In 1840 the celebrated architect Augustus Pugin (who designed much of the Houses of Parliament) was commissioned by John Talbot, the 16th Earl of Shrewsbury, to design and build a Roman Catholic church “that would have no rival”. The earl placed unlimited means at Pugin’s disposal. Known as Pugin’s Gem, the church remains one of the finest examples of Gothic Revival church architecture in the world today.
The church was finally completed in 1846, although the style of architecture reflects early Gothic buildings such as Salisbury Cathedral, which dates from 1220. Pugin was born in 1812, the son of a French family, and died tragically young at the age of 40. Yet by that time he had designed a substantial number of churches and other buildings. However, the church at Cheadle must surely be his finest memorial.
The golden lions of the west door, surely the most ornate church door in the UK, reflect the heraldry of the Earl of Shrewsbury, Pugin's patron.
Simon Jenkins considers this to be among England's hundred best churches. For more photos of St Giles, please see my photostream or my set entitled "Pugin's Gem....".
All photos are hand-held HDR shots.
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