East End Chirch of St Mary Eccles

Eastern gallery removed. Chancel rebuilt Chapel of St Catherine on the south side of the church rebuilt. Western or tower entrance re-opened and door restored (This area previously used as a vestry). Tablets from original chancel repositioned on walls of porch. Old organ removed. New organ. Roof of chancel of oak, formed and panelled. New vestry and porch built on the north side of the Trafford Chapel.As both the new vestry and St Catherine’s Chapel were built over part of the churchyard which is closely filled with graves. cast iron piles were screwed down to the rock at the intersection of the graves under each angle of the new building. Arches of brickwork were built between and the stonework built off these. New font of Caen stone. [John Holden son of Isaac]

RESTORATION or ECCLES CHURCH— For twelve months, great improvements have been in progress at Eccles Church, Manchester, and the restored structure was re-opened for public worship last Saturday. The foundation of Eccles church is at least seven centuries old, and the building is one of the most interesting in this diocese. An unsightly gallery which formerly filled the east end has been removed, to the increased comfort and accommodation of the congregation. There are now teats for 1,100 persons. The alterations have cost 126,000, including £800 for stained glass windows. Most of the money has been raised by donations. Eccles church is rich in memorial tablets, which have been carefully preserved and removed to better positions. St. Catherine's Chapel has been carefully restored, and a large new organ (made by Hill, of London) has been placed in the south nave. The front is decorated with illuminated pipes. There are several large and fine stained-glass memorial windows, by Hardman, of Birmingham, and Ward and Hughes. That on the south-east side is the gift of Alderman Bennett, of Manchester, in memory of two of his children, and depicts scenes from the life of our Saviour. The other windows are the gifts of Charles Smith, Esq., Sir E. Armitage, Robert Chadwick, Esq., Thomas Cooke, Esq., the Heywood family, and the Vicar of Eccles. Messrs Minton and Co. supplied the mosaics for the flooring of the chancel, etc, and the carved seats near the altar are by Hodson, of Manchester. The pulpit has been moved a little towards the east, and placed against the pier of the chancel arch, above and beyond it is a framed and panelled oak roof of a very substantial character, and in harmony with the roof of the other portions of the church. On the south side and opposite the pulpit has been placed the reading desk. On the new roof is painted the armorial hearings of the Bishop, the Vicar, the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Royal Arms, the Abbey of Whalley, and some others. On the panels of the pulpit there is some moulded gothic tracery, to match the moulded and glazed screen which separates the chancel from the side aisles. The vestry is a new erection and built on the north side of the church. The whole of the alterations, renovations, and improvements, have been made from designs by Mr. Holden, of Manchester. [Church Times, London, 21 March 1863 page 53]

ECCLES (LANCASHIRE)—For twelve months great improvements have been in progress at the parish church at Eccles, and the restored structure has been re-opened. A gallery, which formerly filled the east end, has been removed. There are now seats for 1,400 persons. The alterations have cost  £6,000, including 8002. for stained glass windows. Most of the money has been raised by donations. St. Catherine's Chapel has been restored, and a large new organ (made by Hill, of London) has been placed in the south nave. There are several large and fine stained glass memorial windows by Messrs. Hardman, of Birmingham, and Ward & Hughes. That on the south-east side is the gift of Alderman Bennett, of Manchester, in memory of two of his children, and depicts scenes from the life of our Saviour. The other windows are the gifts of Mr. C. Smith, Sir E. Armitage, Mr. It. Chadwick, Mr. T. Cooke, the Heywood family, and the Vicar of Eccles. Messrs. Minton & Co. supplied the mosaics for the flooring of the chancel, &c, and the carved seats near the altar were by Hodson, of Manchester. On the new roof are painted the armorial bearings of the bishop, the vicar, the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Royal Arms, the Abbey of Whalley, and some others. On the panels of the pulpits there is some moulded Gothic tracery, to match the moulded and glazed screen which separates the chancel from the side aisles. A large window has been put into the west gallery, to throw light into the belfry. The vestry is a new erection, and built on the north side of the church. The whole of the renovations, alterations, and improvements, have been made from designs by Mr Holden, of Manchester, and worked out under the direction of Mr. J. Lawton, of Manchester, as clerk of the works. The con tractors for stonework were Messrs. H. & J. Paterson; carpentry, Mr J. Bradburn; plastering and painting, Mr J. Kerr; plumbing, Mr B. Helsby; slating, Mr. John Brittain. [Builder 21 March 1863 page 210]

Reference    John Holden “Original drawings of churches and other buildings, principally in Lancashire, restored or erected under the supervision of John Holden, architect, Manchester.” Two volumes 1861-66. Manchester Central Library
Reference    Church Times, London, 21 March 1863 page 53
Reference    Builder 21 March 1863 page 210
Reference    Pevsner Page 107 + index  - erroneously ascribed to James Platt Holden