St Oswald's Church, Backford

St Oswald's Church, Backford
St Oswald's Church, Backford, from the southwest
St Oswald's Church, Backford Location in Cheshire
Coordinates: 53°14′20″N 2°54′12″W / 53.2388°N 2.9033°W / 53.2388; -2.9033
OS grid reference	SJ 388 717
Location	Backford, Cheshire
Country	England
Denomination	Anglican
Website	St Oswald, Backford
Architecture
Status	Parish church
Functional status	Active
Heritage designation	Grade II*
Designated	1 June 1967
Architect(s)	Ewan Christian (Remodelling)
Architectural type	Church
Style	Gothic
Completed	1879
Specifications
Materials	Sandstone, slate roof
Administration
Parish	Backford
Deanery	Wirral South
Archdeaconry	Chester
Diocese	Chester
Province	York
Clergy
Vicar(s)	Revd Stephen Martin Southgate

St Oswald's Church is in the village of Backford, to the northwest of Chester, Cheshire, England, close to the A41 road and adjoining Backford Hall. It is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade II* listed building. The church dates from the 14th century with later additions and restorations. It contains one of the few surviving aumbries in Cheshire and a number of memorial boards painted by the Randle Holme family. It is an active Anglican parish church in the diocese of Chester, the archdeaconry of Chester and the deanery of Wirral South. Its benefice is combined with that of Holy Trinity Church, Capenhurst.

The first mention of a church on this site is in the 13th century. Soon after this it was given by the barons of Dunham Massey to the Benedictine Priory at Birkenhead. At the dissolution of the monasteries the advowson was passed to the Diocese of Chester. The chancel dates from the 14th century, and the tower from the 15th century. The nave was rebuilt in 1728–31 and it was remodelled in 1877–79 by Ewan Christian. A reredos designed by John Douglas was added in 1892.