Alterations and Re-fitting: Church of St Thomas, Pendleton

ST. THOMAS'S, PENDLETON. The church of St. Thomas, Pendleton, was reopened yesterday evening, after having been closed for nearly three months for the purpose of alterations, refitting, and decorations, the preacher being the Rev. Canon Crane. St. Thomas's Church was built about 56 years ago, in the style known architectural as perpendicular," or rather in what was in those days, before the modern revival of architectural study, believed be " perpendicular." is spacious, and possesses much dignity its general proportions. The general effect of the interior was, however, somewhat dreary before the alteration, from the want of light and absence of church-like arrangement. There no proper chancel, only a comparatively shallow projection at east end. The central passage was blocked by mean-looking skeleton benches, making a wedding procession well-nigh impossible. It was felt that something ought to be done to make the church more convenient and comfortable for the congregation—lighter by day, better lighted by night, more healthy as to ventilation, more pleasing and satisfactory to the eye, better adapted for the conduct of devout service, according to the usage of the Church of England, and more suitable and seemly for divine worship. Mr Medland Taylor, the architect, was therefore asked to advise as to what should be done, and the best way of doing it. To produce a good church-like effect, the first and main point is the formation of a chancel. With this object, the easternmost bay of the nave has been raised two steps, and enclosed on the north and south sides by oak screens of open arcaded work, thus forming a choir of the needful width, and satisfying the eye with the length and proportion of a spacious chancel suited to the church. In a densely populated town neighbourhood like Pendleton, existing galleries cannot be dispensed with, and a pulpit, centrality placed, so as to command both the galleries, becomes necessity. The old heavy wooden structure has been replaced by pulpit of open iron work, most artistically designed, light and graceful in appearance, which forms little obstacle to the view of the great east window. The acknowledged difficulty of dealing with a pulpit in such a great galleried church seem hero to been satisfactorily solved. The old pews on the ground floor have been removed, and their places supplied by now benches of pitch pine, with broad easy seats, and a space for kneeling. Canopied seats at the west end of the provided for the churchwardens. The gallery seats are reconstructed out of the old materials, and are all made thoroughly comfortable and convenient, both for sitting and kneeling. The organ is removed from west gallery to the eastern end the north gallery. An arch has been pierced through into the tower, so as to throw into view from the church the west window, and so as to let in a good deal of light. This arch is to be filled in with an open grille of light ironwork.  An inscription is carved in raised letters on the central west door, to be seen on going out of the church "I will go forth in the strength of the Lord God." The font has been moved a to the south, and close the main door —its proper position according to ancient precedent. It is well in view, and is provided with pyramidal oak cover, suspended by a crane from above. The chancel and the passages are tiled. The gas lighting has been entirely rearranged. Four great corona brackets, or candelabra, project from the stone pillars at the four corners of the choir. New scrolled brackets project from the gallery beams. The old pendants are re-fixed in the aisles, below the galleries, and new gas standards are placed in the galleries. The windows have been re-glazed in simple geometrical patterns. The panels of the reredos will be entirely filled with ceramic work. Above the Lord’s table is the inscription “Do this in remembrance of Me," and in the panels, the Creed, the Decalogue, and Lord’s Prayer. To relieve the monotony of the gallery front, the two central panela of bay have been decorated. On a gilded background are painted conventional representations of some of the best-known symbolical plants mentioned in Holy Scripture. Underneath each is a word or two from the Bible identifying each plant. The walls and ceilings have been painted or re-coloured in well-chosen tints. All the details of the now wood or other work have been carefully designed to suit the general idea of the church as originally built. They are thoroughly good “perpendicular," of the best type, thoughtfully worked out. The choir sittings and screens, which are all of the best Dantzic, oak are especially noticeable for their delicate refinement and finish. The whole of the work has been designed by Mr. Medland Taylor, the architect, and carried out under his immediate superintendence.  [Manchester Courier 17 November 1887 page 8]

Reference           Manchester Courier 17 November 1887 page 8]