Christ Church, Wilmslow Road, Woodford

Built in 1841 as a chapel of ease to Prestbury parish church. James Andrew of Deanwater House contributed to the cost, and the first baptism to be conducted at the church was that of his son Charles Edward in April 1842. The church was not consecrated until 1872, and in 1873 it became a separate parish. Pevsner does not name an architect, but Heather Braddock in her history of the church identifies him as Edward Blore, who was remodelling Capesthorne Hall at the same time for Edward Davies Davenport. The style is 17th century – brick, no chancel, flat headed mullioned windows. Pevsner calls it “a baffling case of conservatism”. The interior was refurbished in 1870-2 to the designs of the then vicar the Revd Peter Wild – wooden window surrounds with segmental hoods, ball and obelisk finials and painted texts; sanctuary panelling with relief figures of prophets and saints; west end gallery with impressive organ case. Box pews, probably from Poynton church, were installed at the same time to replace benches. The woodcarving was executed by William Leicester of Macclesfield. The finials on the doors and windows were replaced in 1987 to the original design.

Reference           Heather F Braddock, Christ Church, Woodford: A Short History and Guide, 2012