Congregational Church Altrincham

THE NEW CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH ALTRINCHAM - The independent church of Altrincham and Bowden have for many years been accustomed to assemble for public worship in an old and small chapel, at the foot of Bowdon Downs. This chapel, having long been insufficient for the increasing congregation, it was determined to erect a new and larger building, and a very eligible site was secured on an elevated position to the right of the road leading from Altrincham to Bowdon just above the Downs. The designs of Messrs Travis and Mangnall, architects of this city were adopted, and the style selected is one not often seen in the churches of this denomination; but which is, perhaps, of all,  the most suitable for ecclesiastical architecture in this age and climate - the Gothic of the English which prevailed in this country during the earlier half of the sixteenth century. It is somewhat ornamental in its character, having traceried windows, the jambs of which, as well as of the doors, are handsomely moulded and quoined. The hood moulds are terminated with neat carvings. The church is a parallelogram, with piers and arches, having an entrance doorway to the front, which faces the road and the east and two entrance porches at the sides near the east end, with a vestry on the north side near the west end of the building, under which the heating apparatus is placed. A window of four lights, with tracery and ogee canopy, and flanked by small pinnacled buttresses forms the main feature of the front elevation. On either side are niches, intended to contain staues. The sides of the building are divided, by boldly projecting buttresses with canopied terminals, into six bays or divisions, in each of which is a two-light window with quatrefoil tracery. The whole of the windows have a decorative boarder of stained glass, and the remainder of the glass is frosted, and diapered with the fleur-de-lis. The windows, which subdue the light, otherwise too strong, give a very rich effect to the interior. About one fourth of its length from the west end, the interior is marked rather than divided by a projecting arch, within which, at the west end are placed the open space for the communion table, the organ, which is immediately in front of the west window, and the seats for the choir in front of the organ and forming three sides of the quadrangle within which stands the communion table, the fourth side being open for entrance. The pulpit, of octagonal form and Gothic style, in keeping with the building, is placed near the north wall of the chapel, just outside the dividing arch, being similarly situated to the pulpits in some cathedrals. The roof-beams and the arched timbers which support them are all visible, and being ornamental in form, and painted to resemble dark oak, they add considerably to the pleasing effect of the interior. There are four ranges of pews, which are entered by two side aisles. These seats are in character intermediate between the closely-boxed and high-partitioned pews so much in fashion in the last century, and the open benches which are beginning to be in favour in many places of worship. The partitions are low, and the pews have no doors, so that ingress and egress are more easy than where doors have to be opened and closed again. It is calculated that the building contains seat accommodation for about 500 persons, including a reserve of free seats. Since the completion of the chapel, the trustees were fortunate enough to obtain a fine, full toned organ, built for a gentleman in the neighbourhood, and which is admirably adapted for the size of the building. Its tone and capabilities have been tried and approved by Mr William Shore of this city. It has been enclosed, since its purchase, in an ornamental Gothic case so as to harmonise with the building, and it is raised only a few feet from the floor. .. The general effect of the interior is exceedingly light and pleasing. We understand that the cost of the building, including the freehold land for its site, the heating apparatus - hot water pipes being conducted along the aisles close to the floor, and the lighting, which will be by gas candelabra, pendant from the roof beams, will be about ,2,800. The church was opened for public worship on Thursday last. [Manchester Guardian 10 June 1848 Page 8]

The church was extended in 1868. Porch added by G F Armitage in 1921 as a war memorial. The church was attended by many well-known local families including the Howarths, the Armitages and the Milnes.

Reference    Manchester Guardian 10 June 1848 Page 8 Column 1
Reference    Frank Bamford: Men & Mansions of Dunham Massey. Page 24