Church of St Mary the Virgin, Bosley

Church of St. Mary the Virgin, Bosley
Church of St Mary the Virgin, Bosley
Church of St. Mary the Virgin, Bosley Location in Cheshire
Coordinates: 53°11′13″N 2°07′26″W / 53.1870°N 2.1239°W / 53.1870; -2.1239
OS grid reference	SJ 918 655
Location	Bosley, Cheshire
Country	England
Denomination	Anglican
Website	St Mary, Bosley
History
Dedication	Virgin Mary
Architecture
Status	Parish church
Functional status	Active
Heritage designation	Grade II*
Designated	14 April 1967
Architect(s)	James Green
Architectural type	Church
Completed	1879
Specifications
Materials	Red sandstone tower Brick nave and chancel Slate roofs
Administration
Parish	St Mary, Bosley
Deanery	Macclesfield
Archdeaconry	Macclesfield
Diocese	Chester
Province	York
Clergy
Vicar(s)	Revd Verena Breed

The Church of St Mary the Virgin is in Leek Road, Bosley, Cheshire, England. It is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade II* listed building. It is an active Anglican parish church in the diocese of Chester, the archdeaconry of Macclesfield, and the deanery of Macclesfield. Its benefice is combined with those of St Michael, North Rode, St Michael, Wincle, and St Saviour, Wildboarclough.

This church was initially a chapel of ease to the parish church of Prestbury and was dedicated to Saint Thomas the Martyr. Later the dedication was changed to Saint Lawrence, and later again to Saint Mary the Virgin. In response to a petition by the parishioners a papal bull was issued by Pope Boniface IX in 1402 granting the church greater independence.

The church was originally a timber-framed church with a stone tower. The red sandstone tower dates from about 1500. In 1777 the church, apart from the tower, was rebuilt in brick. A chancel designed by James Green was added in 1834. In 1878–79 new bells were installed, the tower was raised by 6 feet (2 m), and some of the original medieval stonework was removed.