A 14th century church with a wealth of history will be opening its doors to the public next weekend.
St Mary's Church, Nether Alderley is hosting a Family History Weekend with a local World War 1 display on Saturday 20th and Sunday 21st September.
Family history records will be available for people researching their family trees, including St Mary's BMD records and two early census records from 1811 and 1821. The Stanley Mausoleum will also be open as will the church for guided tours.
The church has also digitally recorded the parish records dating back to 1629, which are available for sale.
Jenny Youatt, archivist at St.Marys Church, has been delving into the church's history for the last 10 years, deciding to concentrate her recent efforts on the WW1 era which has taken her down a new path of discovery.
Jenny explained "We have two wonderful WW1 memorials in the church listing 18 men on our "Roll of Honour". My first quest was to track down as much information as I could about each name. Only one eludes me!
"I have been given invaluable items from Beryl Bardsley (nee Rawlins) whose uncle, Walter Rawlins is amongst our fallen. She has passed on to me various letters and documents including his medals and the original Memorial Plaque and Scroll which were sent to the soldiers next of kin after the war had ended.
"Another item Beryl has passed over to me is a large photograph of our main War Memorial as it was originally, showing the statue of St George. (Sadly this statue was stolen during the 1980's)."
Jenny has also spent several hours at Wilmslow library using the micro film machine, scanning through the local papers for the years 1913 to 1922 and many hours at home unearthing some fascinating information on the internet.
She added "It is hard to believe that in such a small village as Nether Alderley so much war work was undertaken. Food parcels were being organised for POW, a hospital supply depot was set up in the Rectory and there was a hospital in Alderley Park (and another just down the road in Alderley Edge),
"I have collected several photos of Alderley Park hospital together with a unique autograph book signed by some of the patients!
"I've also unearthed facts about a relationship between Lord Asquith (Prime Minister 1908 – 1916) and Venetia Stanley (youngest daughter of the Fourth Baron Sheffield and Stanley of Alderley). This would explain why Lord Asquith was such a frequent visitor to Alderley during those years!"
In addition to the Nether Alderley display there will be displays from Alderley Edge, Great Warford, Chelford and Nether Alderley Parish Council.
The church will be open from 11am to 5pm on Saturday 20th and 2pm to 5pm on Sunday 21st September. Light refreshments will be available throughout.
Photo: Jenny Youatt.
