St John the Evangelist Oldham Road Miles Platting

Designed by J E Gregan and completed after his death by W R Corson. The costs of building were defrayed by Sir Benjamin Heywood who also paid for a school, baths and mechanics institute The Church was demolished in 1972-3. Church of St Cuthbert built on the site (Wyke)

CONSECRATION OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH, MILES PLATTING. —The new church of St. John, Miles Platting, which has been erected Sir Benjamin Heywood, Bart., at a cost of £3,500, was consecrated Thursday by the Right Rev. the Lord Bishop of Manchester. The church designed by the late Mr. John E. Gregan, architect, and some progress was made with the building before his unexpected death, April last. Mr W. R. Corson, architect, completed the work, and supplied some designs which were left unfinished by Mr. Gregan. The district contains a population of 6,000, and divine service has hitherto, been held in the school-room adjoining the church. The church is Italian in style, and similar in general character to the ecclesiastical edifices erected in (principally the north of) Italy, previous to the revival of classic architecture. It is constructed mainly of red brick, with stone string courses, &c., and black brick decorations. In plan it consists of vestibule, tower containing staircase, north porch, nave of six bays, north aisle of  five bays, chancel of one bay, semi-circular apse, and vestry. The chancel bay is recessed on the north side to receive the organ. At the west end is the gallery for children, to seat 200. The extreme length of nave, chancel, and apse is 120 ft. 3in.; width of nave and aisle together, 38ft. 6 inches, and of nave and chancel (which are equal), 24ft. 4in.; height of nave in the centre, 44ft. height of tower top of cornice, 81 feet five inches. The four nave pillars and four responds in nave and chancel are each in one stone, 2ft. diameter by 11 feet 9 inches high; from their caps spring semi-circular arches. The windows and doors, with one exception, are round-headed or round. The west window is "wheel" of eight arched compartments, radiating from a central ring. The apse has five windows. At present, there is no stained glass, but all the openings are filled with leaded lights of six-sided panes. The chancel and apse are vaulted in panelled plaster work. In the nave and aisle, the roof principals are visible, with plain raking ceiling between. Two or three points are noticeable this church. Contrary to the practice of late years, it has a vestibule and close porch. For want of this some after expedient has been generally resorted to in new churches ; such as inner porches of wood work, or hanging curtains to prevent draughts, and preserve a genial temperature within. The seats are low and broad, and have low and leaning backs, so as to permit a congregation to sit with comfort. They are without doors. All the seats in the south side of the nave have been set apart as free. Those in the chancel are reserved for the incumbent, the patron, and the choir. The pulpit stands on the south side of the chancel arch, and the reading desk close to it; there will be no clerk's desk. At the back the communion table are the ten commandments, in gold, upon a panel containing the monogram, “IHS” and the divine injunction, 'Do this remembrance of me.” The Church contains sittings for 507 and 200 children. The general contractors were Messrs. Hay, M'Nish, and Company of Gloucester Street, Oxford Road; who have most creditably performed their work.  Messrs. Hollins (mason), Anderson (bricklayer, Heyworth (plumber) and Kerr (plasterer and painter) were the sub-contractors and Mr Padley supplied the heating apparatus. [Manchester Courier 29 December 1855 page 7]

Reference    Manchester Guardian 28 December 1855 page 3
Reference    Builder 12 January 1856 page 17
Reference    Pevsner Buildings of England: Lancashire: South page 300