The Peak Parishes

Tel: 01260 253945

About St Marys

St. Mary the Virgin, Bosley is a rural church in a small hamlet on the West side of the A523 Leek/ Macclesfield Road. It is situated within a medium sized burial ground and there is a small car park adjacent to the north boundary. Opposite the church is St. Mary’s Church of England Primary School.

The original church, dedicated to St. Thomas the Martyr, was built in 1402 consisting of a tower, chancel and nave. In 1776 the nave was enlarged and rebuilt of Flemish bond brick with a stone roof. However in 1777 the church, with the exception of the tower, was destroyed by fire. It was subsequently rebuilt and dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary. In 1834 the church was extended by the addition of a chancel, in Flemish bond brick and slate roof, allowing an additional 110 sittings to the nave.

There was further restoration and reseating in 1878 with the mono-pitch roofed vestry to the north of the tower being enlarged in 1934. In the same year two bells were added to the existing four, giving it a peel of 6. The church is Grade II* listed, but is not in a conservation area. On the south side of the church stands a sundial base and shaft, which is separately listed Grade II. There is a large stone font at the entrance to the Church that we still use for baptisms. A two manual pedal organ presented by Joseph Stubbs in 1879 is situated on the south side of the nave. Five stained glass windows, each illustrating a scriptural event, are memorials to departed benefactors. These date from late 19th century to early 21st century.

For information on our monthly services please see the calendar. We are a small but very welcoming congregation and we would love you to join us. We always serve refreshments after the morning service so that we can share news and spend time together. We share services with our neighbouring churches in the benefice and the local Methodist Chapel, with whom we have good relations. We share many church and community events, the biggest being our annual Rose Queen fete and fell run, which is held in June. We have close links with our Church Primary School and the school events celebrated in the church are always very uplifting times. Every week during term time we run a youth group, which is open to all young people.

We have a very enthusiastic group of bell ringers who ring every Sunday for services and a number of visitors often come to ring a peal or a quarter. Practice night is on Mondays.

Read the attached document to find out all about our exciting new building project.

Extension work

For information about  the village please see the Bosley Village web site.
 

 

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