St Peter's Church, Plemstall

The church is built in red sandstone with a roof of Welsh slate in late Perpendicular style.[1] The plan consists of a five-bay nave and a chancel in one range, a north aisle with a chapel at its east end, and a south porch.[7] The tower has two bands and a cornice with a castellated parapet and crocketed finials.[1] The porch, which was added in the 16th century, has grooves into which barriers could be inserted to prevent livestock from entering the church.[5]

Internally there is a much-restored hammerbeam roof.[1] Rev. Joseph Hooker Toogood, who was the incumbent from 1907 to 1946, was responsible for much of the woodwork in the church. Richards quotes a letter from him dated 1946 in which Rev Toogood stated that he made improvements to the chancel screen. He then made a new altar, the reredos and panelling for the sanctuary. Subsequently he made the lectern, refurnished much of the north chapel and improved the baptistry, including a new cover for the font. He worked on the choirstalls and their canopy and made figures for the sanctuary niches and an alms box.[4] In addition he carved a list of sidesmen on the west wall and a war memorial on the north wall.[5]

The chapel at the east end of the north aisle is known as the Barnston Chapel. It was originally called the Trafford Chapel and was the burial place of the Traffords of Bridge Trafford.[4] The lower part of the chapel screen was carved as a memorial to William de Trafford who was the vicar from 1403 to 1422. The altar in the chapel is Elizabethan in style and was originally the main altar. On the north wall of the chapel are the crests of the Trafford, Barnston and Savage families. It is possible to gain access to the Hurleston family tomb under the altar steps.[5]

The baluster altar rails date from the 18th century and the lower panelling of the chancel from the 15th century. To the right of the altar is a carved list of the rectors from 1291.[5] The font dates possibly from the 16th century and its cover has a carving of the Madonna and Child made by Rev Toogood.[4] In the north aisle is a three-decker pulpit with an adjacent two-decker reader's desk dated 1722.[1][7] The churchwarden's pew is dated 1697; it is over 7 feet (2 m) in height, has a panelled back and a canopy supported by twisted columns.[4] The organ dates from 1873 and was made by the Chester firm of Charles Whiteley.[5] It was restored in 2003 by David Wells of Liverpool.[8] A gold-painted inscription to the memory of Rev. Toogood hangs on a wooden plaque to the left of the church door.[5] Fragments of glass dating as far back to the 14th century exist in some windows.[5][9]

There is a ring of three bells, one dated 1635 and the others 1663.[10] The parish registers begin in 1558 and the churchwardens' accounts in 1749.[4] In 1945 the historian Raymond Richards presented to the church five bibles which are kept in a display case in the north aisle. These are a "Breeches" Bible dated 1608, a King James Bible of 1611, a folio edition of the bible printed by Edward Whitchurche in 1549, a black letter bible of 1549 and a King James Bible of 1623.[5]