Christ Church, Church Lane, Harpurhey

Still of the Commissioners type and uncouth in the handing of the west tower with spire and big pinnacles. The bell openings are a stepped triplet of lancets, so are the side windows of the church, placed between close set buttresses. Aisle-less interior with three galleries. Open roof with heavy tracery. [Pevsner]

TO BUILDERS - HARPURHEY AND MOSTON CHURCH, NEAR MANCHESTER - Persons desirous of CONTRACTING for all or any of the WORKS required in erecting a New Church, at Hurpurhey, may see the plans and specification at the warehouse of Messrs. Edward and James Andrew, No. 60 Church-street, Manchester, from Wednesday the 26th instant to Saturday the 6th of May next, between the hours of nine in the morning and six in the afternoon of each day. Sealed tenders must be sent in addressed to the Committee, at the said warehouse, before six o'clock on the afternoon of the said 6th of May. - any information on the subject may be obtained by application (post-paid) to Mr. Welch, architect, Liverpool. By order of the Committee. EDWARD WELCH, Architect 26, Renshaw Street, Liverpool, 17th April, 1837. [Manchester Guardian 22 April 1837 page 1]

LAYING THE FIRST STONE OF THE HARPURHEY AND MOSTON NEW CHURCH - The ceremony of laying the "chief corner stone" of a new church, to be built at Harpurhey by the Manchester and Eccles Church Building Society, assisted by donations from several benevolent individuals, took place on Monday last. The site selected for the building is a plot of land immediately above the turnpike gate. almost in the centre of the village of Harpurhey, and close to the high road. On this occasion there was a procession of clergy of this town and neighbourhood: several influential gentlemen of the laity; and the Sunday schools of Harpurhey, Blakely, Newton, and Lamb Lane.  The inscription upon the trowels presented to Mr. Taylor and Mr. Andrew was, with the requisite alteration in the name, as follows;— Presented by the Manchester and Eccles Church Building Society to Edward Andrew, Esq. on the occasion of his laying the first stone of the new church, Harpurhey, 10th July 1837."….. The church is to be a plain Gothic structure; Mr Welch of Liverpool, who furnished the plans of the Birmingham Town Hall, being the architect. The inside dimensions will be 85 feet by 45 feet, independent or the chancel, and the church will have a porch and vestry on each side. The principal contributors to the fund for building the church are as follow: Edward Andrew, Esq. £250, and the reversion of part of the land on which the church is to be built, value £75; Samuel Taylor Esq. £300, and land value£100; the executors of the late Robert Andrew, Esq. £200; Earl Wilton. £105; Robert Thorpe. Esq. surgeon, £105; Mr. Taylor, of Oldfield Lane, Salford, £100; Mr Hilton, Harpurhey £50; Mr Jonathan Andrew, £50; Mr. John Andrew, £30; and Mr Sanderson, Ivy cottage, £20. [Manchester Guardian 12 July 1837 page 4]

CONSECRATION OF CHRIST CHURCH HARPURHEY AND MOSTON - On Monday, September 24 1838, this new Church will be consecrated by the Right Rev. the Lord Bishop of Chester. Divine service will commence at eleven o'clock. The Bishop will preach on the occasion, and a collection will afterwards be made to defray the expense of enclosing the Church Yard. [Manchester Guardian 22 September 1838 page 1]

Reference    Manchester Guardian 19 April 1837 – contracts   
Reference    Manchester Guardian 12 July 1837 page 4 – foundation stone
Reference    Manchester Guardian 22 September 1838 page 1 consecration -
Reference    Pevsner South Lancashire page 315
Reference    Hartwell, Hyde and Pevsner Lancashire: Manchester and the South East page 394