anglican parish church village recorded designated grade listed building architecture praised number writers possible church present site saxon era earliest fabric church norman present ground plan established 13th 14th centuries time church external appearance dates apart major rebuilding later 15th century range high windows added styles english gothic architecture represented church early english decorated perpendicular civil war group horses church 19th century interior church restored wall paintings revealed stained glass added church number special features include exceptionally wide nave village church shape tower separate body church joined passage porch storey west porch storey south porch inside church medieval fittings furniture memorials churchyard contains numerous 17th century listed structures including tomb continues active church centre village provides usual services anglican church runs number organisations catering children adults history origins church unclear survey records presence priest church discovery nearby fragments stone apparent saxon decoration coffin lower stages cross date norman conquest suggest earlier church site earliest fabric present church round arched doorway architectural historian dates middle 12th century states time church simple rectangular building mainly timber framed suggests middle 13th century east end church rebuilt stone chancel sanctuary subsequently rest body church built consisting nave north south work completed 14th century tower built end 13th century usual position west end church north west bay north aisle separated distance feet 14th century south porch priest room treasury storey added known tower built 14th 15th century major rebuilding work took place later 15th century thought began south arcade followed north arcade addition rebuilding probably complete north aisle completely early 17th century west porch probably started 14th century upper storeys added following century nave roof repaired civil war nearby hall siege sir horses church damaged medieval glass windows removed church furniture including organ significant changes time church restored 19th century later removed plaster walls built small gallery victorian era stained glass added architecture exterior body church constructed yellow sandstone tower unusual material churches architectural historian draws attention details stonework tower years carved compared sandstone prone roof metal church incorporates elements norman early english decorated perpendicular architecture overall plan west end feet wider east body church consists seven bay nave chancel structural division north south rectangular takes place entirely nave chancel west end nave piers columns arcades feet wide exceptionally wide parish church slightly wider nave extend sides chancel forming north south tower stands north west bay body church joined short passage porch east west south sides church tower stages supported buttresses lowest stage west doorway style north headed window left east perpendicular style porch middle stage light window west circular clock face north east sides windows stage contains light bell opening plain projecting west octagonal tiers windows north church divided buttresses bays second bay east contains priest door window right door small headed window bays contain light windows early english run walls aisle walls seven bays containing light perpendicular window east end windows central window end chancel perpendicular seven lights flanked aisle windows plate right having lights left lights southern church bays divided buttresses bay west porch bays contain light window heads porch storeys angle buttresses lower storey contains doorway pointed arch upper storey light window doorway window set slightly west centre east wall contains inside porch stone seats remains holy water staircase leading upper storey composed old outer wall upper storey west end church perpendicular style bays centre porch storeys west diagonal buttresses storey double doorway niche containing image saint middle storey light window storey light window summit windows north south faces stage north octagonal turret inside porch supporting carved musicians porch light window west end north aisle light window light window end south aisle interior nave chancel divided seven bay arcades piers capitals pier facing nave carved human face roofs divided panels contain carving including bosses shields inscriptions chapel west end south aisle known lady chapel north dedicated church contains medieval fittings furniture church nave chancel screen screens chancel screen dated carved representations birds roses foliage bays chancel stalls carved wooden eagle date period oldest eagle united_kingdom stalls seats shelves support standing person furniture dates 17th century style includes altar rails octagonal pulpit box screen altar lady chapel font cover font perpendicular chancel designed manchester architect royal arms charles_ii north aisle restoration removed walls revealing royal arms paintings include stained glass west windows dates glass comes victorian era includes east window window east end north aisle east window south aisle ward hughes westernmost windows south aisle connor dated later windows south wall lady chapel north aisle small anglo saxon circular cross shaft carved decoration dating late 10th 11th century memorials church include 14th century tomb figure knight wearing plate armour collar mail armour consisting linked metal rings conical helmet tomb chest statue died church contains sanctuary chairs old iron bound dates 13th century ring bells recast taylor metal previous 17th century bells bells added supplied organ trent presented church rebuilt installed parish registers begin accounts incomplete external features churchyard contains dating 17th century important monument tomb member family dates late 13th century canopy date 17th century inside church tomb contains figures male female hands prayer kind listed grade scheduled monument notable memorials churchyard north south tomb yellow sandstone date medieval period include north possibly depicts hands prayer south knight armour missing leg churchyard contains consisting octagonal steps originally base 16th century cross supporting 18th century octagonal pillar addition listed scheduled monument gateway churchyard dates 17th century consists yellow sandstone arch structures listed grade churchyard contains war graves british servicemen world war world war tree churchyard believed years old assessment church designated february english_heritage grade listed building grade listing means building acknowledged exceptional interest considered internationally important architectural historian writing considered beautiful churches county authors series exciting churches includes list outstanding english parish churches present day mary church stands elevated position overlooking village green south village active anglican parish church diocese chester church holds traditional anglican services activities younger people sundays runs groups ages children church publishes monthly parish magazine
St Mary's Church, Astbury