St Oswald's Church, Backford

St Oswald’s Church stands in the village of Backford, northwest of Chester, beside the A41 road and next to Backford Hall. The building is mainly 14th-century with later additions, and it is listed at Grade II* on the National Heritage List for England. A sandstone structure with a slate roof, it has a Perpendicular-style tower topped by battlements and gargoyles. The plan includes a three-bay nave, a chancel, a north vestry and a south porch. The east window in the chancel dates from about 1375, while the nave’s classical exterior was replaced in the 19th century with Gothic revival details. The church is worth visiting for its rare surviving aumbry and its chained Bible of 1617. Six wooden memorial boards painted by the Randle Holme family hang inside, some made without College of Arms permission and later spared by Sir William Dugdale’s visits. The parish registers begin in 1562, and the ring of six bells includes three cast in 1714 by Richard Sanders. A monument to Samuel Griffiths of 1796 and a memorial to Baskervyle Glegg of 1843 add to the interior interest. Inside, visitors find the chained Bible and an oak chest made from wood of Chester Cathedral. Over the chancel arch is a painting of the Creation, and older wall paintings include work by Edward Frampton. The two-manual organ was enlarged by Harry Moulding around 1970. Outside, a sandstone sundial and listed churchyard walls stand beside a Georgian doorway that leads to Backford Hall grounds.