Church of All Saints, Foxholes Road, Hamer, Rochdale

ALL SAINTS' CHURCH, HAMER. The corner stone of this proposed new church is be laid to-day. It is to be built on a remarkably eligible site adjoining the grounds of Mr Entwlsle, Foxholes, by whom the ground is presented. The rapid fall of the ground on the south and west will greatly add the effectiveness of the buildings and the neighbouring shrubberies are also no small advantage. The plan of the church consists of a rectangular chancel, having north and south aisles, the former of which, under a lean-to roof, roof, will contain the organ; and the latter, gabled towards the east, is arranged for vestries for the clergy and choristers. A lofty arch, springing from corbelled marble columns, marks the division between chancel and nave; the latter is of six bays, with north and south aisles, the pillars supporting the arcades of which have carved and flowered capitals of white stone and cylindrical shafts of fine red sandstone. At the south-west corner of the south aisle is the steeple, the basement of which forms a spacious porch, and is the chief entrance to the church. Just inside the inner tower door is the font, raised a step; and opposite to it, the north wall, is another door for congregational use, and more especially for exit. From the south aisle projects a double transept, equal to two nave bays in length, and with a porch and double doorway for the use of the school children, whose seats are here. There is central passage up the nave of rather more than ordinary width, and other passages each, aisle for access to seats. These the chancel floor will laid with tiles in pattern. The chancel rises two steps from the nave, the sacrarium two step more, and the Lord's table stands upon foot pace. In the south chancel wall is an arched recess for Sedilia, in the north wall a credence niche. The altar rails will be low and as open possible. Facing north and south are stalled seats for the men and boys who sing in the choir. To the west of the choristers' seats, on either side, are the prayer desks, two stalls being reserved for the officiating ministers. In the nave, against the north pier of the arch, stands the pulpit; the south side the Bible lectern. The chancel fittings will be all of oak. The style of architecture is what is technically called early "second pointed," or, in other words, "early decorated." There is crispness and vigour about the forms this period of architecture which commend it to the uninitiated as well as to the ecclesiologist. The spire will rise to total height of 133 feet from the ground. Its springing from the tower is marked by boldly carved cornice, and the broaches at the four corners do not slope or die into the spire as is usual, but stand out pinnacle fashion, and are terminated by carved finials. The belfry is adapted to receive a full octave of bells, with about a 14 cwt. tenor. On the south face of the tower, in its lowest stage, a shallow open porch, with moulded, enriched, and shafted archway, through which the tower porch before spoken of is entered. There a large west window four lights, and eastern window of five lights. The aisle windows are of two and three lights, and clerestorial lights are circular and cusped. From the south chancel wall rises the chimney, not disguised, but made to look if it would servo its purpose, which means involves ugliness ns necessity. Each main gable is surmounted by a cross, and the minor ones moulded finials. The church will, of course, in this stone country, be of stone, and altogether there will be eight or nine kinds employed. The roofs will be slated, with coloured bands, and the ridges finished with ornamental cresting. There will seats for about 650 persons in open benches of easy height and slope; and the endeavour will made to make the churchgoers feel comfortable, not only by the form of the seats, but careful attention to light by day and night, warmth in winter, coolness in summer, good ventilation, and freedom from draughts. The contracts have been taken by William Leach for the masonry, James Dawson for the joiner's work, W. H. Best and Brother for the plastering and painting, George Kirkley for the slating, and John Kershaw for the remaining trades. The architect is Mr J. Medland Taylor, of St. Anne's Churchyard, Manchester. [Manchester Courier 29 April 1865 page 6]

ROCHDALE - All Saints' Church, Hamer, near Rochdale, the corner stone of which was laid on Saturday, by Mr. J. S. Entwisle, of Foxholes, is being built on an eligible site adjoining the grounds of that gentleman, by whom it is presented. The plan includes a rectangular chancel, with north and south aisles, the former of which, under a lean-to roof, will contain the organ; and the latter, gabled towards the east, contains vestries. A lofty arch, springing from corbelled marble columns, will mark the division between chancel and nave. The latter will be of six bays, with north and south aisles, the pillars supporting the arcades of which will have carved and flowered capitals of white stone, and cylindrical shafts of fine red sandstone. At the south-west corner of the south aisle will be the steeple, the basement of which will form a spacious porch and be the chief entrance to the church. From the south aisle will project a double transept equal to two nave bays in length, and with a porch and double doorway for the use of the school children. The style of architecture is Early Decorated. The spire will rise to a total height of 133 ft. from the ground. The belfry will be adapted to receive a full octave of bells, with about a 14 cwt. tenor. The church will be of stone, and altogether there will be eight or nine kinds employed. The roofs will be slated, with coloured bands, and the ridges finished with ornamental cresting. There will be seats for about 650 persons, in open benches. The architect is Mr. J. M. Taylor, of St. Ann's churchyard, Manchester. [Building News 12 May 1865 page 345-346]

HAMER (MANCHESTER) -The corner stone of the proposed new church of All Saints, Hamer, has been laid. It is to be built on a site adjoining the grounds of Mr Entwistle, of Foxholes by whom the ground is presented.  The rapid fall of the ground on the south and the west will add to the effectiveness of the building. The plan of the church consists of a rectangular chancel having north and south aisles, the former of which, under a lean-to roof, will contain the organ; and the latter, gabled towards the east, is arranged for vestries for the clergy and choristers. A lofty arch, springing from corbelled marble columns, marks the division be- tween chancel and nave: the latter is of six bays, with north and south aisles, the pillars supporting the arcades of which have carved and flowered capitals of white stone, and cylindrical shafts of red sandstone. At the south- west corner of the south aisle is the steeple, the basement of which forms a porch, and is the chief entrance to the church. From the south aisle projects a double transept, equal to two nave bays in length, and with a porch and double doorway for the use of the school children, whose seats are here. The chancel rises two steps from the nave, the sacrarium two steps more, and the Lord's table stands upon a foot pace. The style is Early Decorated. The spire will rise to a total height of 133 ft. from the ground. The belfry is adapted to receive a full octave of bells, with about a 14-cwt. tenor. On the south face of the tower, in its lowest stage, is a shallow open porch, with moulded, enriched, and shafted archway, through which the tower porch is entered. There is a large west window of four lights, and an eastern window of five lights. The aisle windows are of two and three lights, and the clerestorial lights are circular and cusped. From the south chancel wall rises the chimney, not disguised. The church will be of stone, and altogether there will be eight or nine kinds employed. The roofs will be slated, with coloured bands, and the ridges finished with ornamental cresting. There will be seats for about 650 persons in open benches. The contracts have been taken by Mr. W. Leach, for the masonry; J. Dawson, for the joiner's work; W. H. Best and Brother, for the plastering and painting; G. Kirkley, for the slating; and J. Kershaw, for the remaining trades. The architect is Mr J. M. Taylor, of Manchester. [The Builder 13 May 1865 page 341]

This must have been an inexpensive job. SW tower with broach spire. Nave and aisles, some capitals with non-archeological decoration. Only a touch of the rouge here and there e.g in the south transept doorway (Pevsner Lancashire: South)

Foundation    1 May 1865
Consecrated     22 November 1866.

Reference    Manchester Courier 29 April 1865 page 6
Reference    Manchester Courier Saturday 25 February 1865 page 6 - contracts
Reference    Manchester Courier Monday 1 May 1865 page 3 – foundation stone ceremony
Reference    Building News 12 May 1865 page 345-346
Reference    The Builder 13 May 1865 page 341