Church of St Mary, Oldham Road, Balderstone, Rochdale

Contractors willing to Contract for the Excavation and Masons' Work required for the Foundation of St. Mary's Church, Balderstone can have all information. and see Plans and Specification by applying to Mr. J. M. Taylor. St. Ann's Churchyard, Manchester or to Messrs S Radcliffe and Sons, Greenfield Mills, Rochdale. [Rochdale Observer - Saturday 29 February 1868 page 1]

CONSECRATION OF NEW CHURCH IN ROCHDALE - The new Church of St Mary, Balderstone, Rochdale, was consecrated yesterday by the Bishop of Manchester. The site of the new church adjoins the main Oldham Road and the style of architecture is the decorated Gothic. The building is well lighted by a number of large and handsome windows, among which are a large five-light traceried window in the east chancel gable, a two-light window which lights the sanctuary, a three-light traceried window in the east gable of the organ chamber, and a rose window over 10 feet in diameter in the north gable of the transept. At the north-west corner is a steeple with a tower and spire rising to a height of nearly 150 feet; and under this is a porch forming the main entrance to the church. At the south-west corner is another entrance, through a gabled porch. All the windows are of stained glass, and the interior of the building, which is handsome and commodious, is very tastefully fitted up and decorated. The church completes a group of buildings comprising also a vicarage and schools, erected by the liberality of the Messrs Radcliffe of Rochdale. The architects are Messrs Medland and Henry Taylor, Manchester, and the general contractor is Mr Mark Foggett. [Manchester Guardian 2 July 1872 page 4]

Large, with a north-west steeple. Inside, four‑light stone screens between chancel and organ chamber and vestry. The only true Taylor touch is the north transept exterior. (The interior has polished granite columns and a central space with high transeptal arches and a yet higher chancel arch. The chancel roof is braced and cusped and panelled. The other roofs have scissor trusses. Worthwhile carving, especially of the roundels over the arcades. School south of the church, Parsonage south of the school.

ROCHDALE. -The new church of S. Mary, Balderstone, Rochdale, was consecrated on Monday last by the Bishop of Manchester. The site of this new edifice adjoins the main Oldham road, and the style of architecture is the Decorated Gothic. At the northwest corner is a steeple, with a tower and spire rising to a height of nearly 150 feet; and under this is a porch forming the main entrance to the church. In the spandrels of the nave arches there are six medallions, three on each side, containing the following subjects: The Annunciation; the Birth of Christ; S. Mary finding Christ in the Temple; the Marriage in Cana; Christ commending His Mother to the care of St John; and the Deposition from the Cross. At the west end are two similar medallions containing two subjects symbolical of baptism: the Passage of the Red Sea, and the Ark. The gas fittings are by Messrs Hart & Co., who here also executed the lectern and pulpit desk. There is a peal of eight bells by Messrs Mears & Co. The reredos, pulpit, and font .are by Messrs Earp & Co; and the medallions and the rest of the carving by Mr Evan Williams. The coloured decoration is by Messrs Best & Lea. The heating apparatus, by hot water pipes, is by Mr. Walker. The general contractor is Mr. Mark Foggett, who has carried out the work from the designs and under the superintendence of the architects, Messrs Medland & Henry Taylor, of Manchester. [Building News 5 July 1872 page 15] 

BALDERSTONE, ROCHDALE - St. Mary’s Church, which completes the group of buildings, comprising church, vicarage, and schools, - all erected by the liberality of the Messrs. Radcliffe, - has been consecrated by the Bishop of Manchester. The site is triangular in shape, bounded on the cast by the main Oldham-road; on the west by the old road to Oldham; and on the north by a street passing close to the churchyard, and leading to the Greenfield Mills. The principal view of the church, - if, indeed, one be superior to another, - is the north-east, which is seen on approaching the church from the town. It takes in the east chancel gable, mainly occupied by a large five-light traceried window. The stonework of the window is moulded, and on each side of it is a slender shaft, with a carved capital. This, like each of the main gables, is surmounted by a carved stone cross. The tracery of the windows is considerably varied, although there are some forty or fifty in the church, besides those of the belfry. On walking round the outside from the east towards the north, on the north side of the chancel is seen a two-light window, lighting the sanctuary; and further on, under the eaves, a pair of clearstorial rose windows. The east gable of the organ chamber, containing a three-light traceried window, a little square quatrefoil on the north side of the organ-chamber, and a small window on the east of the transept, come next in order. In the north gable in this transept is a rose window, 10  feet or more in diameter. Below it is a buttress, circular on plan, resting on an hexagonal base, and flanked on either side by a pair of narrow cusped windows. A carved band runs across this gable, above the large rose window. At the extreme north-west comer stands the steeple, with a tower and spire rising to a height of nearly 150 feet. The spire is a broached octagon, with canopied pinnacles rising from the broaches. The west gable contains a large four, light window; below it is a projection of some feet, with a battlemented cornice. The south elevation generally resembles the north, except that the details are different. In the interior, the marbles, granite, and alabaster; the coloured mural decoration; and the colours of the stained glass, all contribute to enhance the general effect. The eastern end especially attracts the eye. The chancel fittings are of oak. The east wall of the chancel is almost entirely occupied by the reredos and the east window. On each side of the chancel are large arches, opening into vestry and organ-chamber respectively. The east chancel-window is of five lights, and is filled with stained glass, in subjects, by Messrs. Heaton, Butler, & Bayne. The transept windows, and those at the west ends of the aisles, are also filled with stained glass by the same firm. The great west window, —which is a memorial one, - is filled with subjects all relating to the Resurrection. The rest of the glazing is in simple patterns in various shades. The church is lighted by brass gas standards, one in the centre of each of the nave arches. There are two gas coronas in the chancel and supported against the wall by floriated brass brackets. The general contractor is Mr. Mark Foggett, who has carried out the work from the designs, and under the superintendence, of the architects, Messrs. Medland & Henry Taylor, of Manchester. [Builder 3 August 1872 page 612-613]

Reference        Rochdale Observer - Saturday 29 February 1868 page 1
Reference        Builder 13 February 1869 Page 134 (tenders for new church at Balderstone Rochdale)
Reference        Building News 12 February 1869 page 147
Reference        Building News 5 July 1872 page 15
Reference        Builder 3 August 1872 page 612-613
Reference        Manchester Guardian 2 July 1872 page 4 - consecration