Church of St Mary the Virgin, Bowdon

About

The Church of St Mary the Virgin is in the village of Bowdon near Altrincham, Greater Manchester, England. It is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade II* listed building. It is an active Anglican parish church in the diocese of Chester, the archdeaconry of Macclesfield and the deanery of Bowdon.

History: The presence of a church on the site was noted in the Domesday Book. It is likely that a new church was built in the 14th century and remodelled in the 16th century. The church was completely rebuilt between 1858 and 1860 by W. H. Brakspear, although the 16th-century roofs of the aisles were retained and incorporated into the new structure.

Exterior: The church is built in pink and contrasting red Runcorn sandstone with a slate roof. Its plan consists of a west tower, a six-bay nave with clerestory, north and south aisles, north and south transepts, and a chancel with an organ loft and vestry on the north side, and a chapel on the south. The tower is in four stages and has diagonal buttresses, ornate clock faces, four-light belfry openings, gargoyles, and its top is castellated. The aisles and clerestory are also castellated...