St Oswald's Church, Lower Peover

A church has been on this site since at least 1269, when it was a chapel of ease to Great Budworth. The west tower dates from 1582, the mason being John Bowden. A south chapel was added around 1610, and the north chapel in 1624. The aisles were altered and re-roofed in 1852 by Anthony Salvin and there have been subsequent restorations. ==Architecture==

Exterior The tower is built in Alderley sandstone and the body of the church is timber framed. The tower has three stages, with a west door above which is a two-light window. On the north, west and south faces are lozenge-shaped clock-faces and two-light bell openings. The top of the tower is crenellated and on each corner are diagonal buttresses. The screen to the Holford chapel dates from the early 17th century, and the screen separating the chapel from the nave is dated 1642. The screen to the south chapel is Jacobean, consisting of four bays surmounted by three large spheres. In the chapel is a large 13th-century chest made from one piece of oak, in length and wide. In the church are two cupboards dated 1737 which were used for the distribution of the bread charities. Also in the church are memorials to the Shakerley, Leicester and Cholmondeley families. The parish registers date from 1570 and the churchwardens' accounts from 1699. ==External features==

In the churchyard is a sundial dating from the 18th century which consists of an octagonal shaft on square steps. The shaft has a square dial on a square stone head and a gnomon is present. It is listed Grade II. The lychgate dated around 1896 is also listed Grade II. The churchyard also contains the war grave of a Royal Navy officer of World War II. File:Sundial at St Oswald's Church, Lower Peover.jpg|Sundial File:Lychgate, St Oswald's, Lower Peover.jpg|Lychgate ==See also==