Historic Cheshire village church to be replaced with 'modern' building

The current church was opened in 1890 and was only supposed to last 25 years

05:22, 14 Jul 2022

St Mark's Church in Shavington(Image: St Mark's Shavington)

A historic church in a Cheshire village is set to be replaced with a modern building after plans were given the go-ahead. The planning application to construct a new church and community space off Crewe Road in Shavington was approved by Cheshire East Council.

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The site is known as Hen Field and is located near the East Shavington development. The plans also include associated access road, parking, service provision and landscaping.

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The new building will replace the current St Mark's Church, which has served the community for more than 130 years after it opened in 1890. The corrugated-iron building, clad in a thin layer of stone in the 70s, was only meant to last for 25 years while a permanent site was found.

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It was inspected in 2016 and found to have 'several serious structural problems'. The All Saints Weston and St Marks Shavington have said the current building has 'long outlived its intended time'

A sketch of the new church that will be built in Shavington(Image: Finlason Partnership Limited)

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A statement submitted with the application reads: "St Mark’s Church, on Main Road, Shavington, has been a significant feature of the village for over 125 years. The Church has been, and continues to be, host to a wide variety of community groups and activities, alongside its regular Sunday congregations, weddings, baptisms, and funerals — no doubt many villagers have memories of events at St Mark’s.

"In 2016, the current corrugated-iron building (clad in a thin layer of stone in 1970’s), was inspected and found to have several serious structural problems. When the current building was opened in 1890 (replacing an earlier wooden church), it was intended to last only 25 years whilst funding could be found for a permanent structure.

"Though many villagers have been generous over the years, the original temporary church still stands and is used weekly. It has long outlived its intended time."

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A CGI of the interior of the new church in Shavington(Image: Finlason Partnership Limited)

Hen Field off Crewe Road was acquired by Helen Lancaster in 1911. Upon her death in 1936, the land was then conveyed to St Mark’s Church Committee in her will 'for the expressed purpose of building anew church for the people, which would last for a long time to come'.

The application statement added: "In keeping with Mrs Lancaster’s historic vision, and wanting to do something positive for the community of Shavington, this application intends to develop the site to include a church building, car park, church hall for community-use, and other community amenities, such as a cafe, alongside some outdoor space.