St Paul’s Church Oldham Road, New Cross, Manchester

St Paul New Cross is probably the last building with which (Sir Gilbert) Scott can be associated. He did not live to see it completed, and the bulk of his practice was already in the hands of his son John Oldrid Scott*. St. Paul is a much more interesting building from the outside than from the inside.  The site is irregular, and the tower, which is a nobly proportioned feature, has been cleverly fitted into the north-east corner.  Its four sides terminate in gables, in the manner of the tower of Sompting, but there the resemblance ends, for the design is in the style of the fourteenth century and is surmounted by a small spire.  Altogether the building is no disfigurement to Manchester, and provides a salutary termination to the long monotony of Oldham Road. [Stones of Manchester page 57]

* John Oldrid Scott is given as the architect responsible for the design from the time of the first reports of 1876. By this time Sir G G Scott was in failing health and probably had little involvement in the commission.

ST. PAUL’s CHURCH, MANCHESTER - THIs church has been designed to occupy a very peculiar site in the Oldham-road, and the result is that the plan is irregular and somewhat unusual. As a large number has to be accommodated in proportion to the area of the site, galleries for children are placed north and south of the chancel; they are, however, kept well back from the line of the arcade, so that their appearance will not materially affect the appearance of the church. Large vestries for the clergy and choir, as well as a parish room for meetings, are provided in a basement. The church is of necessity short from east to west, the whole site being only 100ft. long; the effect of this is that the chancel, which has to provide for 50 choristers, is nearly as long as the nave. The design of nave and chancel has been made nearly uniform, the height and width being alike. The chancel arch is about 30ft. broad by 50ft. high. The span being large, the choir proper stands detached from the arcade, surrounded by a stone wall and low iron screen. The altar is raised some ten steps above the nave, and the arrangements of the choir generally are ample and convenient. The intention of the architect throughout has been to overcome the disadvantages of the site, and in doing so to force them to give character and individuality to the building. The materials outside are Yorkshire parpoints and Runcorn stone; inside the walls will be plastered for decoration. The contract for the body of the church and the lower part of the tower has been taken by Messrs. Collins and Cullis, of Tewkesbury, at the rate of about 8d. per cubic foot. The church will accommodate rather over 1,000. [Building News 10 September 1875 page 2]

ST PAUL’S CHURCH, OLDHAM ROAD – The foundation stone of St Paul’s Church Oldham Road was laid on Saturday by Mr E S Heywood. Previous to the ceremony divine service was held in the Iron Church, Tib Street. … The new building will supply the place of the old church in Turner Street, which has been taken down to enable Messrs Philips and Company to extend their warehouse. The cost, amounting to £12,000, exclusive of the upper part of the tower, had been provided for in the purchase money for the old church and the ground on which it stood. The style is the early decorated, and the materials used are Yorkshire parpoint stone relieved by red stone from the Runcorn quarries. Beneath the building at the east end, there will be a large parish room and two vestries. In the area of the church accommodation will be provided for 700 worshippers, and the galleries will furnish seats for 300 children. The architect is Mr J O Scott, of London, son of Sir Gilbert Scott; and the builders Messrs Collins and Cullis of Tewkesbury. [Manchester Guardian 3 July 1876 page 6]

MANCHESTER - The foundation stone of St. Paul's Church, Oldham Road, Manchester, was laid on Saturday. The new building will cost £12,000. The style is Early Decorated, and the materials used are Yorkshire parpoint stone, relieved by red stone from the Runcorn quarries. Beneath the building at the east end there will be a large parish-room and two vestries. In the area of the church accommodation will be provided for 700 worshippers, and the galleries will furnish seats for 300 children. The architect is Mr. J. O. Scott, and the builders Messrs Collins and Cullis, of Tewkesbury. [Building News 7 July 1876 page 21]  

CHURCH OF ST. PAUL—Th8 foundation or memorial stone of the new church now in course of erection in Oldham-road, for the parishioners of St. Paul’s, Turner-street, was laid on Saturday week by Mr. E. S. Heywood, banker, to whom a silver trowel, bearing a suitable inscription, was presented for the purpose, by Mr. George Milner, a member of the Building Committee. The edifice, which is to supply the want created by the demolition of the old church in Turner-street, the site of which is required by Messrs. J. and N. Philips dc Co., for warehouse extension, is to be constructed in the Early Decorated style of architecture, and the materials to be used are Yorkshire parpoint relieved by red stone from Runcorn. It is estimated that the church will seat about 1,000 persons, including 300 children, for whom a gallery will be provided. The south side of the church is rather irregular in consequence of the outline of the site, and the aisle on that side will partake of the irregularity. There will be a cradle roof of pitch-pine, and the chancel will be finished with oak fittings. Beneath the church there is to be a large parish room and two vestries. The cost of the erection of the building will be about £12,000, irrespective of the upper half of the tower; the total cost, exclusive of ornamentation, is estimated at between £14,000 and £15,000, nearly the whole of which will be provided by the sum received from Messrs. Philips for the site of the old fabric. The architect is Mr. J. 0. Scott, of London, son of Sir Gilbert Scott; and the builders are Messrs. Collins & Cullis, of Tewkesbury. The memorial stone is faced with polished granite on which is the following inscription: “This stone was laid July 1st, 1876, by E. S. Heywood, Esq., J.P.; Rev. W. Marshall, B.A., rector; W. Bamford, P. H. Hutchins, wardens." Underneath was deposited a bottle containing a brief history of the old church, several newspapers, and a few coins. [British Architect 14 July 1876 page 28]

ST. PAUL’S CHURCH, MANCHESTER - We described this church, which has been erected from the designs of Mr. John O. Scott, when we illustrated its exterior in the Building News of September 10, 1875. We now give an interior view. The building is approaching completion, and will be opened early next year. The upper part of the tower, which was excluded from the contract, has just been commenced. The total cost will be £16,000. The view which we give is intended to show the character of the decoration, which it is hoped may be undertaken before long. Messrs. Collins and Cullis, of Tewkesbury, are the builders. [Building News7 September 1877 page 228 and illustration]

St PAUL’S CHURCH, NEW CROSS - On Saturday the Bishop of Manchester consecrated St. Paul's Church, New Cross, Oldham-road, Manchester. The building has been erected in the Early Decorated style from designs prepared by Mr. J. O. Scott, and 976 sittings have been provided. The site alone cost £12,000, and the building about £6,000, making a total outlay of over £18,000. We have published illustrations of the church. [Building News 3 May 1878 page 459]

CONSECRATION OF ST. PAUL'S CHURCH, NEW CROSS - On Saturday the Bishop of Manchester consecrated St. Paul's Church New Cross. The building has been erected in the place of the old one in Turner Street, which was taken down some years ago in accordance with a joint arrangement made for the extension of Messrs Philips and Company's warehouse and the erection of the church on its present site The new building has been erected in the early decorated style of architecture from designs prepared by Mr. J. O. Scott of London, son of the late Sir Gilbert Scott, and 976 sittings have been provided. The site alone cost £12,000 and the building about £6,000, making a total outlay of over £18,000, which, with the exception of about £2,000 has been furnished by the purchase money of the old church and the ground upon which it stood. The consecration services were attended by a congregation. The sermon was preached by the Bishop, who appealed to the parishioners to assist in the removal of the debt upon the building. [Manchester Guardian 29 April 1878 page 5]

TOWER AND SPIRE, St PAUL'S CHURCH MANCHESTER - Mr. John O. Scott's only exhibit at the Royal Academy this year is the drawing which we reproduce to-day of the tower and spire of St. Paul's Church, Manchester. The original design for this church included a tower and spire, but this feature has been considerably enlarged upon since the first plans were made, owing to the munificence of a lady who has borne the greater part of the cost. It was finished some few months since, Mr. Collins, of Tewkesbury, having been the contractor. A peal of bells will shortly be arranged in the tower. The drawing is by Mr. Samuel Weatherley. [Building News 23 May 1879 page 568]

Reference    Building News 10 September 1875 page 278 with illustration
Reference    Manchester Guardian 3 July 1876 page 6 – foundation stone
Reference    Building News 7 July 1876 page 21
Reference    British Architect 14 July 1876 page 28
Reference    Building News 7 September 1877 page – with illustration of interior
Reference    Manchester Guardian 29 April 1878 page 5 - consecration
Reference    Building News 3 May 1878 page 459
Reference    Building News 23 May 1879 page 568 with illustration of tower and spire
Reference    Cecil Stewart Stones of Manchester page 57