24 
Work in Cheshire Churches,’ delivered by Mr. Fred H. Crossley, on Thursday 
evening, 9th March, at the Grosyenor Museum. The Rev. Canon W. H. L. 
Cogswell, D.D., who presided over a large audience, spoke in praise of the 
efforts of Arts and Crafts Societies throughout the country in promoting good ~ 
decorative work in churches. The Lecturer shewed upwards of 70 lantern 
slides from photographs taken by himself, which revealed with admirable 
clearness the varied details of the carving that adorns the choir stalls in 
Chester and other Cathedrals, and some of the older parish churches in 
Cheshire, including Nantwich, Malpas, Great Budworth, Lower Bebington, 
and Astbury. In a general survey of the origin, use, type and construction of 
stalls, he pointed out that the earliest stalls still in existence in a fragmentary 
condition in England dated from the first half of the 13th century, and the 
general plan and shape of that time was generally adhered to, until the 
suppression of the monasteries. The magnificent Church of Nantwich, with 
its vaulted chancel fitted with tabernacle stalls, was at the time of its erection 
a chapel-of-ease to Acton. The local story that the Stalls were brought from 
Combermere or Vale Royal Abbeys was erroneous. They bore every mark 
of having been constructed to fit their present position. From a designer’s 
point of view the stalls were excellent, and were well proportioned and com- 
fortable to use. Though stalls were employed in the larger churches from 
the first, it was not until the 15th century that stalling became general in the 
lesser fabrics. The Stalls in Nantwich Church dated from 1390. Dealing with 
the Chester Cathedral Stalls, which date from the year 1380, Mr. Crossley said 
it was wonderful how the delicate woodwork had withstood the ravages of its 
perpetual alteration of position. A feature of their original construction, 
which had now disappeared, was standards extending from the canopies to the 
elbow partitions. These standards were shown in a photograph taken before 
the restoration, now in the possession of the Precentor, and they enhanced the 
beauty of the stalls, which by their removal presented an ugly horizontal 
appearance. He suggested that the Cathedral Authorities should enquire from 
the firm who altered the stalls whether any of the missing standards were in 
existence, and endeavour if possible to complete the design of our 15th century 
forbears. In general design the canopies of the Nantwich stalls shewed a 
marked superiority to those at Chester, but in execution they were decidedly 
inferior. The construction and moulding of the stalls at Great Budworth 
pointed to a very early date, and he thought we might confidently place them 
with the earliest ecclesiastical woodwork to be found in Cheshire. Though 
few of the stalls there now remained, 15 having disappeared, they were of 
great importance, and care should be taken to preserve what was left from 
further neglect.” 
