Diameter: 22" Bell 1 of 1
1866
Dove Bell ID: 50363 Tower ID: 17903 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Cracked: No
Altrincham: St John the Evangelist
Overview
Grid reference: SJ 766 873
J. Medland Taylor, 1865-66. W end subdivided in the 1980’s to form two parish halls, kitchen and lavatories.
Visiting and facilities
Building is closed for worship
Building
Ground Plan Description and Dimensions
Ground plan:
Five-bay nave with clerestory and N and S aisles, divided floor-to-ceiling at W end to form upper and lower halls with kitchen and lavatory facilities at ground floor level. Former baptistery to NW houses staircase to upper hall. Transepts, chancel with 3-sided apse. Vestry to N, organ chamber to S. Stores, boiler-house and choir vestry at basement level. 3-stage tower with broached spire to SW.
Footprint of Church buildings: 716 m²
Description of Archaeology and History
A Roman Road ran through Altrincham but no Roman remains have been discovered within the Conservation Area. Altrincham has been continuously inhabited since the Anglo-Saxon period, with a population sparse in the Anglo-Saxon and Norman periods but growing in the early medieval period: some medieval archaeology has been discovered in the town. However the Downs area was not developed until the nineteenth-century with the advent of the railway.
The site has low-moderate archaeological potential.
There are no burials but ashes are thought to have been scattered in the churchyard.
James Medland Taylor was a Manchester architect active in the second half of the nineteenth century and the early part of the twentieth. He was in partnership with his brother Henry Medland Taylor. They designed a large number of churches, the best known of which is probably St Anne, Denton. Their buildings were typically Gothic, displaying constructional polychromy. The Taylors also built the tower of Altrincham St George, nearby.
Trees (all subject to TPO by virtue of Conservation Area) include chestnut and elm.
Exterior Description
The church is basically Early English in style, with attractive use of constructional polychromy most markedly in the use of bands of differently coloured stone to decorate the walls and the patterned slate roofs, with terracotta ridge tiles. A plinth runs around the building. The roofs have overhanging eaves and the gables are coped; the apices of the gables to the E and W of the nave roof are topped with cross finials. The church gutters feature projecting floral decorations.
The clerestory windows are stone roundels in plate tracery, pierced with sexfoils with circles between. The nave windows display both plate and bar tracery. Each window is two-light, with a roundel above pierced with a quatrefoil or trefoil. The windows are paired, with weathered buttresses between.
At the SW corner stands the steeple, a three-stage tower with set-back weathered buttresses and small lancet windows to the first two stages, with a broached spire with lucarnes and bands of ashlar decorated with trefoils. The base of the tower forms the main entrance to the church. NW doorway has stone arch with carved columns and hood-mould with foliate stops. There is a step up to the two-leaf wooden door with decorative iron hinges.
The W façade features paired doors set in Venetian Gothic arches in alternating red and white sandstone, with hood-moulds with foliate stops and a short column with carved capital between. Each door is single-leaf with decorative iron hinges. Above, the W window with Geometrical tracery – four lancets, and above, two roundels containing cinquefoils, crowned by a roundel containing trefoils and a central quatrefoil – with a string course beneath.
At the NW of the nave is a pointed arched doorway now containing square-topped door. Projecting N is the (former) baptistery. It has lancet windows in plate tracery with quatrefoil and mouchettes above, two W, one N. It has a hipped roof with a lead ball finial topped with a cross and dove.
The N transept features a lancet window to the W; to the N, a geometrical window, four light, with quatrefoils and cinquefoils above; and to the E, a cusped lancet with vesica piscis above.
Between the N transept and the chancel is a polygonal vestry with a roof, supported on wooden brackets, deeply overhanging the doorway. The roof rises to be topped by a lead ball finial. The entrance to the vestry is up seven steps; the doorway has a cusped stone surround. The E wall of the vestry has a pair of windows in a stone surround.
Between the vestry and the apsidal chancel is a weathered chimney-stack, set into the chancel roof and stepped above the vestry roof. The chancel windows are geometrical, paired cusped lancets with richly carved trefoils above. A string course runs beneath the three chancel windows. At each corner of the apse is a ball-flower. Beneath the central window is set an ashlar octagon carved with a cross.
Between the chancel and the S transept is the polygonal organ chamber. Its SE corner rises to a gable with a window, a cusped lancet with trefoil above. Smaller cusped lancets to the E and S.
The S transept features, to the E a cusped lancet with vesica piscis above. To the S, a geometrical window, four-light, with cinquefoils and a quatrefoil above. Beneath, a two-leaf door in a square stone surround marked 1906, with a lamp and square hood-mould. The door features Arts and Crafts-style hinges marked ‘Saint John’. This S door is up a flight of four steps between stone walls. In the W wall of the S transept, a lancet window.
Building Fabric and Features
Nave
19th century
Clerestory
19th century
Aisle
19th century north and south
Kitchen
20th century
Baptistery
19th century now staircase
Transept
19th century x2
Chancel
19th century with 3 sided apse
Vestry
19th century
Organ (component)
19th century chamber
Boiler Room
19th century in basement
Basement
19th century
Tower (component)
19th century
Spire
19th century
Building Materials
Stone
19th century snecked
Ashlar
19th century dressings
Brick
19th century decorations
Sandstone
19th century red, decorations
Slate
19th century roof tiles, green and blue
Plaster
19th century interior
Tile
19th century floors
Timber
19th century roof structure
Interior
Interior Description
The main entrance is via the tower doorway in the SW corner. This gives onto a porch-cum-stairwell floored with red and black quarry tiles laid in a pattern. The staircase rises on the left to an upper hall (previously, to gallery) at first floor level, and then up to ringing chamber. From the first floor up, the banisters have trefoil decoration.
The upper hall occupies the western two bays of the building; the westernmost bay was previously occupied by a gallery and is defined by a stone arch (now painted) supported on stone corbels with carved decoration. The space has a linoleum floor and is lit by the west window, which contains patterned coloured glass; and by two clerestory windows. The roof structure is still exposed. A doorway to the N leads to a stairway inserted into the former baptistery; returning to ground floor level, there are sandstone columns, now set into wall to the E with capitals carved with scripture. Below these columns, a flower-arrangers’ sink. Standing in the baptistery, a doorway to the N leads to lavatories, and another to W leads to a kitchen; doors lead from each to a lower hall beneath the upper, also floored with linoleum.
Returning to the SW porch, square-topped double doors lead into the main worship space. The interior has lost some of its grandeur through the full-height subdivision West-end subdivision but retains attractive details. The interior is painted, with an exposed scissor-braced roof structure. The aisles are divided from the nave by sandstone columns with capitals carved with floral decoration.
The stone chancel arch is supported on elaborate columnar corbels. There are two steps up to the chancel, which has been extended by a wooden platform at the level of the choir. This level now carpeted; historic tiles are likely to survive beneath, as in the nave. There are two further steps up to the sanctuary, which is floored with patterned tiles, and a further step up to the high altar. There is panelling with blind cusped tracery to chancel and sanctuary, incorporating on S side sedilia with carved eagle above.
On the N side of the chancel, a square-topped door in the panelling leads to a clergy vestry. Within the vestry, a staircase leads down to a crypt area housing a lavatory, choir vestry, and store-room. The clergy vestry is screened from the N aisle with wooden panelling, containing a square-topped door. The N transept is screened from the N aisle by a wooden screen, formerly the chancel screen. On the S side of the chancel there is an organ chamber. The archway between the organ chamber and the S transept is screened with wooden panelling decorated with blind tracery (currently awaiting reinstallation).
Fixtures and fittings
Altar
19th century High altar, oak. Altar in St Elizabeth's chapel, oak. Nave altar, oak.
Pulpit
19th century Stone, with brass reading stand and handrail to steps, inscribed 'he is the messenger of the Lord of Hosts'. Designed by Medland Taylor.
Lectern
19th / 20th century Wooden, in the form of an eagle, in Lady Chapel. Wooden, with barley-sugar-twist stem, beside nave altar. Brass plaque records its donation in memory of Midred May, d.1979 and George Tristram Cornes, 1960, by their child.
Font (component)
19th century Caen stone. Bowl supported on short columns with flying buttresses. Wooden cover with metal superstructure surmounted by a cross.
Reredos
20th century Oak reredos, with pierced tracery and carved canopy. Brass plaque nearby records its donation together with the sanctuary panelling in memory of John Beech Wilson, d.1925, by his two sons.
Screen
20th century Oak screen to Lady chapel with carved decoration, formerly chancel screen. Brass plaque in N transept records its installation in memory of John Harry Davies, churchwarden, d.1937, by his widow. Church inventory records that it was moved in 1967.
Pew (component)
19th century Pine pews with hat-holders and panelled ends with umbrella-holders.
Stall
20th century Choir stalls, oak with pierced tracery. Brass plaque records their donation in memory of William Henry Maxfield, organist for 50 years.
Chair
20th century Two sanctuary chairs: brass plaque records the donation of one in memory of Martha Evans by her children, 1934. Readers seats and lecterns, oak with pierced tracery. Inscription on one records its donation in memory of John Harry Davies, 1938.
Rail
19th century Wooden, with pierced traceried panels.
Organ (component)
20th century Wadsworth 3-manual organ, 1901, extensively repaired November 1981 by Mr Arthur Jones, further repaired 2005 by Henry Willis and Sons, damaged by water ingress, 2013, repaired 2014 and reinstalled 2016 by Henry Willis.
Plaque (component)
19th / 20th century S transept, W. Brass plaque in memory of William Henry Barnett, d.1912, Bannu, India. S transept, W. Brass plaque records donation of reredos and chancel panelling (see above) in memory of John Beech Wilson, d.1925. S transept, W. Brass plaque records donation of window depicting child Samuel (see below) in memory of Edward Harry Johnson, d.1871 aged 11 years 2 days. S transept, W. Brass plaque records donation of transept W window (see below) in memory of E. P. Wainwright, wife of the first vicar, d.1882. N transept (Lady Chapel), W. Brass plaque records installation of screen in memory of John Harry Davies, churchwarden, d.1937, by his widow. N transept (Lady Chapel), W. Brass plaque records the dedication of a window in memory of John James Occleston, d.1883 – presumably N window.
Inscribed Object
20th century Sanctuary, N. Marble wall tablet with alabaster frame to the Reverend Napier Malcolm, vicar, 1916-21 (pictured); matches war memorial beside pulpit (see below). Chancel arch, S. Stone wall tablet in memory of William Henry Maxfield, composer, organist and choirmaster for 50 years, d.1936 (pictured).
Plaque (component)
20th century War memorials; WW1: marble plaque with alabaster frame, adjacent to pulpit (WM reference 45172) – matches memorial to Napier Malcolm (see above). WW1: Chancel arch, N, brass plaque to William Arthur Cragg, d.1917 at Rawal Pindi, India, whilst service with His Majesty’s Indian Expeditionary Force. WW1: Lady Chapel, metal plaque in memory of 2nd Leiutenant Bernard Duckworth, d.1916. WW2: Chancel arch, S, metal plaque recording the donation of the electric organ blower in memory of Thomas Weetman, killed on active service in 1945. WW1: S aisle wall, brass wall plaque to Captain Norman Briggs Antrobus, d.1915, together with memorial window (see below).
Stained Glass
19th / 20th century E windows. Three pairs of two-light windows with trefoils above. Central two panels depict the annunciation (pictured) with the gospel writers to either side. John C. N. Bewsey of London. S transept, E. One-light. The child Samuel. Brass plaque beneath records its donation in memory of Edward Harry Johnson, d.1871 aged 11 years 2 days. In the manner of Edward Reginald Frampton (1845-1928) for Messrs. Clayton & Bell of London – interesting and very nice window. (Pictured) S transept, S. Four-light. One design illustrating two biblical stories: left, the Prodigal Son; right, “Suffer little children & forbid them not to come unto me.” Brass plaque beneath records its donation in memory of E. P. Wainwright, wife of the first vicar, d.1882. In the manner of Alfred O. Hemming (1843-1907), another Clayton & Bell pupil. S transept, W. Lancet. Christ in glory. Attributed to E. R. Frampton on his own, late C19. S aisle. Two-light. WW1 memorial. Priest giving communion to kneeling soldier – “Do this in remembrance of me.” “The Master is come and calleth for me.” Photographic likeness of dedicatee, Cpt. Norman Briggs Antrobus, killed in action in Flanders in 1915 aged 22 (recorded on brass plaque nearby – see above). Regimental crest above. Possibly by Henry Gustave Hiller (1864-1946) of Liverpool, an interesting and attractive window. (Pictured) N aisle. Two-light. St Hilary/ St Augustine. Inscribed in memory of Hilary Austin Wainwright, d.1901 aged 6. Classic late-C19, early-C20 in the manner of Messrs. Shrigley & Hunt of Lancaster & London. N transept (Lady Chapel), W. Lancet. St Paul, “Stand fast in the faith.” Inscription records dedication to the memory of Charles Duckworth, d.1922. Messrs. Jones & Willis of Birmingham & London. N transept (Lady Chapel) E. Lancet. Child being crowned by an angel: “In heaven their angels do always behold the face of my father.” By the same artist and vintage as S transept E – again very nice and interesting. N transept (Lady Chapel), N. Four-light. Illustrating Revelations. A brass plaque on the W wall of the N transept records the dedication of a window in memory of John James Occleston, d.1883 – presumably this window. Remarkable – partly because it appears to be a five-light design fitted to a four-light window. Messrs. Clayton & Bell of London. (Pictured) Vestry. Grisaille, coloured borders. “Watch and pray lest ye enter into temptation.” “Neither will I offer unto the Lord my God of that which doth cost me nothing.” Presumably contemporary with the church, so 1865-66. NW staircase. Three lancets, each with quatrefoil above. Grisaille, coloured borders and scriptural references relating to baptism – prior to subdivision of church, the NW corner was a baptistery.
Bells
Portable Furnishings and Artworks
Registers deposited at Chester Diocesan Records Office.
Churchyard
Grid reference: SJ 766 873
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
Quinquennial Inspections
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