Church of St. Philip Alderley Edge.

Reference: Manchester Guardian 25 May 1850 page 2 – contracts.

Reference: Manchester Courier 15 January 1853 page 9 – consecration

St Philip Alderley Edge is ecclesiological and inexpensive- £3500 (excluding spire). Late decorated style, based on 3-aisled hall churches of 15th century Devon. It marks the beginnings of Crowther's emphasis on the chancel arch and steps and the importance of chancel, idea of Church Triumphant.  The tower was placed at the SW corner of the nave not because this made the view of the church aesthetically pleasing but because Pugin said in "Present State of Christian Architecture" that putting it there captures "the true spirit of pointed design ... (with) picturesque effects...(and) naturalness."  Unlike Pugin, Crowther saw the revival of Gothic as living and growing and was prepared to introduce "foreign" elements such as constructional polychromy cf. Butterfield in the roof of St Philip and the encaustic tile floor.