St Luke's Church, Holmes Chapel

St Luke's Church is in the village of Holmes Chapel, Cheshire, England on the A50 road at its junction with the A535 road. The church is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade I listed building. It is an active Anglican parish church in the diocese of Chester, the archdeaconry of Macclesfield and the deanery of Congleton.HistoryThere has been a church on the site since the 13th century. The present church originated about 1430 as a timber-framed building with a Perpendicular sandstone west tower. The nave and chancel were encased in brick in the early 18th century. Shortly afterwards a west gallery was installed as a gift from Thomas Hall. Renovations have taken place in 1839, 1931 and 1950.ArchitectureExteriorThe tower is of sandstone and the nave and chancel are in brick, with a Welsh slate roof. The plan of the church consists of a four-bay nave with north and south aisles. The one-bay chancel has a lower roof and there is a vestry to its north. The tower has a west doorway above which is a two-light window. Above this is a small square ringers' window and belfry windows of two lights. The summit of the tower is embattled with gargoyles at each corner. On the north and south faces of the tower are diamond-shaped clock faces. The aisle windows are in two tiers with semicircular heads.