Church of St Mary the Virgin, Bosley

The Church of St Mary the Virgin stands in Bosley, Cheshire, on Leek Road. It is an active Anglican parish church and a Grade II* listed building, recognised for its historic importance. The church began as a chapel of ease to Prestbury and was later dedicated to Saint Thomas the Martyr, then Saint Lawrence, before becoming Saint Mary the Virgin. In 1402, Pope Boniface IX granted it greater independence following a petition by parishioners. Originally a timber-framed structure with a stone tower, it was rebuilt in brick in 1777, apart from the tower, which dates from around 1500. The church’s architecture blends red sandstone, brick, and grey slate roofs. The tower has three stages with a 19th-century west door in a medieval arch and a battlemented top. Inside, the nave has four bays, the chancel one, and a lean-to vestry sits north of the tower. The interior features an 18th-century altar table, a 17th-century oak pulpit, and a 16th-century parish chest. The organ dates to 1879, and the stone font is from the 19th century. A monument to railway engineer John Willans Newell includes a female figure and an urn. Outside, the churchyard holds a sundial from the early 19th century and the war grave of a First World War Canadian soldier. The stained glass in the east window and side windows was made by Harcourt M. Doyle in the 1960s. The church has six bells, the oldest from 1663, with others dating to 1756, 1927, and 1934. Parish registers begin in 1728, marking centuries of local records.