St Michael & All Angels

The current building was designed by Sir Arthur Blomfield and built of local stone in 1901, replacing a Georgian building which itself replaced the original mediaeval church founded in 1278 by Queen Eleanor, wife of King Edward I. Some important elements remain from earlier times, especially the Legh (1442) and Savage Chapels, and several memorials. The larger Savage Chapel is a chantry chapel built between 1505 and 1507 by Thomas Savage, Archbishop of York. The gothic style chancel, designed by local architect James Stephens, was added in 1884. The 16th century tower was partly rebuilt by Blomfield using stone from the mediaeval church.

Alabaster memorials to five generations of the Savage family are regarded as the finest collection of pre-reformation memorials in the North West. They include John Savage IV linking hands with his wife Katharine Stanley; and their son John Savage V, who fought for Henry Tudor at Bosworth. An impressive sculpture by William Stanton commemorates Thomas, 3rd Earl Rivers. Brasses include the Legh Pardon Brass and memorials commemorating a schoolmaster (in three languages) and Sir Piers Legh, who fought at Agincourt. The church has an impressive collection of early 20th-century stained glass including works by Christopher Whaull, William Morris, Edward Burne-Jones and Paul Woodruffe. The chancel altar reredos was designed as a war memorial by Charles Nicholson. 

An internal structure added In 2003-4 provides a welcome and café area (narthex), meeting rooms, office and vestry, at the west end. The organ, built by William Hill in 1885, was moved to its current position from the chancel in the 1970s, and extensively repaired, cleaned and rebuilt in 2008. The tower holds the only peal of 12 bells in Cheshire outside the cathedral. 

St Michael’s is the Town Centre Church in Macclesfield and holds regular worship on Sundays and mid-week, including monthly Choral Evensong. Its café is open daily, and the building is a venue for community events such as concerts, meetings and exhibitions. Meeting rooms are used for counselling and training as well as ad-hoc meetings.