St Werburgh, Warburton: 1,000 Year Old Timber-Framed Church
The ancient church of St Werburgh in Warburton, Manchester, is 1,000 years old.
The church is still used today a secluded place of peace, despite its closeness to the M6, the Manchester Ship Canal and the industrial north-west.
Named after a Saxon abbess who became the patron saint of Chester, it is one of only 27 timber-framed churches in England.
Entrance to the church is through a timber frame lych gate with a slate roof, which is Grade II listed and dates from 1887.
Inside, rough-hewn timber uprights support the roof beams, gnarled and twisted like the trees they once were.
Fixtures and furnishings show St Werburgh's journey through time, from a 12th century stone sarcophagus to the patch of 18th century Minton tiles on the floor.
It gives you a strong sense of the many generations of ordinary people who have worshipped here and cherished their church.
The church is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade I listed building, making it of ‘significant importance.’
History of St Werburgh Church
There is evidence of a Saxon church on the site before the Norman Conquest.
In 1187–90, Adam de Dutton founded a priory on the site for Norbertine canons but this was short-lived and there is now no trace of the priory.
It is likely that the building of the present church began in the middle of the 13th century.
Towards the end of the 16th century, the chancel area was remodelled and a pulpit, altar rails and communion table were installed.
In 1645, the church was extensively altered and extended.
A small chapel and vestry with a stone foundation and timber framed wall were added to the south side of the chancel, while a stone extension was added to the north side.
In 1711, the east end of the chancel was rebuilt and a brick tower was added at the east end of the church.
In 1857, the chancel floor was tiled, the walls were painted with medieval designs and the timber supports and the chancel ceiling were plastered.
Stained glass was added to windows and the gallery was removed. By 1880 the church needed major repairs, and because of this the new church was built and the old church ceased to be the parish church.
In October 2021, the church was one of 142 sites across England to receive part of a £35-million injection into the government's Culture Recovery Fund.
If you’d like to visit, the address is: Warburton, Greater Manchester, England, WA13 9SS.
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