Listed Building record MDR5525 - All Saints' Church, Derby Road, Risley

All Saints' Church, Derby Road, Risley, built in 1593. 'The present fabric was built by Michael Willoughby and Katharine his wife, in the year 1593, chiefly to serve as a domestic chapel to Risley Hall. Though then erected, it was not consecrated until 1632... The chapel or church, which is dedicated to All Saints, consists of a nave, north aisle, chancel, north vestry, and tower at the west end. Over the south doorway are the Willoughby arms, the date 1593, and these initials - W M K". The north aisle and vestry were added in 1841.' (1) 'In determining the origin of All Saints' Church, Risley, two dates have to be reconciled. Above the southern doorway is a coat-of-arms with the initials M, K and W, and the date 1593 whereas a chalice is inscribed "This cupe was given ... at the Consecration of the Chapell ... in the yeare of oure Lord 1632." The general architecture of the church would suggest that it is at least 25 years later than 1593 and it was of a size that would not have required 40 years to complete. The will of Katherine Willoughby in 1593 mentions - "... the chappell ... newly erected by me ..." and includes a bequest "... to finish the Buildinge of the foresayed Chappell and to finishe yt with Bells ...". One of the original bells is dated 1627. [Authy. sums up theories as to different datings and suggests that Katherine's death delayed the building which was re-commenced in the 1620's and completed by 1632. Full description of architecture, history and minor detail given.]' (2) 'The church is in use for public worship.' (3) 'All Saints was built by Michael Willoughby in 1593; see the date about the south doorway, but was consecrated only in 1632. The north aisle is of 1841. The doorway is still four-centred, with a hood-mould. The south windows interestingly are posthumous-Gothic, ie with intersected tracery but round-headed. The west tower is unbuttressed, of two stages only, with round-headed two-light bell-openings, the two lights being lancet-shaped. Internally, the font is alabaster, octagonal, on rectangular openings, with strapwork decoration, while the screen has plain rectangular openings with cherubim on the cross beam.' (4) From the National Heritage List for England: 'PARISH OF RISLEY DERBY ROAD SK 46 NE 2/90 (North Side) 10.11.67 CHURCH OF ALL SAINTS GV II* Parish church. 1593, built for Sir Michael Willoughby. 1841 north aisle and vestry added, also church restored and repaired. Ashlar and coursed squared stone with stone dressings, plinth and moulded eaves stringcourse to nave. Shallow pitched slate roofs are hidden by low parapets. West tower, combined nave and chancel, with large north aisle and vestry. West tower has two stages with upper one slightly corbelled out. The first stage is blank except for a small lancet to west but the second stage has Y-tracery, four-centred arched louvred bell openings in deeply chamfered surrounds with returned hoodmoulds, to all sides. Above, there is a moulded eaves stringcourse with blocking course above topped by chamfered copings, and each corner has a crocketed pinnacle. Between the tower and the north aisle is a slight gap. The west elevation of the aisle has stepped buttresses to either side of a central 3-light, four-centred arched window with cusped ogee headed lights and pierced spandrels, also with hoodmould, which has carved head stops. Above, the gable has ridgeback copings and a stone ridge cross. North elevation of aisle has two 3-light intersecting tracery four-centred arched windows with cavetto moulded mullions and surrounds, also with returned hoodmoulds. Attached to east is the vestry which has a flat headed 3-light window to east and, facing south, a four-centred arched doorcase with foliage labelstops to hoodmould and a plank door. East elevation of the chancel has angle buttresses to either side and a small central Y-tracery window with hoodmould. South elevation has two 3-light semi-circular headed windows with cavetto moulded mullions and surrounds, the originals of those copied on the north aisle. To the west of each window is a stepped full height buttress reaching to the top of the parapets. Beyond to west is the moulded, four-centred arched south door with its original studded wooden door and over, above a returned hoodmould is a carved stone plaque with dripmould which has the Willoughby coat of arms and the date '1593' carved on it. West end of nave has a stepped full height angle buttress and a blank west wall. Interior has a two bay 1841 arcade with wide, double chamfered, four-centred arches on octagonal piers and responds which have moulded capitals and bases. All roofs are C19. Tower arch is narrow with pointed arches on two different levels. The chancel is separated from the nave by a simple oak rood screen with nicely carved heads to the centre and ends of the top rail. The west end of the north aisle has a wide moulded four-centred arch through to the organ bay and the west end of the aisle has a small pointed door through to the vestry. The chancel has an early C18 column on vase baluster altar rail and two C19 painted commandment plaques to either side of the altar. Nave has 1841 plain pews and an octagonal wooden pulpit with a frieze of cusped ogeee headed openings to top. To the west end of the nave is an exceptional, late C16 alabaster font with moulded base, thick tapering stem with strapwork and an octagonal bowl with alternating crest and strapwork designs. Above the tower arch is a hatchment, probably of similar date, with the painted figures carved in relief. Memorials include a brass plaque in the chancel to Michael Willoughby who died Jan 1591, two slate and white marble wall memorials in chancel of c1859 and 1827 to John Hancock Hall, his wife and his children, and two more slate and marble memorials in the nave, one of 1928 and the other of c1843 to William Hodgkinson. There is also a simple slate memorial of c1798 to the wife of Joseph Cocker and two enamelled brass plaques to members of the Harrison family. To the west of the door is a large painting of Christ, dated 1842 and signed 'Kelazerges'. Chancel west window, the south nave windows and the tower lancet all have mid-C19 stained glass whilst the north aisle windows have stained glass of c1875 and c1918. Listing NGR: SK4610535701.' (7)