St Chad’s Church Romiley Cheshire

Designed as a replacement for the original church in the village of Romiley. This original building had passed into the hands of the Dissenters and used as a meeting house before becoming a cow-barn. Eventually restored to its original purpose, its size and state of repair led to the decision in 1862 to construct a new church. Notwithstanding the optimism expressed in the Builder report, progress appears to have been slow. Not until August 1863 were tenders invited for the work and not until 1866 was the church finally consecrated.

Land to the extent of an acre and a half has been given by Mr L Heyworth; and arrangements have been made for commencing the new church in the early part of the new year. Accommodation will be provided for about 600 persons in a church to consist of chancel, with apsidal sanctuary; a nave, with north and south aisles and transepts; and a north-west tower, which will be capped by a well-proportioned broach spire; underneath the tower is the baptistry. On the north of the chancel is the organ chamber, and on the south the vestry. The architect whose designs have been selected, and to whose superintendence the erection of the building is intrusted, is Mr J Medland Taylor of Manchester. [Builder 20 December 1862 Page 915].

ROMILEY, STOCKPORT - The Chad’s Church has been consecrated. The land on which this new stone edifice has been built and the burial ground formed was given by Mr Lawrence Heyworth, of Birch Vale, Romiley. It is about an acre in extent. The edifice can be seen from  nearly all parts of the parish, though its spire is not yet executed. The total cost of the church (exclusive of the spire) will be about £3,500. The church is entered through a central western door which has carved pillars and arch mouldings. Immediately on the left hand , at the end of the north aisle, is the baptistry, forming the basement of the tower, and containing a font of Caen stone. The nave is of four bays, the eastern being the widest, and opening north and south into transepts. The south transept is the deepest, and is devoted to school children. The north aisle is of two bays, and the south of three. The whole of the floors, excepting under the seats, are laid with tiles in patterns. The central apse window is filled with stained glass by Messrs Heaton Butler and Bayne of London, and the two side apse with diamond quarry glass, a coloured pattern being painted on each diamond, by Messrs Edmundson of Manchester. These three windows are given by Mr Wright. Two rose windows, of different designs, pierce the gables of the two transepts, and there is a large four-light traceried window over the west door. Outside the edifice there are several carved caps, bosses and heads; and inside the capitals of all the pillars have been carved by Mr Williams of Manchester. These are of white Bath stone, red circular shafts of Nottinghamshire stone supporting them. The roofs are covered with red and blue tiles, and, there being no clerestory, the nave roof runs over the aisles. The church has been built by Messrs Thackrah and Peirce of Stockport, from the designs of the architect, Mr J Medland Taylor of Manchester. It contains 600 sittings. [Builder 28 April 1866 page 312]

Reference    Builder 20 December 1862 Page 915
Reference    Builder 28 April 1866 page 312
Reference    Manchester Guardian Saturday 1 August 1863 Page 2 (Contracts)
Reference    Manchester Courier 1 August 1863 page 2 - contracts
Reference    Pevsner: county: Cheshire