thomas' Church, Parkgate
St Peter's Church, Plemstall
Poole Methodist Chapel
St Christopher's Church, Pott Shrigley
St George's Church, Poynton
St Peter's Church, Prestbury
St Mary's Church, Pulford
Holy Trinity Church, Rainow
St Mary's Church, Rostherne
All Saints' Church, Runcorn
Holy Trinity Church, Runcorn
Jenkin Chapel
St Mary's Church, Sandbach
Sandbach Methodist Church
St John the Evangelist's Church, Sandbach Heath
St John the Evangelist's Church, Sandiway
All Saints Church, Scholar Green
St Edith's Church, Shocklach
St Michael's Church, Shotwick
All Saints Church, Siddington
St John the Baptist's Church, Smallwood
All Saints Chapel, Somerford
St Lawrence's Church, Stoak
St Thomas' Church, Stockton Heath
St Matthew's Church, Stretton
St Peter's Church, Swettenham
St Peter's Church, Tabley
St Helen's Church, Tarporley
St Andrew's Church, Tarvin
St Alban's Church, Tattenhall
All Saints Church, Thelwall
St Mary's Church, Thornton-le-Moors
St John's Church, Threapwood
St Mary's Church, Tilston
St Jude's Church, Tilstone Fearnall
St John the Evangelist's Church, Toft
St Chad's Chapel, Tushingham
St Chad's Church, Tushingham
Holy Ascension Church, Upton-by-Chester
St Leonard's Church, Warmingham
Holy Trinity Church, Warrington
St Alban's Church, Warrington
St Elphin's Church, Warrington
St John the Evangelist's Church, Warrington
St Mary's Church, Warrington
St Peter's Church, Waverton
Methodist Church, Weaverham
St Mary's Church, Weaverham
Wesley Methodist Church, Chester
All Saints' Church, Weston, Cheshire
St John the Evangelist's Church, Weston
Christ Church, Wheelock
St Mary's Church, Whitegate
St Ambrose Church, Widnes
St Bede's Church, Widnes
St Marie's Church, Widnes
St Mary's Church, Widnes
St Saviour's Church, Wildboarclough
Christ Church, Willaston
Dean Row Chapel, Wilmslow
St Bartholomew's Church, Wilmslow
St Michael's Church, Wincle
St John the Evangelist's Church, Winsford
St Oswald's Church, Winwick
Church of St Mary the Virgin, Wistaston
St Oswald's Church, Worleston
St Margaret's Church, Wrenbury