church mary church centre market town england church recorded designated grade listed building called cathedral south considered finest medieval churches england architectural writer described great architectural treasures included list outstanding english parish churches building dates 14th century number changes particularly substantial 19th century restoration sir church octagonal tower built red sandstone features church interior include vaulted ceiling choir carved stone chancel carved wooden stalls church active anglican parish church diocese chester history building site chapel ease parish church chapel came control abbey building present church started decorated style style commonly english church building time came yorkshire local sandstone probably near building work interrupted probably outbreak plague town prosperity recovered building work resumed phase construction carried master associated gloucester building perpendicular style south endowed chapel century south porch added nave roof raised windows added following dissolution monasteries removed ceilings renewed church floor raised flooding west gallery built walls painted white addition texts church briefly prison captured battles preston civil war north south galleries new west door added windows repaired general structure church deteriorated said inhabitants safely assemble 19th century sir brought direct extensive restoration alterations removed galleries box old memorials floor level lowered roofs pitched higher eroded stone replaced sandstone happy scale nature scott restoration architectural historian complained replacement decorated doorway perpendicular window corresponding structures style century local representative time opinion great injury church restoration complained way church walls subsequently pointed major work carried church direction local architect south porch restored cost equivalent architecture exterior church built red sandstone shape plan consists bay nave north south south porch storeys central tower north south bay chancel north storey treasury tower square octagonal bays northernmost bay north lady chapel bays dedicated south known chapel addition complaining aspects scott restoration comments abrupt change decorated perpendicular style doubt consequence building work caused particularly chancel windows rich decorated highly decorated buttresses seven light east window pure perpendicular aisle windows windows north decorated south window decorated perpendicular bell openings tower decorated describes tower motif church interior nave porch south wall nave shows line original roof raised contains faint remains paintings dating 19th century consist inscriptions nave pulpit designed pulpit damaged falling roof beam reduced restoration hanging wall nave number tudor boards taken ceiling south dated south aisle small painting widow second pulpit stone dating century attached northeast pier crossing designed appear like large decorated panel wooden crossing vault designed scott roof north wooden tudor design north wall northeast corner oven chimney communion contains oak chest dated bench dated east wall north south damaged sir died damaged civil war found buried chancel floor 19th century restoration sir david came mayor wales money south contains tomb dated transferred church constructed limestone includes sir mayor sheriff chester wife anne addition contains number brass memorials church west wall jubilee church commemorate silver jubilee elizabeth_ii porch stone dates contains carving green man outside porch carvings room porch houses library theological books including complete edition thought unique printed chancel ceiling chancel consists stone vault carved bosses dating 14th century eastern bosses depict life mary western ones christ passion resurrection carved wooden triple arched canopy described having complexity english medieval considered finest country complained stained nearly black lower ends victorian carvings angels foliage carvings subjects musical angels date early mid 15th century different carving subjects include dragon virgin brood ends carvings green man altar table dated north wall sanctuary opposite wall triple described 14th century dedicated contains carvings christ cross mary john national saints andrew patrick david echo stained glass features stained glass west window dates bell depicts presentation jesus temple bell window west end north wall nave depicting job east window designed dated memory local farmer depicting creation window depicts good shepherd david south wall nave window depicting saints military windows south wall fragments old glass north wall north contains window stained glass incorporates pieces medieval glass depicts tree east wall windows date south contains window dating stained glass east window bell shows episodes life christ figures porch stained glass dating original organ moved central position crossing north scott restoration instrument performed badly following attributed cold new position consequently moved south performed better sold church present organ built partly rebuilt rebuilt installed electro action additions repairs additions restoration parish registers date contain material relating history ring bells cast company present day church attracts large numbers sunday offers range services traditional contemporary week activities children young people adults rector canon clergy include director music events including concerts held church perform number venues chosen venue superb
St Mary's Church, Nantwich