St Mary's Church, Sandbach

St Mary’s Church stands in the market town of Sandbach in Cheshire. It is an active Anglican parish church and a Grade II* listed building. The first record of a church here appears in the Domesday Book of about 1086. The present building largely dates from 1847–49 when Sir George Gilbert Scott carried out a major rebuilding. The tower was rebuilt as a copy of the earlier one and the east end was extended by about twelve metres. The stone came from Mow Cop quarries and was donated by Sir Philip Grey Egerton. The church is notable for its Perpendicular style and medieval masonry in the arcades. Inside, the 1859 Caen stone font carries a Greek palindrome that reads ‘Wash my sin not my countenance only’. The 1669 octagonal font was returned in 1938. Among the memorials is a 1876 marble relief to Rev. John Armistead, designed by George Frederic Watts. The roofs date from 1661 and include a large coat of arms in the north aisle. Stained glass by William Wailes and Kempe adds colour to the chapels. The tower stands on three open arches that allow a public footpath to pass through. Outside, the churchyard walls and gateways are also listed. Fourteen war graves lie within the churchyard, eleven from the First World War and three from the Second. The ring of eight bells includes early 18th-century work by Abraham Rudhall and later bells by John Warner and Sons.