Church of St Thomas, Stockton Heath near Warrington

STOCKTON HEATH - The new church here has been consecrated by the Bishop of Chester. The edifice is in the Geometrical style, from the designs of Mr. E. G. Paley, of Lancaster. It consists at present of a nave and south aisle, both 75 feet long, and a north transept 16 feet by 16 feet, with an organ chamber and vestry. The chancel is 32 feet by 25 feet. The exterior of the walls is of Runcorn stone, the interior of white bricks, the roof and pewing of Baltic timber, the doom of oak. The edifice has eight stained windows, executed by various artists. The large east window, by Messrs. Clayton & Bell, is the gift of Mrs. G. Greenall, of Walton Hall, and illustrates the principal events in the history of our Lord’s Passion. The two smaller chancel windows are the gift of Miss Forde, of Stockton Heath Parsonage, and represent the incidents which took place at Bethany, and on the morning of the Resurrection. These were executed by Clayton & Bell, as were also the windows in the north transept, and that at the east end of the aisle. The subject of the former is the Transfiguration, the gift of Mr. G. Greenall, M.P. The latter is a memorial window, erected by Mrs. Payne, of Bath. In the west are two windows in a different style and more glowing colours, that in the nave, by Messrs. Heaton & Butler, the gift of Messrs. Greenall & Whitley, of Wilderspool, representing the Adoration of the Magi, the Disputation in the Temple, and the Entry into Jerusalem, with a medallion of the incredulity of St. Thomas. The baptistry

contains a memorial window, erected by the Rev. W. and Mrs. Hayes, in remembrance of an infant son. The subjects are, the Good Shepherd, the Passage through the Red Sea, the Presentation in the Temple, Christ blessing little Children, and His own Baptism by the Baptist in Jordan. These subjects have been rendered by Messrs. Gibbs and Company. [Builder 29 August 1868 page 646-647]