Church of St Thomas Radcliffe

The first church on the site was constructed in 1819 "in the Grecian style," at a cost of £5,000  - at the sole expense of Eleanor Countess Grosvenor, later Marchioness of Westminster, possibly to the designs of James Wyatt or Lewis Wyatt who was to make extensive alterations at Heaton Hall. (1st Earl of Wilton 2nd Earl of Wilton was her son).Church opened for worship in June 1820. Church aligned north south with communion table placed on the east wall. A plan of the original church is held in Manchester Central Reference Library. By 1860 the church had become too small to meet the needs of the growing population and the decision was made to demolish and rebuild. Architectural competition recorded in the Builder, won by William Walker. The foundation stone for the new church was laid by Viscount Grey de Wilton M.P. (grandson of Eleanor) of Heaton Hall on 21 July 1862 and the church was consecrated on Saturday 8 October 1864 by James Prince Lee, first Bishop of Manchester.

Occupying a prominent position, overlooking the centre of Radcliffe, the new church followed the orientation of its predecessor roughly north-south, aligned with Thomas Street. As a result the altar is at the north end of the building. Seats in the body of the church were rented by pew-holders with free seating provided in the galleries, mainly for the children of the Sunday School. Unusually, the west windows of the aisles make it clear that they contain staircases. Costs, excluding the tower, amounted to £7,273 of which £4,175 was raised by public subscription, £1,348 being the proceeds of a bazaar, £300 received from the Diocesan Church Building Society and £1,500 from the Second Earl of Wilton, the church’s patron. The money was raised at the time of the Lancashire Cotton famine when the American Civil War disrupted the supply of raw cotton from the Southern states.

The building is calculated to accommodate 1200 people of which 512 - the entire accommodation of the galleries - are free sittings: and the plan consists of a nave 84 feet by 24 feet; north and south aisles, each 15 feet wide; chancel 35 feet 6 inches long and 19 feet wide, a western tower 17 feet square inside, a chapel at the east end of the north aisle for Lord Wilton and a vestry 13ft. by 10ft. 9in. at the east end of the south aisle. The staircases to the galleries are at the west end of the church, on either side of the tower, with entrances distinct from those to the body of the church.  The structure is designed in the perpendicular style of architecture, and externally the aisles are divided into six bays, with a three light window in each, with traceried heads; the clerestory, with a similar number of bays, having two‑light windows also with traceried heads. The western window in the tower as well as the eastern window in the chancel have five lights each, representing incidents in the life of our Saviour, the incredulity of St. Thomas, &c., and add much to the beauty of the structure.  These, as well as the rest of the stained glass, have been produced by Messrs. Edmondson.  The aisles, as also the clerestory, are surmounted by a bold and handsome battlement; and the north and south sides of the chancel, as well as the eastern gable, are ornamented with a pierced parapet of graceful design, divided by crocketted pinnacles, which form the terminations of the buttresses.  The external walling of the church is constructed of parpoints, with Hollington stone dressings. The tower is 120 feet high to the top of the pinnacles, and externally is 25 feet square.  It is divided into three stages above the entrance, respectively for the organ, the clocks, and belfry stage above.  The clock dials are centred in ornamental tracery, and the belfry windows are of three lights each, there being two on each side of the tower, the whole surmounted by a battlement, which is crowned by lofty crocketted pinnacles.  The whole of the timber is pitch pine, stained and varnished. The building is from the designs of Mr. W. Walker, St. Ann‑street, Manchester.  The contractor for the stone and brick work was Mr. A. Pilling, of Bolton; the rest of the works being carried out by Messrs. Allen, Howarth, and Co., of Radcliffe.  The heating apparatus was supplied by Messrs. Bland, of Bury; and the altar railing, which is of elegant design, was executed by Mr. Dovey, Manchester.  A beautiful memorial window, by Messrs. Edmundson, of Manchester, has been placed in the eastern end of the church.  It was given by the Astbury family, and is in memory of John Meir Astbury, of Stand Lodge, who died November 1, 1845. The pulpit, which is of pitch pine, is of octagonal form, supported upon an elaborately‑moulded pedestal, and cost £50, raised in subscriptions.

Although William Walker had prepared plans for the tower, lack of money delayed its construction. Further fund raising commenced in 1868 and work on the tower began in 1870. Built at a cost of £1,800, the tower was completed on 25 February 1871. The Bury Times described it as "being of excellent character and will compare favourably with any in the district." Supervising architects Cunliffe and Freeman of Bolton. Contractors A. Pilling of Bolton and J. Allen of Radcliffe. The tower was designed to hold a peal of bells but has never contained more than one.

Foundation stone of the new church laid 21 July 1862. Rebuilt and re-consecrated by the Bishop of Manchester on Saturday 8 October 1864. Tower added 1870-1

Reference    Manchester Courier Saturday 9 March 1861 Page 2 Column 6 (Contracts)
Reference    Manchester Courier Saturday 16 March 1861 Page 9 (Contracts)
Reference    Manchester Guardian, Saturday 1 October 1864 Page 1 - notices
Reference    Manchester Guardian, Monday 10 October 1864 Page 3 - extensive report
Reference    Manchester Courier Monday 10 October 1864 Page 3
Reference    Builder 5 November 1864 Page 816