Siddington
Scattered around the junction
of the A34 and B5392, about five miles southwest of Macclesfield,
the village of Siddington has an unusual, old and picturesque
church first consecrated in 1512.
Perched above the Snape
Brook, it looks less like a church than any around and could be
mistaken for another Cheshire 'black and white' house. Even closer-to
there's only the slightest hint of 'churchiness'.
There are not many houses
with gravestones outside the front door, however! This west elevation
is in fact something of an illusion, with the black and white
pattern painted onto the brickwork!
From this angle it is unmistakably
a church with stained glass windows and cross. The 'black and
white', real or imitation, has largely gone, except on the peculiar
bell-turret. This houses the single tenor bell cast in 1588. The
ordnance survey marks Siddington All Saints as 'church without
tower or spire'.
The entrance porch and door,
with a notice on the right - of all the 31 incumbents from John
Newton in 1582 to Paul Oliver Moulton in 2001.
Inside, some of the original
timber frame structure becomes more apparent. The outer brickwork
'skin' is a later addition from about 1815 required to support
the excessive weight of the roof of Kerridge flagstones which
were causing the nave wall to bulge dangerously.
The west end of the church
with a musical concentration of organ loft under the bell tower
Patriotic stained glass
- Saint George and Alfred the Great!
Outside the avenue of 'young'
yew trees were having a 'short back and sides'
But no church of this age
is complete without its ancient yew!
Gravestones tell sad stories.
The Roylances lost two daughters in a six month period 1801/2
- heavy going at any time.
Snowdrops awaiting (22.01.03)
a sunny day or two to open fully and ease spring along a little.
Update. Six weeks later,
full blooms on the point of fading.
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