Alterations: St Simon and St Jude

MANCHESTER -  The church of SS. Simon and Jude, Granby-row, Manchester, has just been re arranged and refitted. The first thing was to make a better arrangement of the " east end " (speaking as if the church orientated correctly). The first bay of the nave is arranged as a chorus cantornm, with two rows of benches on each aide, placed stall-wise; two stalls for the clergy being formed at the " west " end of these seats. As the nave is very broad it admits of " north " and " south " aisles to the quasi-chancel, from which they are divided by a panelled and arcaded screen. One of these chancel aisles is filled with benches for the use of the congregation; and the other contains the organ, and serves as a choir vestry. The chorus cantornm rises one step from the nave, and the sanctuary two steps more; and the altar stands on a foot-pace. The sanctuary has been made deeper, and a straight rail put across, sustained by moulded standards. A credence niche has been formed on the " north " side, and on the " south " are two-seated sedilia of wood. The chancel window, as it is to the south, admits the direct rays of the sun to an unpleasant extent. To obviate this disadvantage, Mr. Edmundson is preparing a painted window, which is purposely more cool in tone than usual. The chancel and sanctuary floors are to be laid with Minton's tiles, those within the rails being encaustic. The nave seats, besides being cut down to a suitable height, have been widened. The pitch of the gallery has been lowered, and the seats altered, similarly to those below. The gallery front has been cut down to a moderate height, and the upper part is pierced with quatrefoils, and otherwise relieved. These alterations have been carried out by the builders, Messrs. Thackrah & Peirce, of Stockport, under the direction of Mr. J. M. Taylor, of Manchester, architect.

Glass        R B Edmundson and Son, Manchester

Reference    Builder 31 October 1863 page 776
Reference    Builder 2 January 1864 Page 16