Church of St Mary Jesus and Joseph (RC) Oxford Street/Church Street, Eccles

ECCLES - The new Roman Catholic Church of St Mary, Eccles was opened last week by the Bishop of Salford. The building, which is now complete save for the spire has been erected within the last twelve months, the foundation stone having been laid on August 28, 1897. It has cost £9,000 of which ,4,000 has already been subscribed. The church is of brick with red stone dressings, in the 13th century style. It is 125 feet long by 65 feet wide, exclusive of the sacristies, the nave being 30 feet wide and the aisle 11 feet 6 inches. The height of the nave is 34 feet to the wall plate, with lofty arches of 20 feet span, but there is no clerestory, the light being obtained from high windows of coloured glass in the aisles. Side chapels of Our Lady and St Joseph extend on each side of the sanctuary, and the choir gallery is at the west end. The church has a five-light east window of stained glass, the gift of Miss Annette de Trafford, and the sanctuary contains a marble and stone altar given by Lady Annette de Trafford. The side chapels and porches also contain stained glass given by the De Trafford family, some of which have been transferred from the chapel in Trafford Hall. The church will be illuminated by the electric light. The architect was Mr W H Rawle, Princess Street Manchester, and Messrs Southern & Sons, of Salford, were the contractors. [Building News 26 August 1898 Page 303]

CATHOLIC CHURCH, ECCLES - The new Catholic Church of St. Mary was opened on the 15th ult. By the Bishop of Salford. The memorial stone was laid by Sir Humphrey de Trafford, on August 28, of last year. A presbytery has also been built. The church is 125 ft. long by 55 ft. wide. The height of nave to the wall plate is 34 ft., with lofty arches of 20 ft. span, without clearstory. A reredos has been presented by Lady Annette de Trafford; it has been worked by Bolton, of Cheltenham; and an east window, the gift of Miss Annette de Trafford, is by Meyers, of Munich. The church is thirteenth century in style. Messrs. Southern & Sons are the contractors; the mosaics are by Messrs. Williams; the lead-lights and some of the stained glasswork were by Mr. Chas. Lightfoot; the electric lighting by Messrs. Lomax, Kendal & Company; the art metal work by Messrs. Hardman & Powell; and the architect is Mr. W. H. Rawle (late of Heathcote and Rawle), of Manchester. [Builder 3 September 1898 page 214]

CHURCH OF ST. MARY, ECCLES. - This church, with a commodious and handsome presbytery attached, is erected on the Liverpool road, Eccles, on land presented by Sir Humphrey de Trafford. The upper portion of tower and spire are not built, but the interior of church is completely finished. It measures 120 feet. by 62 feet, and will accommodate about 600. It is executed in white-ends and Ruabon bricks, with Rainhill stone dressings. A reredos, executed in Caen stone, with sculptured figures, by Bolton, of Cheltenham, also a pulpit by the same firm, together with much of the chancel work, metal work by Messrs. Hardman, of Birmingham, and mosaic by Messrs. Williams, of Blackfriars, Manchester, were the presents of Lady Annette de Trafford. The large east window and stained glass in the sanctuary, the work of Mayer, of Munich, were also gifts from the same family, as also a side altar-piece. Messrs W. Southern and Sons, of Salford, were the contractors. The architect for church and presbytery is Mr. W. H Rawle, of Manchester. [Building News 22 January 1904 page 127]