Hi all - Just wanted to finally touch base after our September trip across the pond. We spent two days in Mobberley, a lovely little village. The vicar was out of town but I was able to visit with David Evans who graciously allowed us to ask questions and photograph the inside of the church during the evening choir practice and again the following day while he met with a young couple who were planning their wedding. It was truly an awe-inspiring experience. Our travel plans didn't include any research time, although I was just itching to go through the Church records. I was surprised that with all the gravestones in the churchyard that there were no Mobberleys to be found. Mr. Evans suggested that we might look in the old Quaker cemetery and gave us directions. Unfortunately it was quite overgrown and pouring down rain. We located only a few markers, none of which were Mobberleys. So where did they all go? Does anyone know? Just outside the fence surrounding the church, and directly opposite the Church Inn (a pub) across the lane, stands the old wooden stocks. There is a framed poem inside the pub that tells a story about the Church leaders not condoning the congregation members visiting such a vile place. Supposedly, if found out, the person who committed such an atrocity would be put in the stocks. Among the many photos we took, there were a couple of framed pages hanging inside the church. I have transcribed them for you below. One his some of the history of the Church, the other I wanted to share due to the upcoming holiday season. I hope you enjoy... I'll attach some of the photos we took on another post.
Dena

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Eddi's Service

Eddi, priest of St Wilfrid
In the chapel at Manhood End,
Ordered a midnight service
For such as cared to attend.
But the Saxons were keeping Christmas,
And the night was stormy as well.
Nobody came to service
Though Eddi rang the bell.

'Wicked weather for walking,'
Said Eddi of Manhood End.
'But I must go on with the service
For such as care to attend.'
The altar candles were lighted, -
An old marsh donkey came,
Bold as a guest invited,
And stared at the guttering flame

. The storm beat on at the windows,
The water splashed on the floor,
And a wet yoke-weary bullock
Pushed in through the open door.
'How do I know what is greatest,
How do I know what is least?
That is My Father's business,'
Said Eddi, Wilfrid's priest.

'But, three are gathered together -
Listen to me and attend.
I bring good news, my brethren!'
Said Eddi, of Manhood End.
And he told the Ox of a manger
And a stall in Bethlehem,
And he spoke to the Ass of a Rider
That rode to Jerusalem.

They steamed and dripped in the chancel,
They listened and never stirred,
While, just as though they were Bishops,
Eddi preached them The Word.

Till the gale blew off on the marshes
And the windows showed the day,
And the Ox and the Ass together
Wheeled and clattered away.

And when the Saxons mocked him,
Said Eddi of Manhood End,
'I dare not shut His chapel
On such as care to attend.'

Conversion of St Wilfrid

by Rudyard Kipling

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Mobberley Church

There was a Church here before the Norman Conquest, as Saxon remains were found under the Chancel arch, but the earliest references to a Church was about 1206, when Patrick de Mobberley founded "a small priory of regular canons of the order of St. Augustine in houour of God, the Virgin Mary and St. Wilfrid", but by 1240 it was annexed to the priory of Rocester in Staffordshire.

The oldest parts of the present Church were built about 1245. At that time there was a detached tower, which fell into decay. The present Tower was built in 1533 by John Talbot, whose name is inscribed on the outside, with that of the master mason, Richard Plat. There is a ring of six Bells, cast in the 18th century and given by Samuel Egerton of Tatton.

The Clerestory and Roof were added in 1450, and the Aisles widened and raised at the same time.

The Chancel and Vestry were rebuilt in 1888, when the Chancel Arch was erected to divide the Chancel from the Nave, in place of the timber and plaster tympanum which previously filled the space between the Rood Screen and the roof. The Chancel roof was raised, but is an exact copy of the earlier roof.

The Rood Screen is one of the most beautiful in the country, a lovely example of Tudor carving. It bears the Talbot arms and date 1500.

Mural Paintings on the north wall, over the Nave arcades, are faded, but the figure of St. Christopher may still be seen.

The Ringers' Gallery at the West end, now open to the Church, used to have a carved screen; the Jacobean carved rail is inscribed "John Baguley and Henry Burges Churchwardens 1683."

Below this is a new oak Screen placed there in 1953 in memory of those who fell in the 1939-1945 War.

The Organ was once the property of Sir Charles Halle, and stood in the Free Trade Hall in Manchester.

Windows

The East Window, with its five lights, has beautiful tracery; the early glass, consisting of 12 shields of families connected with Mobberley, was moved to the South window of the Chancel; the present glass in the East window depicts Christ's miracles.

Mobberley Church has been closely connected with the Mallory family since 1619. They have been both Rectors and Patrons of the living. There are two modern windows to their memory. One is in the Chancel, put there in 1950. The other is in the North aisle, in memory of George Leigh Mallory the climber, who was lost on Mount Everest in 1924.

Next to this is another modern window, in memory of one of the Galloway family, showing Eddi, priest of St. Wilfrid, mentioned in Rudyard Kipling's poem.

The small window near the reading desk is dated 1451 and bears the arms of a former Rector, Hamon Leicester.

In the Vestry window there are the ancient arms of the Troutbeck and Leycester Families.

The Font, but the South door, rests on the base of an inverted Tudor font, the pedestal is the base of a holy water basin. There is also a small 17th century marble font with wooden pedestal, not now in use.

Chancel

Under the South Communion window is a square recess and piscina of Norman workmanship. The oak choir stalls, which are returned round to the Rood Screen entrance, are after the pattern of cathedral stalls and were given by the Rev. H. Leigh Mallory in 1889.

There is a curious wooden memorial on the South wall.

The Pulpit was made partly from sound timbers from the old Chancel roof, and partly from the old three-decker pulpit which stood there before the 1888 restoration.

Exterior

There is a consecration cross, supposed to be 13th century, cut in the stonework of the South doorway. To the right of this door there is a "Scratch" Dial in the wall of the Church. By placing a stick in the center a shadow is cast which tells the time.

The yew tree is very ancient, and beneath it, just over the wall, are the Stocks.

The Lych Gate, given by the Rev. George Mallory (Rector 1832-1885) was made from flagstones and timber from the old schoolhouse which stood there.