Building Name

St Philip, Chester Street, Hulme

Date
1859 - 1860
Street
Chester Street
District/Town
Hulme, Manchester
County/Country
GMCA, England
Work
New build
Status
Closed 1973 Demolished 1976

A large ambitious church for such a district. Rock faced, with a well detailed North-west steeple. Three light windows. Tracery of c1300, very varied. Good serious interior. Stained glass in the north chapel no doubt original (Pevsner Lancashire: South) 

ST. PHILIP'S NEW CHURCH, HULME. On Saturday next, September 29, the new church of St. Philip's, Hulme, will be consecrated. We think therefore, that the present time will be suitable for giving a description of the building, which is remarkable one in several aspects. In appearance it is a great ornament to the neighbourhood, standing, as it does, conspicuously the junction of Chester-street and Newcastle-street, and being built the best style of ecclesiastical architecture.  The want of church accommodation was much felt in the neighbourhood, and this induced Messrs Birley, large employers of the immediate population, to start a subscription with very liberal donations. Schools were, very wisely, built first, and they have been operation for a considerable time. The attendance is about 600 boys and girls, the schools being in fact full, and enjoying a deservedly high reputation. The church is built of Peel stone, in the Gothic geometric decorated style of architecture, from designs by Messrs Shellard and Brown, architects, King-street, Manchester. It consists of a nave with side aisles, and a chancel with a north side aisle. On the south side of the chancel are the organ chamber and vestry. The tower, with a spire, stands at one corner, and fronts both Chester and Newcastle Streets, and by its breadth the north aisle of the nave is shorter than that of the south side. A porch entrance gives ingress from Newcastle Street, while from Chester Street the entrance is through the lower part of the tower. The chancel aisle is also entered from Chester Street. The total length of the church, internally, is 117 feet 10 inches; the width 50 feet 2 inches. From the floor to the ridge of the roof of the nave the height is 54 feet. The tower, with its spire (which is crowned with a vane), is 155 feet 3 inches high. The whole of the seats are open in a double sense, free to all, and unencumbered with doors; while those the nave are partitioned off like arm-chairs, which will prevent the possibility of crowding, and render them more comfortable. No collections will be made. There is accommodation for 670 adults.

The principal front of the church is that in Chester-street. It is divided into five bays, with a three-light pointed traceried window in each, while five similar windows, rather smaller, are placed in the clerestory above. The chancel aisle is in two bays, each of which contains a large four-light pointed traceried window. There is a large four-light pointed traceried window at the end of the nave, next to Newcastle Street; and over the altar in the chancel, a large pointed traceried five-light window. The tracery of each window is varied, which adds greatly to the effect in an architectural point of view. The tower is a very conspicuous and beautiful object, being lofty, chaste, and elegant. It is built in four stages, the two upper ones being arcaded and panelled, with large pointed belfry and each angle finished by large enriched pinnacles. The spire is in three heights of lucarnes. The tower contains a peal of eight fine-toned bells, cast by Messrs Taylor and Son, of Loughborough.

The interior of the church is neat and suitably decorated, the stained glass windows being especially appropriate and beautiful. They are the production of Messrs R. B. Edmundson and Son, of New Wakefield-street, Oxford-street, Manchester, and although we have described some of them detail previously it will not be out of place to refer to them at length here. The clerestory windows, all of three lights with traceried heads, are of ornamental quarries of rolled cathedral tinted glass, with neat coloured borders. In each light is a panel containing an emblem or arms. On each side, commencing from the tower, are the following:  First window, the descent of the Holy Ghost, in "bodily shape of a dove," showing forth the baptism and injunction, "This is my beloved son, hear Him." The panels on each side contain the emblem of the Trinity. The second window, in the centre light contains the Agnus Dei, "Behold the Lamb;' and on each side the "JHB (Jesus Hominum Salvator)." The next, which is the centre window, contains the middle light the royal arms, on the right the arms of Prince Consort, and on the left those of the Prince of Wales. The fourth window contains the cup and vine, emblems the Last Supper, and on each side the crown of thorns. The fifth, and next the chancel, shows the pelican, an emblem of Christ shedding his blood; on each side being the sacred name of Jesus and Christ. The windows on the opposite side are the same, excepting the centre window, which contains the arms of the Archbishop of York, the see of Manchester, and also the arms of the Dean and chapter of Manchester. The tracery heads of these windows are all filled with very neat geometrical designs and floriated ornament. The nave windows are also of three lights, but much larger than the windows in the clerestory and with rich traceried heads. The patterns on these windows chiefly represent the emblem and monogram of St. Philip, alternated with the fleur-de-lis and "J.H.S" In the tracery, which is very rich, are, besides emblems and monograms, ten angels holding scrolls with Scriptural texts. The porch windows are of ornamental quarries, with bands running diagonally.

The window in the west end of the south aisle is of a rich geometrical design. In the chancel aisle are three beautiful traceried windows, two four lights and one of three. The first have single figures the four prophets, viz , Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Daniel. In the three openings in the tracery are introduced small figures seated—of Moses holding the table the law, Aaron with the rod that buddeth, and David with the harp. The next contains single figures of the four evangelists; below, in small panels, are their respective emblems, and in the tracery above our Lord in sovereignty, with St. Peter and St, Paul The three-lighted window at the end of the chancel aisle is a beautiful little window, containing three subjects— the first representing the birth of Christ, the presentation in the Temple, and Christ with the doctors, bearing them and asking them questions. Each subject is under rich canopy work. The large east window is of five lights, with exquisite tracery. The glass in this window is of the best description, and, undoubtedly, one of the finest windows in this part of the country. The principal subject, which occupies the three centre lights, is the Ascension. The eleven apostles are introduced life size, and are well grouped and boldly drawn, having expression well defined. The ascending Saviour, a beautiful figure, is attended by angels, one on each side. Between the cloud below the Saviour's feet and the heads of the apostles is seen a distant view of Jerusalem, which has a good effect, and divides, as it were, the celestial from the terrestrial. Text at bottom— “We have a great high priest which passed into the heavens, Jesus the son of God." On the right hand of this light is a life-sized figure of St. Philip and below a small subject representing the feeding of the five thousand with the five loaves and two small fishes. On the other side is St. James, minor, with subject below, representing the Last Supper; above the subjects and figure there is rich canopy work of an elaborate description. In the large opening of the tracery the subject is the Pentecost; the remainder the tracery is filled up with rich floriated ornament. There can be but one opinion about this window as a work of art in stained glass. Although the Messrs Edmundson and Son are now much noted for their beautiful windows we believe that this is the best that they have produced. The west window, which is a very large one of four lights, with rich tracery, is not quite completed; but it is expected to be quite equal to the east window. The subject is Christ blessing little children. The figures in this window are larger than life, and the tracery exceedingly rich.

The aisles are separated from the nave by six pointed arches on the south side and five on the north side. The chancel has an arcade of two pointed arches on the south side, separating it from the aisle, and one on the north side for the organ chamber. Underneath the chancel end window is an ornamental arcade of Caen stone, on which are painted the Decalogue. In the end wall on the south side of the altar is a "credence," and on the other side of the altar there is triplicate sedilia for the officiating clergy. Under the great west window is an arcade of Peel stone to match. It is attached to the wall. The font, which is placed near to the two principal entrances, is of Caen stone. The upper part of it is covered with arcaded panels. The chancel, nave, and aisles are paved with Messrs Maw and Company's red and black ornamental tiles. The roof is open-timbered, stained and varnished, to correspond with the seats. The roof is covered with Westmoreland slates. An illuminated clock is placed the tower, fact nothing seems have been omitted to render the church complete and every way suitable to the spiritual and material comfort of the people.

The organ, constructed Messrs Eccleston and Bowes, of Port-street, Manchester, is nearly finished. The cost the church is about £8,000, exclusive of the land. Messrs Ellis and Hinchiiff executed the brick and masons' work; Messrs Boden, Edwards, and Foster, the joiners' work; and Messrs Thompson and Co., of Birmingham, put up the gas fittings, which are of Gothic design and very neat. The church is heated by hot air, on the plan of Messrs Haden, of Trowbridge, Wiltshire. The incumbent will be the Rev. Robert Birley.  A parsonage house is being built on the south side of the church, fronting Newcastle-street. It is in the Elizabethan style. Service has been held in the school for some time past. The cost of the parsonage will be about £1,700. The schools cost about £3,000. [Manchester Courier 22 September 1860 page 9]

Reference    Manchester Courier 22 September 1860 page 9
Reference    Building News 5 October 1860 page 775
Reference    Manchester Guardian 2 October 1860 Page 2 - consecration
Reference    The Builder 1860: 548
Reference    Pevsner Lancashire: South 1969; page 331