St James and St Paul is an active Anglican church in the Cheshire villageSmall rural collection of buildings with a church. of Marton. It is in the Deanery of Congleton, the Archdeaconry of Macclesfield and in Diocese of Chester, and is one of the six churches in the BeneficeOriginally used in feudal societies to describe a grant of land as a reward for services rendered. In modern usage it refers to a collection of parishes working together under a single incumbent. of Rural Daneside Churches. The church was founded in 1343, and unusually for Cheshire is timber-framed; it is thought to be the oldest church building of its kind still in use in Europe.^[1]

The church was designated a Grade I listed buildingStructure of particular architectural and/or historic interest deserving of special protection. in 1967;^[2] a 14th or 15th-century cross in the churchyard is separately listed at Grade II.^[3]

St James and St Paul was founded and endowed in 1343 by Sir John de Davenport and his son Vivian;^[4] additional land was donated by the family in 1370. The belfryStructure in which bells are hung. was added later, in about 1540,^[5] and the roof was lowered in 1804.^[6] The parish registers begin in 1563.^[6]

Restorations were carried out by J. M. Derick in 1850 and William Butterfield in 1871.^[2] Derick replaced two-light windows with windows of three lights. Butterfield tidied some of the timbers in the tower.^[7] At that time, the existing entrance at the west end was also added. Further restoration was carried out in 1930–1931, including renewal of some wall panels, rafters and belfry shingles.^[5] A brick extension to the chancel was constructed in the 20th century.^[2]

Architecture

Exterior

The timber frame features close studding with a middle rail. It rests on a stone plinth, the infill is rendered brick and the roof is of slate. At the west end is a shingled square tower with a shingled broach spire ending in a weather cock. This is surrounded by lean-to roofed aislesPart of a church on either side of the nave or choir, separated from them by arcades, colonnades or piers. More generally, a passageway between seats in an auditorium, shelves in a supermarket and so on. on the north, west and south sides. The tower has a western arched door with a 20th-century door which incorporates 17th-century iron strap hinges.^[2] The body of the church consists of a three-bay naveCentral part of a church, used by the laiety. with north and south aisles, a two-bay chancelPart of a church containing the altar, used by the officiating clergy. and north and south chapelsChristian place of prayer and worship, smaller than a church. at the ends of the aisles, and a south porchVestibule before the main entrance to a Christian church, less sacred than the church proper..^[7] The former Principal Historic Buildings Officer for Cheshire County Council described the exterior as “disappointing” and considered that 19th-century alterations “have tended to detract from its external medieval appearance”, but noted that “internally it has a great deal of character and interest.”^[8]

Interior

The timber piers are octagonal in shape. Two damaged stone effigies of 14th-century knights are in the belfry;^[7] the heads rest on the Davenport crest, suggesting that the figures might depict the church’s founders, John and Vivian de Davenport. The pulpit carries a coat of arms and dates from 1620;^[5] other features include an Elizabethan parish chest.^[4] There are three surviving bells in the present-day ring of six, the oldest of which is inscribed “God Save the Queen and Realme 1598”.^[5] The organ was built in 1894 by A. Worral.^[9]