Chancel to Alderley Parish Church

ALDERLEY CHURCH - A beautiful little chancel has just been added to this venerable old church, by Messrs Starkey and Cuffley, architects, of Manchester, we believe at the expense of Lord Stanley of Alderley. The style is decorated. The large window of five lights is in good proportion with rich flowing tracery; the side windows the same, are light and well-proportioned, especially the one on the south side, which is richly cusped. All the side windows are filled with ornamental glass. The one on the south side contains St. Paul and St. Peter under rich canopies, with a small subject taken from the lives of each; viz under St. Paul the subject is the apostle before Agrippa, with text "Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian," etc; that under St Peter, Christ's charge "Feed my sheep." In the tracery, surrounded with suitable ornaments are the emblems of the two apostles, viz the keys and the sword. The windows on the north side are filed with ornamental quarry glass, with neat borders,, except the tracery which is filled up with designs in rich colours. The whole of the ornamental glass has been designed and executed by Messrs R B Edmundson & Son, who, we have been informed, have commenced this beautiful art in this city, and who were highly complemented by Lord Stanley, both on the design and execution of the windows. The floor is laid with Minton=s encaustic tiles which look very chaste, the patterns harmonising with the ornamental glass. Altogether it is a beautiful chancel, but it is to be regretted that it abuts upon a nave which is in a most dilapidated state, and which very much mars the beauty of the church as a whole. No doubt this will be remedied before long. 

THE PARISH CHURCH ALDERLEY —This venerable and interesting fabric has recently been very greatly improved and beautified by the rebuilding of the chancel style of magnificence and regardlessness of expense that entitle those who liberally contributed the necessary funds the gratitude and respect of all who feel a veneration for and attachment to the " landmarks of our land." Situate in a district abounding in charming and beautiful scenery, the parish church of Alderley, with its "ivy-mantled tower," has long been an object of interest the neighbourhood. The fabric generally has been kept in creditable repair, but the chancel having got into a dilapidated state, the noble patron of the living, Lord Stanley of Alderley, resolved to rebuild it, and Starkey and Cuffley, of Manchester, were instructed to prepare the necessary designs, which were approved of, and the work let to Messrs. Bowden, Edwards, and Forster, also of Manchester. The work was commenced about the middle of last, and completed early the present year, the re-opening of the church, after the alterations, taking place on Whit-Sunday; Divine Service, during the period when the renovation was going on, having been celebrated the school-room adjacent. The whole of the expense of rebuilding the chancel has been most liberally defrayed by Lord Stanley. The cost of the eastern window was paid by a handsome subscription among the neighbouring parishioners, who were desirous of evincing their respect for the deceased nobleman to whose memory erected, and at the same time of furnishing an adjunct to the adornment of the church where their forefathers worshipped. The parish also put ample means at the disposal of the churchwardens for repairing and beautifying the nave, and it has also undergone a thorough renovation. The greatest improvement, however, is the removal of the old, and the substitution of handsome stone pulpit, placed in its proper position at the north-east angle of the nave; it is hexagonal, stands on a carved pedestal, and has Gothic mouldings on each panel. It has been furnished at the expense of the worthy and much-esteemed rector, the Rev. W. G. Crutteuden. The whole of the work is of the best and most substantial description, and does credit to the sub-contractors Mr. Samuel Broadhurst, of Alderley, for the stonework, and Mr. Steadman for the carving. [Manchester Courier 28 June 1856 page 5]

East window by Wailes of Newcastle.

Reference    Manchester Guardian 4 April 1856
Reference    Manchester Courier 28 June 1856 page 5
Reference    Builder 19 April 1856 page 218