St Chad's Church, Rochdale

Last updated

Rochdale Parish Church
St Chad's Church, Rochdale
St Chad, Rochdale (4737021868).jpg
St Chad's Church, Rochdale
Greater Manchester UK location map 2.svg
Red pog.svg
Rochdale Parish Church
53°36′52″N2°09′28″W / 53.614479°N 2.157836°W / 53.614479; -2.157836
Location Rochdale, Greater Manchester
CountryEngland
Denomination Church of England
Website www.rochdaleparishchurches.org.uk
History
StatusActive
Founded601 (601)[ citation needed ]
Dedication St Chad
Architecture
Functional status Parish Church
Architect(s) Ninian Comper
Style Gothic Revival
Completed1100
Specifications
Bells8
Administration
Province York
Diocese Manchester
Parish Rochdale
Clergy
Vicar(s) Revd Anne Gilbert

St Chad's Church is the Church of England parish church of Rochdale in Greater Manchester, England. It forms part of the Diocese of Manchester. [1] It is an active place of worship and community hub for the town and outlying suburbs around the town. It is a grade II* listed building and sits at a high elevation above both Rochdale Town Hall and the town centre. [2] [3] [4]

Contents

History

St Chad's was the mother church of the ancient parish of Rochdale and was founded before 1170, possibly on an Anglo-Saxon site. Much of the current building is the result of late Victorian restoration. A local legend relates that the site was chosen by spirits and fairies as on several occasions stone for the church building was moved from near the river to the hill on which St. Chad's stands. The church is accessed from the town below by a flight of 124 steps. [5] The town stocks (no longer in use) are in the churchyard.

St Chad's Church is a medieval foundation; however this is not apparent from its outside aspect. The arcades (13th century) have some round and some octagonal piers and variations in ornamentation, while the tower arch is of the 14th century. In the 1850s, there was a restoration by Joseph Clarke; a rebuilding and lengthening of the chancel which included arcades with narrow bays was the work of J. S. Crowther in 1883–85. In the 1850s, the north aisle was rebuilt; in the 1870s the south aisle was rebuilt and the height of the tower increased by the addition of a large and ornate bell-stage. In the Dearden chapel is a monument to John Dearden, rector in the 14th century; in this chapel are also a number of brasses to members of the Dearden family which are however forgeries made for James Dearden c. 1847. The monument to Jacob Dearden (died 1825) is by R. W. Sievier. [6] The most notable monument is the signed work of William Coleburne of London; it commemorates James Holte of Castleton (d. 1712) and Dorothea his wife (d. 1718) and is made of grey and white marble. [7]

Notable graves

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Manchester Cathedral</span> Church in Manchester, England

Manchester Cathedral, formally the Cathedral and Collegiate Church of St Mary, St Denys and St George, in Manchester, England, is the mother church of the Anglican Diocese of Manchester, seat of the Bishop of Manchester and the city's parish church. It is on Victoria Street in Manchester city centre and is a grade I listed building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Salford Cathedral</span> Catholic cathedral in Salford, Greater Manchester, England

The Cathedral Church of St. John the Evangelist, usually known as Salford Cathedral, is a Catholic cathedral on Chapel Street in Salford, Greater Manchester, England. It is the seat of the Bishop of Salford and mother church of the Diocese of Salford, and is a Grade II* listed building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Wilfrid's Church, Grappenhall</span> Church in Cheshire, England

St Wilfrid's Church is the parish church of Grappenhall, in the Borough of Warrington in Cheshire, England. It is designated by Historic England as a Grade I listed building. It is an active Anglican church in the diocese of Chester, the archdeaconry of Chester and the deanery of Great Budworth.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Mary's Church, Acton</span> Church in Cheshire, England

St Mary's Church is an active Anglican parish church located in Monk's Lane, Acton, a village to the west of Nantwich, Cheshire, England. Since 1967 it has been designated a Grade I listed building. A church has been present on this site since before the time of the Domesday Survey. The tower is the oldest in Cheshire, although it had to be largely rebuilt after it fell in 1757. One unusual feature of the interior of the church is that the old stone seating around its sides has been retained. In the south aisle are some ancient carved stones dating back to the Norman era. The architectural historian Alec Clifton-Taylor includes the church in his list of 'best' English parish churches. In the churchyard is a tall 17th-century sundial. The church is an active Anglican parish church in the diocese of Chester, the archdeaconry of Macclesfield and the deanery of Nantwich. Its benefice is united with those of St David, Wettenhall, St Oswald, Worleston, and St Bartholomew, Church Minshull.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Michael and All Angels' Church, Ashton-under-Lyne</span>

St. Michael's Church is an Anglican parish church in Ashton-under-Lyne, Tameside, Greater Manchester, England. The church is a Grade I Listed Building. The church dates back to at least 1262, and a church on the site was mentioned in the Domesday Book. The church was rebuilt in the fifteenth century; however little of the previous church remains after it was rebuilt again in the nineteenth century and is still an active place of worship.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Chad's Church, Over</span> Church in Cheshire, England

St Chad's Church, Over, is in the town of Winsford, Cheshire, England. It was formerly in the separate town of Over, but with the growth of Winsford it has become part of that town. The church is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade II* listed building. It is an active Anglican parish church in the diocese of Chester, the archdeaconry of Chester and the deanery of Middlewich.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Elphin's Church, Warrington</span> Church in Cheshire, England

St Elphin's Church is the parish church of the town of Warrington, Cheshire, England. The church is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade II* listed building. It is an active Anglican parish church in the diocese of Liverpool, the archdeaconry of Warrington and the deanery of Warrington.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Peter's Church, Heysham</span> Church in Lancashire, England

St Peter's Church is in the village of Heysham, Lancashire, England. It is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade I listed building. It is an active Anglican parish church in the deanery of Lancaster, the archdeaconry of Lancaster and the diocese of Blackburn.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Margaret's Church, Hornby</span> Church in Lancashire, England

St Margaret's Church is in Main Street, Hornby, Lancashire, England. The church is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade I listed building. It is an active Anglican parish church in the diocese of Blackburn, the archdeaconry of Lancaster and the deanery of Tunstall. Its benefice is combined with those of St Michael, Whittington, St John, Arkholme, and St John, Gressingham.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Mary the Virgin's Church, Leigh</span> Church in Greater Manchester, England

The Parish Church of St Mary the Virgin is a Church of England parish church in Leigh, Greater Manchester, England. It is a member of the Salford & Leigh deanery in the archdeaconry of Salford, diocese of Manchester. It is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade II* listed building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Church of St Peter and St Paul, Ormskirk</span> Church in Lancashire, England

The Church of St Peter and St Paul is in the market town of Ormskirk, Lancashire, England. Dating from no later than the 12th century, it is one of only three churches in England to have both a tower and spire, and the only one to have them both at the same end of the church. It is an active Anglican parish church in the Diocese of Liverpool. The church is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade II* listed building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Mary's Church, Purton</span> Church in Wiltshire, England

St Mary's Church in the village of Purton in north Wiltshire, England, is an active Church of England parish church in the Diocese of Bristol. A large building begun in the 13th century and one of only three churches in England to have both a western tower and a central spire, it has been designated as a Grade I listed building by English Heritage.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Wilfrid's Church, Ribchester</span> Church in Lancashire, England

St Wilfrid's Church is an Anglican church in the village of Ribchester in Lancashire, England, which is situated close to the site of a Roman fort. It is an active parish church in the Diocese of Blackburn. It is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade I listed building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Church of St Mary and All Saints, Whalley</span> Church in Lancashire, England

The Church of St Mary and All Saints is an Anglican church in the village of Whalley, Lancashire, England. It is an active parish church in the Diocese of Blackburn. A church probably existed on the site in Anglo-Saxon times and the current building dates from the 13th century. It is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade I listed building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Church of St John the Evangelist, Cheetham Hill</span> Church in Manchester, England

The Church of St John the Evangelist is in Waterloo Road, Cheetham Hill, Manchester, England. It is an active Anglican parish church in the deanery of North Manchester, the archdeaconry of Manchester, and the diocese of Manchester. The church is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade II* listed building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Church of St James, Didsbury</span> Church

St James, Didsbury, on Stenner Lane, is a Grade II* Church of England church in the Manchester suburb of Didsbury and with Emmanuel church is part of the parish of St James and Emmanuel, Didsbury.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Michael's Church, Middleton</span> Church in Greater Manchester, England

St Michael's Church is in Townley Street, Middleton, Greater Manchester, England. It is an active Anglican parish church in the deanery of Heywood and Middleton, the archdeaconry of Rochdale, and the diocese of Manchester. The church is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade II listed building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Michael's Church, Aughton</span> Church in Lancashire, England

St Michael's Church is in Church Lane, Aughton, Lancashire, England. It is an active Anglican parish church in the deanery of Ormskirk, the archdeaconry of Wigan & West Lancashire, and the diocese of Liverpool. Its benefice is united with that of Holy Trinity, Bickerstaffe. The church is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade I listed building.

George Shaw (1810-1876) was an English architect specialising in Gothic revival churches and other buildings. He was also an antiquary and collector of medieval, Tudor and Jacobean relics, including books, armour, furniture and architectural salvage.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Church of St Mary in the Baum, Rochdale</span> Church in Greater Manchester, England

The Church of St Mary in the Baum or Church of St Mary-in-the-Baum is a church in the town of Rochdale, Greater Manchester, England. Commissioned in 1738, and opened in 1742 as a chapel of ease, the chapel was extended in the 19th century. In the very early 20th century the church authorities determined to construct a new building and they commissioned Ninian Comper to undertake the task. Comper designed a completely new church to an unusual plan, due to the constriction of the urban site. He incorporated elements of the original chapel into the new design.

References

  1. "Rochdale: St Chad". manchester.anglican.org. Church of England: Diocese of Manchester. Retrieved 7 April 2023.
  2. "St Chad's, Rochdale: Where Medieval and Victorian Gothic Collide". Visit Manchester. 4 May 2020. Retrieved 6 April 2023.
  3. Historic England. "Church of Saint Chad (1045812)". National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 6 April 2023.
  4. "Choir visit for Remembrance Week – St Chad's, Rochdale Parish Church". rochdaleonline.co.uk. Retrieved 6 April 2023.
  5. St Chad, Rochdale – Church of England, GenUKI, retrieved 23 December 2010
  6. Pevsner, N. (1969) Lancashire; 1: The Industrial and commercial south. Harmondsworth: Penguin; pp. 374–75
  7. Fleetwood-Hesketh, Peter (1955) Murray's Lancashire Architectural Guide. London: John Murray; p. 169; it is described here as one of the finest in Lancashire and one of the few of Coleburne's works to be signed

Further reading