Chancel: Church of St Mary Bowers Street Newton Moor Hyde

A big Commissioners church with high facade and two stunted turrets in a neo Norman style. Lancet-like round arched windows. Three galleries inside 1837-1839 by Hayley and Brown. A long chancel was added in 1876-7 by M & H Taylor.

St. MARY'S CHURCH, NEWTON MOOR --On Saturday afternoon the memorial stone of a new chancel to St. Mary's Church, Newton Moor, near Hyde, was laid with Masonic honours by Lord de Tabley, the right worshipful provincial grand master of Cheshire. In addition to the chancel, which will be constructed of stone, a new organ chamber, vestry, and pulpit are to be erected at the same end of the church, while a new porch is to be built at the west end. It is estimated that the expanse will amount to £3,100, the greater part of which is already subscribed. Messrs Medland and Henry Taylor, Manchester, are the architects for the work.[Manchester Times 11 March 1876 page 6]

ST. MARY'S CHURCH, NEWTON MOOR - St. Mary's Church has somewhat dreary surroundings, standing, as it does, on the barren moor, with a tree or shrub to relieve the eye. The church itself is a plain oblong building, with narrow round-headed windows on each side, no steeple or even belfry, and only a small shallow eastern recess in lieu of chancel. It is now proposed to enlarge the church, and also to make certain improvements. There is to be a new and spacious chancel, with a north chancel aisle, south porch, and a central western tower, and lychgate. Sooner or later too it is hoped that the church will be re-seated with benches far more comfortable and convenient than the present ones. The architectural style a simple round-arched Gothic, of which there are numerous and admirable specimens to be found in Normandy and other parts of France. The work will be throughout of stone, including free use of pure white stone the interior. The arch at the east end of the nave is the full width of the chancel, and is supported on corbelled shafts. On each side of the chancel are two broad arches, the one on the northern side opening into the organ chamber. In the centre of each of the southern ones is a single tall window. On the lower part, on either side of the sacrarium, are arched sedilia on the south, and credence on the north. The east wall is fully occupied, in the centre, just above the communion table, is a cross in bold relief, and on each side a double arch. Above are three arches, with shafted jambs, and stone mouldings, framing in the three eastern windows. The roof is of open framed timbers. The chancel will be three steps from the nave, and under the chancel arch will be a low open stone balustrade. There will be the usual chancel stalls and other fittings. There to be a great oak lectern in the western part of the chancel, from which the lessons will be read and the sermon preached. There will be new stone font standing near the west end. A western door will opened in the lower stage of the tower, and a commodious porch formed. The contract is divided between Messrs. Smithies, mason, and Wharam, joiner, working under the direction of the architects, Messrs. Medland and Henry Taylor, of Manchester. [Manchester Courier 6 March 1876 page 5]

NEWTON - The corner-stone of a new chancel to St. Mary's Church, Newton Moor, Cheshire, has been laid with Masonic honours by Lord de Tabley. The style of the new chancel is a simple round-arched Gothic. The work will be throughout of stone. The contract is divided between Messrs. Smithies, mason, and Wharam, joiner, working under the direction of the architects, Messrs. Medland and Henry Taylor, of Manchester. [Builder 15 April 1876 page 370]

REOPENING Of ST. MARY'S CHURCH, NEWTON MOOR.-This church was erected in 1839, a plain, cheap, round-arched stone building. It has now been enlarged by a spacious and handsome chancel, organ chamber, vestries, south porch, tower entrance, and has, besides, some new benches in the nave. The new work is more ornate than the old, but yet duly harmonises with it. The interior is handsomely finished both as regards the arcaded stonework in its walls, and also as to the wood fittings and painted windows The new work has been designed and superintended by Messrs Medland and Henry Taylor, architects, of Manchester, and built by Messrs. Smithies and Wharam. The designs comprise new tower, or at least the upper stages of it; a lych gate, a complete reseating of the nave, and some re-formation of the galleries and ceiling. [Manchester Times 17 March 1877 page 6]

Reference    Manchester Courier 6 March 1876 page 5
Reference    Manchester Times 11 March 1876 page 6 – foundation stone
Reference    Builder 15 April 1876 page 370
Reference    Manchester Times 17 March 1877 page 6 - reopening
Reference    Pevsner: Cheshire