Church of St Peter, Earle Street, Crewe

A new church is to be built at Crewe costing £7,000. Il will be on the site of the old iron church off Earle-street, lent by the London and North-Western Railway Company. Canon Webb, vicar of St. Paul's, left £3,000 towards the cost of the new church. [Building News 10 January 1913 page 54]

CREWE. -On Thursday, 5 June, the foundation-stone was laid of St Peter's Church in Earle-street. Mr. J. Brooke is the architect. The tenders ranged from £11,000, the highest, to £8,000. the lowest, and that of Mr. J. R. Goulden, of Crewe, was accepted. The church is being built with Hollington mottled stone from Uttoxeter. It is in the Early 16th century style, and will seat 550 people. [Building News 13 June 1913 Page 818]

The reports in Building News indicate that plans for the church had been made by the end of 1912 and the foundation stone laid by mid-1913; the commencement date given in the listing notice appears erroneous. Financial problems as a result of the First World War delayed further construction until the end of hostilities. Although still unfinished, the new church was dedicated on 5 May 1923. St Peter's became a separate parish in 1931, and the church was consecrated on 29 April of that year. John Brooke died in 1914. C E Elcock continued to practice alone in Manchester still under the style John Brooke and Elcock until 1922.

Reference        Building News 10 January 1913 page 54
Reference        Building News 13 June 1913 Page 818
Reference        Pevsner: Cheshire