page_title: Rushton, Staffordshire
section_title: Church of St Lawrence
hierarchical_section_title: Rushton, Staffordshire / Churches / Church of St Lawrence
caption_attribution_description: English: St. Lawrence, Rushton Spencer A wonderfully idiosyncratic church in the middle of nowhere. Details of church from village web site: http://www.rushtonspencer.info/Pages/ParishHome.htm
context_page_description: Rushton is a civil parish in Staffordshire, England. The village within the civil parish, usually known as Rushton Spencer, is about 4 miles north of Leek and 7 miles south of Macclesfield, on the A523 road which runs between these towns.
  The Parish Council does not yet have its own website; however, the Rushton Manor Courts Leet and Baron does record the Proceedings of the Parish Council, which include minutes and agendas.
  At one time there were two adjacent civil parishes, Rushton Spencer and Rushton James. Rushton Spencer has the River Dane at its northern boundary with Cheshire, and the road crosses the river at Hugbridge; Bosley Cloud is the western boundary. To the south, separated by a stream, is Rushton James, which is bordered by Long Edge in the west, and Ryecroft Gate in the east. The parishes were amalgamated in 1934 to form Rushton civil parish.
  There are two public houses in the village. The Knot Inn is on Station Lane, west of the main road; it is near the former railway station and used to be called the Railway Inn. The Royal Oak is on the main road at the junction with Leek Old Road.
  A short distance south-east of the village, on Leek Old Road, is St Helen's Well.
context_section_description: The Anglican church of St Lawrence is on high ground south-west of the village, grid reference SJ934621. Because of this remote situation, it has been called "the chapel in the wilderness".
  It is known there was a church in Rushton Spencer in 1368: in that year, the bishop licensed the inhabitants to hold services. Until the mid 19th century the Rushton chapelry, including Rushton James, Rushton Spencer and Heaton, was dependent on Leek parish church. The chapelry became a parish in 1865.
  The existing building, which is Grade II* listed, has medieval timber-framing and was rebuilt in sandstone in the 17th century. It has a nave of three bays; the chancel is not separated from the nave. There is a north aisle and a vestry in the west which has a timber bell turret above. There is a large stone font, probably of the 13th century, at the west end of the nave.
  In 1830 and 1841 the Archdeacon of Stafford recommended the demolition of the church, its replacement to be built at Rushton Marsh. Instead, the building was repaired in the 1840s; this included dormer windows placed in the south roof. The altar is of carved oak and was installed in 1923.
  Work to close up a door behind the altar in 1956 revealed a flight of steps leading down to the forgotten Trafford family vault; at least one of the coffins had been plundered for its lead and silver.
  St Lawrence is one of the churches in the United Benefice of Cheddleton, Horton, Longsdon and Rushton Spencer, of the Diocese of Lichfield.
caption: St Lawrence's Church, Rushton Spencer
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