Church of the Good Shepherd, Entwisle Road, Rochdale

TO BUILDERS - Those desirous of TENDERING for the proposed CHURCH of the Good Shepherd, Rochdale, can obtain, particulars by writing at once to E. H. BARKER. architect, 146, St. Owen's-street, Hereford. [Manchester Guardian 23 February 1903 page 1]

ROCHDALE - The first sod has been formally cut on the site of the Church of the Good Shepherd in Entwisle‑road. The nave and aisles have been planned to accommodate 400 persons, but 474 could be seated on special occasions. There are to be two entrances, both on the north side facing Entwisle‑road. The style proposed is that of the end of the 13th century. The nave and the north and south aisles are all 60 feet long, the width of the former being 22ft. and the latter 11 feet; the total breadth of the church is 48 feet, and the heights of the nave and aisles 37 feet and 25 feet 6 inches respectively; the sizes of the temporary galvanised iron chancel and vestry are 22 feet by 8 feet 6 inches, and 12 feet by 8 feet 6 inches. The nave is separated from the aisles by a triple arcade, the clerestory above being 30ft. from floor, and the chancel by an archway with carved responds. The nave roof will be wagon boarded on arched moulded ribs. The west end shows a five‑light tracery headed window with bell gablet above. The walls will be lined internally with pressed plastic Huncoat brick, and externally with Yorkshire stone in random rock‑faced level‑bedded courses, the windows and dressings being of Hartham Park freestone. The floors are to be of wood block arranged in patterns, and encaustic tiles in porch, while the roofs will be covered with mixed brown and red Broseley tiles, and the windows will be filled with tinted and bordered cathedral glass. The architect is Mr. E H Lingden Barker, of London and Hereford, and the contractor Mr. T. Pickles, of Luddendenfoot. The total cost will be £3,000.

A NEW CHURCH 4T ROCHDALE - The Church of the Good Shepherd, Rochdale, was to have been opened yesterday by the Bishop of Manchester. Owing, however, to the hindrance to the work caused by the recent bad weather, it is not yet quite in a condition which admits of its being used, and the opening has been postponed till January 31. The new parish of the Good Shepherd is on the east side of the borough, in a growing working-class district. It is carved out of the parishes of St James and All Saints, Hamer, and St. Peter Newbold, and contains a population of. About 4,000. Services have for number of years been conducted in a mission-room, near which the church has been built. In 1900 the present vicar, the Rev. J. R. Leeming, took charge of the district, which became a separate parish in January, 1902. The foundation-stone of the church was laid by Colonel Royds. M.P., on April 16, 1903. The general style of architecture adopted is 13th century Gothic. The exterior of the church is of Yorkshire stone. with windows and dressings of a stone of a different colour quarried in Somersetshire. The length of the nave is 60 feet and the width 48 feet. There is a temporary chancel 12 feet long by 22 feet wide and the height of the nave and aisles is 37 feet. A triple arcade separates the nave from the aisles, the clerestory above being 30 feet from the floor. The floor is formed of wood blocks arranged in patterns. At the west, end is a large seven-light window, and this, together with the other windows of the church are filled with painted and bordered cathedral glass. The church will accommodate 450 worshippers.  The design was prepared by Mr. E. H. Lingen Barker, of Hereford and London. [Manchester Guardian 7 January 1905: page 5]

CHURCH, ROCHDALE - The new church of the Good Shepherd, at Rochdale, is to be opened shortly. The length of the nave is 60 ft., and the width 48 ft. There is a temporary chancel 12 ft. long by 22 ft. wide, and the height of the nave and aisles is 37 ft. A triple arcade separates the nave from the aisles, the clearstory above being 30 ft. from the floor. The floor is formed of wood blocks arranged in patterns. At the west end is a seven-light window, and this and the other windows of the church are filled with painted and bordered cathedral glass. The church will accommodate 450 worshipers. The design was prepared by Mr. E. H. Lingen Barker, of Hereford and London. [Builder 21 January 1905 page 67]

THE NEW CHURCH AT ROCHDALE - The Bishop of Manchester yesterday consecrated the new Church of the "Good Shepherd," Entwisle Road, Rochdale. Many years ago the parish of the Good Shepherd was formed from portions of the parishes of St. James's, All Saints, and St. Peter's church and a mission church was built. This, however, became too small to accommodate the increased congregation, so it was decided to a new church to seat 400 persons and to use the mission church as a Sunday school. The new church is handsome building, in the old English (13th century) style, faced with stone and lined with Huncoat brick.  [Manchester Guardian 1 February 1905 page 4]

Reference    Manchester Guardian 21 February 1903 page 4 - contracts
Reference    Manchester Guardian 23 February 1903 page 1- contracts
Reference    Manchester Guardian 24 February 1903 page 3 - contracts