Weight: 686 lbs Diameter: 30.75" Bell 1 of 1
Founded by John Taylor & Co 1892
Dove Bell ID: 52210 Tower ID: 19088 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Cracked: No
Cheadle Heath: St Augustine of Hippo
Overview
Grid reference: SJ 878 895
The church was built in 1891-93, the architects being Preston & Vaughan, who were prolific in the Stockport and Manchester area. The church is long and low with the exception of the tower, really more of a turret, set on the north side in the angle of chapel and nave. The chosen style is Perpendicular, with some Arts-and-Crafts touches, producing an overall Tudor feel.
Visiting and facilities
Building is closed for worship
Building
Ground Plan Description and Dimensions
Ground plan:
5-bay aisled nave with north tower and porch, shallowly projecting west baptistery, 3-bay chancel with south organ chamber and vestry, north chapel, hall in the western part of the nave.
Dimensions:
Nave approximately 25m (85ft) by 11m (36ft), chancel 8m (25ft).
Description of Archaeology and History
The church was built in 1891-93, the architects being Preston & Vaughan, who were prolific in the Stockport and Manchester area. A terracotta plaque under the east window records that the foundation stone was laid by Thomas Hardcastle Sykes in 1891. The church was considered for redundancy in 1974, and the CCC produced a short report on the building at that time which suggested that the church was not without quality and at least part of the building might be kept.
Subsequent to this major reordering was undertaken involving the removal of pews throughout, the partitioning of the western four bays of the nave with a plain full height brick wall to form a basketball court sized hall with toilets and kitchens behind a screen across the north aisle. This was funded by the sale of the church hall and other assets, the idea being to provide a single focus for church and community activity, which had limited success.
Exterior Description
The church happens upon you at the end of the lane, set broadside to the lane and the entrance. The bell turret and porch are placed on the “show” side of the church, visible as one enters the churchyard. These features are not visible from the road, and the church has limited townscape impact. The chosen style is Perpendicular, with some Arts-and-Crafts touches, producing an overall Tudor feel.
The church is long and low with the exception of the tower, really more of a turret, set on the north side in the angle of chapel and nave. This has a cusped doorway at the bottom, rectangular slit stair lights, and slim clasping buttresses with gablets which terminate under the timber-framed belfry. This is jettied slightly out with gablets or rectangular louvred openings to alternate faces, the effect no doubt meant to remind us of the fine Cheshire tradition of Tudor and Jacobean timber-framed houses and indeed churches. A small broach spirelet tops it off.
The large north-east porch is a major component of the building on its show side, also with black timber framing with strong Arts-and-Crafts timberwork to the gable, complementing the belfry. The glazed side windows have depressed ogee heads, and the porch forms an attractive entrance to the building, although now it issues into the hall.
The nave is slightly higher than the chancel with lean-to aisle roofs, no clearstorey, shouldered gables with gablets throughout. The north chancel aisle is under a steeply pitched separate roof, making the building appear very narrow and longitudinal, not convincingly balanced by the turret. The organ chamber and vestry project as a transept from the south side of the chancel. Gables are shouldered with gablets.
The tracery is all in the Late Perpendicular style, and of terracotta. The west wall has a large 5-light above the low shallow baptistery, the cusped windows of which have been bricked up. Flanking this are two small pointed 2-lights low in the aisle walls. The nave has 3-light pointed windows to each bay between buttresses of two weatherings, one of which in the north wall appears to have been cleanly removed, suggesting they were added later. Diagonal buttresses to the corners. The south chapel has 2-light cusped windows with square heads to each bay and a 3-light pointed east window, the chancel has a 5-light pointed east window and 2-light windows with transoms in the sanctuary side walls. The foundation stone of terracotta is set beneath the east window, below a row of shields again in terracotta.
Building Fabric and Features
Nave
19th century 5-bay aisled
Tower (component)
19th century north
Porch
19th century
Baptistery
19th century shallowly projecting, west
Chancel
19th century 3-bay
Organ (component)
19th century south chamber
Vestry
19th century
Chapel (component)
19th century north
Church Hall
19th century in the western part of the nave
Building Materials
Brick
19th century red
Terracotta
19th century dressings
Timber
19th century roof structure
Slate
19th century roofing
Interior
Interior Description
The interior is faced with yellow stock brick and again terracotta is used liberally, the octagonal nave piers and the responds to the chancel being clad in this material. The partition wall to the hall is of red brick and plain. This, the greater part of the church, is brimming with children’s play equipment and other items, but is clearly now mainly used for storage. The intricate open arch-braced timber roofs are one of the strongest points of the interior, but do not appear very prominent in the current arrangement.
The only part used for worship is the chancel, clearly now rarely used, and the north chapel. Two rows of plain pews have been retained at the west end. The chancel is raised on four steps and the eastern wall is wood-panelled to the cill of the window. Entrance to the north chapel is through a tall double arch, a cusped doorway gives access to the vestry in the sanctuary south wall. Adjacent to this to the east is a double cusped ogee-headed piscina. The organ pipes are displayed on the south side, wooden panelling defines the organ chamber and vestry behind to the north and west. Adjacent to the west of this a baptistery has been formed around the font. The floors are quarry tiles with encaustic tiles used as borders in the sanctuary, linoleum in the hall.
Fixtures and fittings
Font (component)
19th century Marble bowl carved with “Suffer the little children” around the rim and quatrefoils around the bowl, echoed by the theme of the Tarrant window behind, see below, marble stem, stone base. Brass plaque on base records it was given by the Brinksway Mothers. Now relocated in the eastern bay of the south aisle.
Stained Glass (window)
19th / 20th century • The East window has the Passion. It is a War Memorial, presumably installed in the early 1920’s; it is rather old-fashioned for this date, but well executed. • The baptistery window has “all things bright and beautiful”, animals and children drawn to Jesus flanked by angels, signed Margaret W Tarrant, an artist known for her watercolours, children’s books, Medici postcards. The window is also in this style. Given 1928 in memory of Mary Toms. • North nave wall, St Monica and St Augustine, given 1917 by the Bowker family. • Chapel east window in memory of Henry Turnour, the first vicar, died 1896. Christ the King, adoring Saints beneath. Appears to be early 20th century, and one might have thought it later than the War Memorial window.
Organ (component)
19th century Pipe organ by Jardine & Co of Manchester.
Rail
19th century Oak rails with scrolling iron standards. Plain modern wood to Lady chapel.
Plaque (component)
19th / 20th century • Brass plaque with red and black inlaid lettering and marble frame, in memory of Rev R W Buckley, died 1897. Signed by J Wipple & Co of Exeter and London. • Small brass plaque in memory of Samuel and Ada Baker, died 1940 and 1950 respectively; the reredos given in their memory.
Inscribed Object
20th century World War I arch-headed oak tablet with much carved foliage and simple inscribed lettering, now on the west wall of the worship area.
Altar
19th century The Holy Table is of oak, simple. Lady Chapel altar in the north aisle, simple wooden frame.
Reredos
20th century Oak panelling up to the height of the window, Perpendicular tracery, given 1950. Three similar panels to the Lady altar.
Pulpit
19th century Part of the chancel fabric, with a terracotta base and open ironwork frame.
Lectern
19th century Brass eagle, given 1868 in memory of Graham and Mary Ball, brought from Chester Holy Trinity. It is of better than average quality and may be by James Harrison or Kelly & Edwards who continued the firm after his death.
Bells
Portable Furnishings and Artworks
Registers of Baptisms 1887-1994 and Marriages 1894-2003 have been deposited at the Cheshire Record Office.
Churchyard
Grid reference: SJ 878 895
Burial and War Grave Information
It is unknown whether the building is consecrated.
It is unknown whether the churchyard has been used for burial.
It is unknown whether the churchyard is used for burial.
It is unknown whether the churchyard has war graves.
National Heritage record for England designations
There are no records of National Heritage assets within the curtilage of this site.
Environment
Ancient, Veteran & Notable Trees
Caring for God's Acre is a conservation charity working to support groups and individuals to investigate, care for, and enjoy the wildlife and heritage treasures found within churchyards and other burial grounds. Look on their website for information and advice and please contact their staff directly. They can help you manage this churchyard for people and wildlife.
To learn more about all the species recorded against this church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas. You can check the spread of records through the years, discovering what has been recorded and when, plus what discoveries might remain to be uncovered.
There are no records of Ancient, Veteran or Notable Trees within the curtilage of this site.
Renewables
| Renewable | Installed |
|---|---|
| Solar PV Panels | No |
| Solar Thermal Panels | No |
| Biomass | No |
| Wind Turbine | No |
| Air Source Heat Pump | No |
| Ground Source Heat Pump | No |
| Ev Charging | No |
Species summary
There are no records of species within the curtilage of this site.
Caring for God's Acre is a conservation charity working to support groups and individuals to investigate, care for, and enjoy the wildlife and heritage treasures found within churchyards and other burial grounds. Look on their website for information and advice and please contact their staff directly. They can help you manage this churchyard for people and wildlife.
To learn more about all the species recorded against this church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas. You can check the spread of records through the years, discovering what has been recorded and when, plus what discoveries might remain to be uncovered.
'Seek advice' Species
More information on species and action to be taken upon discovery.
Caring for God's Acre is a conservation charity working to support groups and individuals to investigate, care for, and enjoy the wildlife and heritage treasures found within churchyards and other burial grounds. Look on their website for information and advice and please contact their staff directly. They can help you manage this churchyard for people and wildlife.
To learn more about all the species recorded against this church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas. You can check the spread of records through the years, discovering what has been recorded and when, plus what discoveries might remain to be uncovered.
Further information
Sources
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