St. Chads church, Hanmer, in Wales (just).

The 'church of the shining mere' has it all – scale, romance, history, war, fine features, and stunning views across the adjacent mere. The church that survived two devastating fires! Hanmer church is first mentioned in 1110. The present church was begun c1490, after damage by fire in 1463. Its rebuilding saw the creation of a substantial parish church with W tower, but retaining a comparatively humble timber-framed chancel. This was replaced in stone in 1720 (date on building). The chancel was restored in 1884, when original iron gates were removed and placed at a new S entrance to the churchyard. The church was badly damaged again by fire in 1889, when all the parish registers and records were lost. Restoration by Bodley and Garner, architects of London, including new arcades and roofs, was completed in 1892. This was closely modelled on what was known of the earlier building but was not an exact copy. In 1833 Samuel Lewis noted that the panelled N aisle roof had flower and foliage enrichment, probably referring to the bosses, and that the S aisle was similar, but the restored roofs are simpler in their decoration. The chancel remained disused and roofless until restoration in 1935-6 by W.D. Caroe, architect!
Around 1380, Owain Glyndwr was married here to Margaret Hanmer, the glamorous daughter of Sir David Hanmer, a Justice of the Kings Bench.
In 1643, during the Civil War, Nantwich Roundheads raided the village and stabled their horses in Fenns Chapel where the organ now stands. Later, a large body of Parliamentarian horse and dragoons were cut to pieces nearby, by Welsh Royalists!
St Chads features in Bad Blood - the award winning and best selling autobiography of Lorna Sage, who recorded her childhood in Hanmer Vicarage during the post-war years.
Notable features include beautiful stained glass windows, some by Kemp, exquisite wood carvings, and outside a lovely Church Square courtyard with four listed historic buildings.

Feb'26