Building Name

Partial Restoration. Church of St James Hope Pendleton

Date
1874
District/Town
Hope, Salford
County/Country
GMCA, England
Work
Restoration
Contractor
Robert Neill and son

On Saturday afternoon St James’s Church, Hope, was re-opened for divine service, after undergoing partial restoration. The church was built in 1861 at an expenditure of £6,200, exclusive of the cost of the tower and spire which were subsequently added. It was a handsome edifice, with sitting accommodation for 630 persons. The foundations were laid upon the red sandstone, and the pillars supporting the nave had each a separate base of brickwork, headed with stone. It would seem, however, that the bases of the pillars were not made sufficiently solid, and in the course of time the pressure of the superstructure upon the columns pulverised the brick foundations, and in consequence the pillars gradually sank, lowering the roof of the church. The work of restoring the church to its original elevation has cost upwards of £1,200. The roof had to be screwed up and supported on immense beams, and the sunken columns had in like manner had to be raised while their basements were firmly laid upon the rock. The upper walls of the nave were also lightened by the removal of several heavy buttresses, which neither gave strength nor beauty to the building but added considerably to the weight of the superstructure. As may be imagined the work was one of much difficulty, but it has been successfully carried out, and fortunately without any disfigurement of the church. Mr J S Crowther was the architect, and Messrs Robert Neill and son were the builders to whom the restoration was entrusted. [Manchester Guardian 5 October 1874 page 6]

Reference           Manchester Guardian 5 October 1874 page 6