Alterations: St Mary's Church Prestwich

PRESTWICH - The parish church here has been re-opened. During several months past, various alterations and improvements have been in progress. The chancel has been extended and restored and has had a new east window put in, with roofing to match the old portion. A new vestry has been built. A new stained glass window has been inserted. The stained glass has been executed by Messrs Ward and Hughes of London. It is also intended to insert stained glass in a new window west of the font, the gift of Mr Percival of Manchester. The whole of the ceiling of the nave and old portion of the chancel have been restored, and decorated in colours and gilding in a manner similar to ancient painting found on the old timbers. A portion of the chancel has been re-seated with open oak benches, with carved ends; and one of the recent improvements has been the re-seating of the nave in a similar manner, the whole of which re-seating is free. The works have been executed under the superintendence of Messrs Travis and Mangnall, architects.

Little remains of these alterations following the later re-building of the chancel. Mangnall lived at Clark's Hill, only a short distance from the church.

Reference    Builder 1 June 1861. Page 380
Reference    Manchester Courier 18 May 1861 Page 7