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‘Friends’  is a registered charity formed to advance the Christian religion by the restoration, preservation, repair, maintenance and beautification of the Parish Church of St James the Great Gawsworth in the County of Cheshire.Also of the momuments, fittings, fixtures, stained glass, furniture, ornaments, goods and chattels in the church and church yard belonging to te church, nd to promote wide interest in the care and preservation of the church, its history and its work

To achieve this you are warmly invited to become a Friend of Gawsworth Church

It is believed that St James is situated on the site of an earlier Norman Chapel.  The present walls of the nave were built of limestone in 1430 and the chancel and tower of pink sandstone in 1480. The roofs are also five hundred years old ~ The nave roof is of a barrel beam design, with traces of its original brilliant colouring and gilding still visible, and is unique in this Diocese.  The chancel roof is of a chamber beam construction with rare panelled sections and tie beams, which are currently in excellent condition.

The choir screen occupies the site of the original rood screen and was erected in 1893 to replace a similar medieval one which had been destroyed.  The cross and figure standing above the screen were added in 1978.  The chancel windows have fragments of ancient glass in them. Our font with its octagonal basin is original 15th century work and has a splendid carved and gilded font cover. Hanging on the walls are some sketches of the original murals of St Christopher, St George and the Judgement which were removed from the walls in the violent “restoration” of the church in 1891.

Moving to the Sanctuary, the tombs of four generations of the Fitton family stand on each side of the altar.  The oldest monument is the table tomb nearest the communion rail, on the right as you face the altar.  It commemorates Frances Fitton, a knight who was buried at Gawsworth in 1608.  The tomb is constructed in freestone and alabaster and is the earliest example of Renaissance work in Cheshire.

Outside the church the great 15th century tower is 103 feet high and has wonderful views of the Cheshire Plain.  There are many excellent window corbels, drip stones, shields of arms and gargoyles.  The Sanctus bell cot it at the East end of the church combined with the cross, and not, as usually placed, at the junction of the nave and chancel.  The church yard stone cross in front of the South porch is of the same date as the church and has carvings of animals representing the expulsion of evil spirits.

As you will appreciate as you walk round the church and church yard in its splendid setting, this is a beautiful and unique piece of our history. Much work has already been carried out on the care and maintenance of the church ~ but a considerable amount still remains to be done and each New Year brings further challenges to add to the list.

These are some of the projects ‘Friends’ have undertaken so far:

• Provision of new seat cushions for all the pews
• Installation of a wooden ramp to cover the heating pipe at the chancel steps and the provision of a hand-rail
• Repair of the candelabra in the chancel
• Supply and fitting of a vestry sink and cold water tap
• Repair of the church yard trailer
• Purchase of a new vacuum cleaner
• Purchase of Children’s hymn books
• Provision of Organ loft lighting
• Provision of Organist cassock and surplice
• Significant funding towards the Meeting Room extension and refurbishment

MEMBERSHIP

Individual membership  £5 per annum

Family membership £10 per annum

Individual Life membership £50

For more information or to become a ‘Friend’ please contact the Friends secretary:  Mrs Carole Townshend, Park Mount, Marton Lane, Gawsworth, Nr Macclesfield, Cheshire SK11 9EU [Tel 01260 224451]

Charity Number:  1099488