Chancel: Parish Church of St Chad, Rochdale

Rebuilding of chancel and top of tower. Lowered nave floor to its original level. Roof details taken from Churches of the Middle Ages. Other details from Manchester Cathedral. Crowther added two east bays to the chancel and gave the choir a clerestory to match the rest. Used his own Perpendicular tracery.

At various periods Rochdale Parish church has undergone alterations and restorations. In 1857 it underwent a considerable restoration but the present vicar considered that the old lines of the fabric had been departed from, both in the raising of the levels of the floor and by the depression of the roof through the adoption of a tie beam. In 1883 Mr Joseph S Crowther, the Manchester Cathedral architect was instructed to prepare plans for enlarging and rebuilding the chancel entirely on the lines of the original foundation. .... Mr Crowther has carried out the work will all that distinctive effectiveness for which he is so well known, both in and out of the diocese of Manchester. The treatment is Early Perpendicular, the nave it may be added being Early English and the clerestory Late Perpendicular. The chancel is a structure of six bays, divided by clustered columns and arches, with shafts attached to the columns for attaching the roof principals. There are wide aisles on the north and south sides of the chancel, the bays of which coincide with those of the chancel in number. The east end of the chancel is terminated with a large window of six lights, the head of which is filled with rich tracery. The stained glass in this window, executed by Messrs Berlison and Grylls of London, is illustrative of the Te Deum, and is the gift of Mr Thomas Dawson of Rochdale. The twelve windows in the clerestory contain stained glass of excellent character, representing the heavenly choir and twelve Apostles, likewise the work of Messrs Berlison and Grylls and mostly contributed by the  donors of the arches. The Lord of the Manor has given a fine stained glass window for the south-east of the chancel, and Mr James T Pagan of Guildford Surrey (formerly mayor of Rochdale) has presented another for the north-east, both the work of Messrs Lavers and Westlake of Manchester and London. The roof of the chancel is of the Adouble hammer beam@ description, richly moulded, the ends of the hammer beam being terminated by angel figures holding musical instruments. The render the whole complete, a new organ has been erected by Messrs Hill and Son of London in the north aisle of the chancel. The instrument consists of 35 stops, is blown by hydraulic power or hand, and is reputed to be one of the most effective instruments for its size in the diocese. [Manchester Guardian 28 October 1885 Page 5]

ROCHDALE - The formal dedication of the chancel and extension of Rochdale Parish Church took place on the 29th ult., from plans by Mr. Joseph S. Crowther, the Manchester cathedral architect. The treatment adopted is Early Perpendicular, the nave, it may be added, being Early English. and the clerestory, Late Perpendicular. The new chancel is of six bays, divided by clustered columns and arches, with shafts attached to the columns for supporting the roof principals. There are wide aisles on the north and south sides of the chancel. The east end is terminated with a window of six lights, the head filled in with tracery. The stained glass in this window, executed by Messrs. Burlison and Grylls, of London, is illustrative of the "Te Deum." The twelve windows in the clerestory contain stained glass of excellent character, representing the heavenly choir and Twelve Apostles, likewise the work of Messrs. Burlison and Grylls. A stained-glass window on the south-east, and another on the north-east, are both the work of Messrs. Lavers and Westlake, of Manchester and London. The roof of the chancel is of the double hammer- beam description, the ends of the hammer- beams being terminated by angel figures holding musical instruments. A new organ has been erected by Messrs. Hill and Son, of London, in the north aisle of the chancel.  [Building News 6 November 1885 page 749].

Reference    Manchester Guardian 2 October 1883 page 6
Reference    Manchester Guardian 28 October 1885 Page 5
Reference    Building News 6 November 1885 page 749