St Mary
Astbury, Cheshire
Described by Pevsner as ‘one of the most exciting Cheshire churches’ with plenty of bosses and also some dainty openwork pendants’.
You can see the tower from every direction as you approach the town. Behind the austere brick exterior is an outstanding Georgian interior. Its unique features include the combination of architecture, pews, fittings and paintings, with a focus on Biblical preaching with central pulpit, and the centuries old civic connection. We invite you to come and visit and enjoy the outstanding interior for yourself.
St Peter’s was built in 1742 by aldermen and leading townspeople of Congleton. It is grade 1 listed and still in use for regular worship. It has been described by the Georgian society as having one of the best preserved Georgian interiors in the north of England. In has been included in the list of 300 major parish churches in England.
As you enter the church you will see the wonderful chandelier given by the Mayor of Congleton in 1748 and the carved reredos at the east end with the Christian symbolism of the pelican feeding her young from her blood. On either side of the reredos there are large paintings of St Peter and St Paul by Edward Penny of Knutsford who was one of the founder members of the Royal Academy.
At the top of the east window is a dove representing the Holy Spirit this is the only piece of original glass left in the window. The stained glass is 20th century and many visitors find it very striking. The central pulpit is unusual and tells us that the leading citizens of Congleton wanted a church where the Gospel was preached. The many memorials round the walls indicate the church’s importance as Congleton’s civic church as do the Mayor’s pew on the south side with the Lion mace holder. Many of the memorials are of mill owners, in a town which grew with the silk, fustian and cotton industries.
There are still complete galleries round three sides of the church and the organ in the West gallery was originally by the famous firm of Renn of Manchester and enlarged in 1911 by a local firm of Steele and Keay after the Harrison style of organ. It is one of the few remaining examples of their work. It has been described as a splendidly versatile and beautifully voiced organ that is a delight to play.
The church congregation is currently undertaking a major project with a vision to restore this part of the town’s heritage whilst extending the life and use of St Peter’s for the 21st century.