St Christopher's Church, Pott Shrigley

St Christopher’s Church stands in the quiet Cheshire village of Pott Shrigley. It is a Grade I listed Anglican parish church, built as a chapel of ease for Prestbury in the late 14th century. The Downes chantry chapel was added later to give the church its present shape. The tower, with its four-faced clock dated 1809, rises above the nave and aisles. The roofs of nave and chancel remain original, while the aisle roofs were plastered over in early Georgian times. The architecture is almost entirely Perpendicular in style. The church is worth the journey for its early fittings and monuments. Box pews were moved here from St James’ Church, Gawsworth, during 19th-century restoration. A holy table in the north aisle bears the date 1695, and the altar rails are also early. The font is grey marble, probably from the late 18th century, and two sanctuary chairs date from the late 17th century. The east window still holds much original glass despite its 1872 restoration by Clayton and Bell. Inside, visitors find the Royal arms of George III over the chancel arch. Monuments to the Downes and Lowther families include works by John Bacon and A. Gatley. The ring of six bells includes two from around 1499 by Robert Crouch and one from 1607 by Henry Oldfield II. Outside, an ancient preaching cross stands in the churchyard, its medieval base topped by an octagonal shaft repaired in the late 18th or early 19th century.