A Brief History of the Church, followed by details of important events in the life of the church
and lists of priests who have served the church, to the present day.
A chapel was founded on this site soon after the borough was
established around 1220. This was extended or rebuilt, as All Hallows
or All Saints, around 1278 by Queen Eleanor, the wife of King Edward I.
It has been rebuilt several times, most recently in 1901. However a
number of important additions remain from earlier times, especially the
Legh and Savage chapels, and several memorials.
The Legh chapel was built around 1442 to receive the body of Sir Piers
Legh who fought at Agincourt and died later in the same campaign. The
Savage Chapel, a much larger chantry chapel, was built between 1505
and 1507 by Thomas Savage, Archbishop of York. At this time also a
Grammar School was founded, with buildings at the back of the church,
whose first schoolmaster was the priest of the chapel. This Grammar
School later became the King's School, Macclesfield (on another site)
and still has close connections with the church.
In and near these chapels and in the chancel, there are a number of
fine medieval monuments. Also there is a large monument to Thomas,
third Earl Rivers (d. 1694). This is by the famous Stuart sculptor William
Stanton and considered to be one of his best.
The first extant Parish Register began in 1572 and the old registers are
deposited at Cheshire County Record Office.
http://archives.cheshire.gov.uk/what-we-hold/what-we-hold.aspx
The church was rebuilt in Georgian style in 1740, following a long period of neglect.
A final rebuild took place from 1898 to 1901, this time in Victorian Gothic, except for the still surviving chapels. This present church
was designed by Sir Arthur Blomfield and built of local stone from Teggs Nose, except for the tower which was partly rebuilt from
the stone of the previous church.
A further reordering, known as “Open Door” Phase 1, took place between June 2003 and May 2004 to provide a welcome area
(Narthex), meeting rooms and an office at the West End. A second phase followed in which the room to the South East of the
building was equipped as a Youth Centre. As part of the “Open Door Reordering”, extensive repair work was carried out to the
church roof and to the church organ which was completely dismantled, cleaned, repaired and re-built.
For a detailed history of the church please read: “The Church in the Market Place” by Jane Laughton. This is a major historical
study of the church, set in the context of local and national history. It is Softback, with 168 pages and over 60 illustrations,
including many historic documents
A Tour of the Church Building
On entering by the West Door you will be in the Narthex, built in 2004 as Phase 1 of the “Open Door” project. This has a ground
floor welcome area. Kitchen and toilet facilities are on the left and an office on the right. Above you are rooms on First and Second
Floors. On the right there is a lift to the First Floor.
When you are ready, go through to the Nave. Here is the view
looking towards the East End.. The nave has a hammer beam
roof carved with foliage and angels. This leads the eye
towards the chancel which was rebuilt in 1883.
On the right is the South Aisle, built on the line of the nave of
the original church (approx. 1278), and in the South West
corner are parts of this nave. In the South Aisle and the
Chancel are a number of memorials, dated around 1450-
1500. This is one example.
The Legh and Savage Chapels open off the South Aisle. The Savage Chapel is a substantial
building in its own right, containing fine medieval monuments and stained glass by Morris and Co.
On the opposite side of the nave to the Savage Chapel is the old Pulpit.
This is no longer in use.
Continuing into the Chancel, the East window and the
Reredos are worth noting and there are more
medieval monuments.
The Reredos.
Also, on the left, is the Rivers Memorial.
Looking back to the West you can see the new
Narthex on three levels and looking through it you can
see the West Window.
In the North Aisle is a stone tablet erected to J C Ryle
(1816-1900), a Macclesfield man who was the first
Bishop of Liverpool and a famous evangelical writer
still in print.
There are many other features worth studying. Do
come and take a look at it for yourself.
Source: "The Story of Macclesfield Parish Church",
T C Owens, 1993
St Michael & All Angels Church
M A C C L E S F I E L D C H E S H I R E U K
The following six pages listing the priests who have served the church from
1500 to the present day are to be found in the church on a display board by
the door in the Savage Chapel.
The preceeding six pages listing the priests who have served the church from
1500 to the present day are to be found in the church on a display board by
the door in the Savage Chapel.
Important dates in the life of the Church building:
1739 - Church re-built and spire removed.
1819 - East end of church re-built.
1883 - Church restoration began.
1885 - Chancel consecrated.
1898 - Church restoration began.
1901 - Dedication of completed work.
1923 - Bells re-cast and re-hung.
2004 - Open Door Re-ordering Phase 1 completed.
2008 - Open Door Re-ordering Phase 2 completed.
1739
1819
1883
1898
1923
2004
2008
1885
1901
