St. John the Evangelist, Parish Church, Sandiway, Cheshire. (C of E). was built in 1902/3 as a chapel to St. Mary the Virgin, Weaverham Parish Church. On March the 29th 1935 a separate ecclesiastical parish of Sandiway was created under an Order in Council of George V, which included Cuddington hitherto known as a township in Weaverham Parish, Eddisbury Hundred.

In 1936 the civil parish of Cuddington which includes the hamlets of Bryn, Delamere Park, Golden Nook, part of Pettypool, Pinfold Hollows, Ravensclough and Stonyford, was extended to include the village of Sandiway, which was transferred from Weaverham cum Milton civil parish.

The Church was designed and partly funded by local architect John Douglas, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Douglas,_architect_(1830-1911)  , who lived for many years of his life in Norley Road. The Foundation Stone was laid on the 12th April 1902 by the Earl of Mansfield. [The stone is outside under the East window]. Licensed for Divine Service on the 15 October 1903 as the daughter Church of St. Mary the Virgin, Weaverham. St. John’s was designated a Listed Building on the 15 July 1986.

The Dedication and Opening Ceremony on the 26 October 1903 by the Rt. Rev'd. Dr Fredrick Jayne, Lord Bishop of Chester and Licensed for Marriages on the 22 May 1906.

The new Parish of Sandiway was created under an Order in Council of George V dated 29 March 1935.

In 2003 on Sunday 26 October, exactly 100 years to the day of the Dedication and Opening of St. John’s; the Centenary Celebration Service of Choral Eucharist was presided at by The Rt. Rev'd. Lord Bishop of Chester Dr Peter Robert Forster, MA Oxon, BD Edin, PhD Edin.

Incumbents of the Benifice of the Parish of Sandiway.

2005 - todate

The Rev'd. Martin Brian Cox, MA, MSc

Collation 24 September 2005 by Honorary Assistant Bishop in the Diocese of Chester, former Diocesan Bishop of Blackburn The Rt. Revd Alan David Chesters, CBE. MA.

1999 - 2005

The Rev'd. Gordon George Roxby, BSc.

Collation 9 March 1999 by The Bishop of Birkenhead, The Rt. Rev'd. Michael Laurence Langrish, DD, BSocSc, MA.Translated in 2000 to the Diocese of Exeter as The Lord Bishop.

1999 – 2004 Diocesan Initial Ministerial Training Officer.

1981 - 1998

The Rev'd. John Vaughan Griffith. L.Th.

Collation 16 January 1981 by the Bishop of Chester, The Rt. Rev'd. Hubert Victor Whitsey, MA Oxen. Res'd1981, D.1989.

1989 Canon of Chester Cathedral.

1961 - 1980

The Rev'd. Edgar Joseph Basil Jones. MA, LLB.

Collation 9 September 1961 by the Bishop of Stockport, The Rt Rev'd David Henry Saunders-Davies.

1935-1961 .

The Rev'd. Joseph Barnes Horrocks, MA, BD, BSc.

Collation 3 June 1936 by the Bishop of Chester, The Rt. Rev'd. Geoffrey Francis Fisher, MA, DD, LLD. Translated to London in 1939, then Translated to Canterbury, 1945-1961. D.1972.

1957 Rural Dean Middlewich, 1959 Canon of Chester Cathedral.

Biography

The Revd Martin B Cox, MA, MSc.

Vicar of the Benefice of Sandiway, Cheshire. 2005 - Date.

Martin originates from North Staffordshire.  He spent some five years as a young adult working for Michelin Tyre Company in Stoke-on-Trent, obtaining various Business Studies qualifications on the way.  Having worked for 2 years as the Executive Officer for the 1986 Stoke-on-Trent National Garden Festival Churches Committee (there really is no short-hand!) he went on to become an undergraduate at Keele University, graduating with a Honours Degree in Applied Social Studies. He was also awarded with the Certificate of Qualification in Social Work. A career in statutory Social Services ensued, during which time Martin became a middle manager with responsibility for an area of children’s services including the inspection of children’s homes.  Martin also studied for an MSc in Public Sector Management during this period.

Martin met Heather in 1982. They were married several years later and have two daughters, Amy, who is an undergraduate at Lancaster University, and Natalie who is at Sir John Deane’s College, Northwich for A level studies.  As a family, the Cox’s moved to Sale in Greater Manchester in 2001 when Martin began his training for Ordination.  Martin was given permission to train via the Mixed-Mode form of training that has involved a four-year period in a suburban Parish of some 20,000 in the Bowdon deanery of the Diocese as well as theological study for an MA in Mission and Ministry. This time in the Parish of St Anne with St Francis, Sale included ministry as an Assistant Curate including an interregnum.

Martin has a range of interests.  He enjoys walking, visits to the theatre, socialising and repeated viewings of James Bond films!  Martin is interested in how theology and psychology interrelate in all aspects of Christian life and ministry, especially in respect of pastoral encounters and liturgy.  Having been privileged to visit the Solomon Islands during 2004 as part of his MA, he is eager to reflect in his spirituality and ministry the worldwide nature of Christian pilgrimage and service.

Martin was Collated and Inducted, as the 5th Vicar of Sandiway on the 24th September 2005, by The Right Reverend Alan D Chesters, CBE, MA. Honorary Assistant Bishop of the Diocese of Chester, and The Venerable Donald S Allister, MA. the Archdeacon of Chester respectively.