Parish Church of St George, Tyldesley
Encyclopedia
The Parish Church of St George, Tyldesley is a church in Tyldesley
, Greater Manchester
, England. It is an active Anglican parish church
and part of Leigh deanery in the archdeaconry of Salford, diocese of Manchester
. The church, together with St Stephen's
and St. John's, is part of the united benefice of Astley
, Tyldesley and Mosley Common
.
It is a Grade II listed building.
, the population of Tyldesley was dependent on the Parish Church of St Mary the Virgin
in Leigh
. As the population grew very
quickly after 1800 a movement seeking to have an established church in the township developed. Thomas Johnson, owner of the Banks Estate gave a plot of land at the western end of the Banks on
which to build the new church, a Waterloo or Commissioners' Church
, paid for by money from the parliament of the United Kingdom
raised by the Church Building Act 1818, and said to be a celebration of Britain's victory in the Battle of Waterloo
. £17,000 (£ as of ),
was promised by the Church Building Commissioners. The architect was Robert Smirke
. Tyldesley Church was one of 174 Gothic churches built under the Act, the remaining 40 churches were built in the Classical style.
Work began in November 1821 and the foundation stone laid on 23 April 1822—St George's Day
. As the church was being built it was realised that the structure was too big for the site and that the plans had been inadvertently exchanged for the Church of St George, Chorley. George Ormerod
, heir to Thomas Johnson, gave more land for the churchyard and £2,000 (£ as of ),
so that the church could be finished. Building work was completed in November 1824. Bells for the tower were transported on carts from Leigh on 10 August 1825 arriving to celebrations in the town when the largest bell was upturned and filled with ale supplied by all the local inns.
The chapel was consecrated on 19 September 1825 by the Bishop of Chester and dedicated to Saint George
. Tyldesley Church was originally licenced as a daughter church of the Parish of Leigh and known as St George's Chapel. Tyldesley became a District Parish in August 1829. On the last day of 1833 the curate of Tildesley, the Reverend Jacob Robson, writing in the parish registers, signalled the change in spelling of the village from Tildesley to Tyldesley.
The chancel was extended at the east end in 1887 forming the sanctuary. The church pews also date from this time having replaced the original pews with doors. In 1920 a War Memorial Chapel, known as the Lady Chapel was dedicated.
St George's has survived two fires, the first in 1878 when the upper west galley housing the choir and organ was destroyed causing their removal to the Chancel. The second fire, in 1966, destroyed half the roof and part of the ceiling.
. The church was built in the Early English Gothic style
. The church has a seven bay nave
and clerestory
which, according to Pevsner have, "unconvincing Geometric aisle windows and squashed Y-tracery on the clerestory". The chancel
has two-light windows to the south and north walls and a three-light east window, all with geometrical tracery. There is a north vestry
and a north porch in the westernmost bay. The church is 112 feet (34 m) in length and 60 feet (18 m) in width.
The tower at the west end of the church has a west door and rises in three stages to a parapet with crocket
ed pinnacle
s and flying buttress
es at each corner to a recessed octagonal spire
which rises to 150 feet (46 m) in height. There is a lancet window at the second stage, and three lancet belfry openings and clock to each side of the third stage of the tower.
The tower contains eight bells, the original six were cast in 1825 by William Dobson at Downham Market
in Norfolk
. In 1910 the bells were rehung and two trebles by Mears and Stainbank
added.
A clock with three faces was erected on the church tower in 1847, the first public clock in the town
paid for by public subscription. In 1913 it was replaced by the present four-faced clock which was wound by hand until 1967 but now has an electrical movement.
The church, when first built, could seat 1,100 people. There is a west gallery, originally there were two, the upper gallery was destroyed in a fire. The original 1825 font was replaced by a larger one in 1853 and in 1860 an organ was bought from Willis of London for £350 which replaced a barrel organ given by George Ormerod when the church opened.
The stained glass in the east window was designed by William Pointer of Manchester
and dates from 1956. On both sides of this window are mosaic panels dated 1914, each of which depicts two of the Evangelists
. The stained glass in the north and south walls of the chancel was moved from Bishopscourt, the former palace of the Bishops of Manchester
, in about 1958; these windows depict saints and date from the 19th century. The monuments include one dated 1855 showing a "grieving woman slumped over an urn
" and a bronze
plaque
from 1924.
Tyldesley
Tyldesley is a town within the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan, in Greater Manchester, England. It occupies an area north of Chat Moss near the foothills of the West Pennine Moors, east-southeast of Wigan and west-northwest of the city of Manchester...
, Greater Manchester
Greater Manchester
Greater Manchester is a metropolitan county in North West England, with a population of 2.6 million. It encompasses one of the largest metropolitan areas in the United Kingdom and comprises ten metropolitan boroughs: Bolton, Bury, Oldham, Rochdale, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford, Wigan, and the...
, England. It is an active Anglican parish church
Parish church
A parish church , in Christianity, is the church which acts as the religious centre of a parish, the basic administrative unit of episcopal churches....
and part of Leigh deanery in the archdeaconry of Salford, diocese of Manchester
Anglican Diocese of Manchester
The Diocese of Manchester is a Church of England diocese in the Province of York, England. Based in the city of Manchester, the diocese covers much of the county of Greater Manchester and small areas of the counties of Lancashire and Cheshire.-History:...
. The church, together with St Stephen's
St Stephen's Church, Astley
St Stephen's Church is a church in Astley, Greater Manchester, England. It is an active Anglican church built in 1968 and part of Leigh deanery in the archdeaconry of Salford, diocese of Manchester. The church, together with St George and St. John, is part of the united benefice of Astley,...
and St. John's, is part of the united benefice of Astley
Astley, Greater Manchester
Astley is a settlement within the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan in Greater Manchester, England, variously described as a suburb or a village. Astley lies on flat land to the northwest of the city of Manchester, and is crossed by the Bridgewater Canal and the A580 "East Lancashire Road"...
, Tyldesley and Mosley Common
Mosley Common
Mosley Common is a suburb of Tyldesley at the far-eastern edge of the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan, in Greater Manchester, England.It was anciently a hamlet in the east of the township of Tyldesley cum Shakerley, in the ancient parish of Leigh...
.
It is a Grade II listed building.
History
Up to 1789, when the Countess of Huntingdon's Connexion built Tyldesley Top ChapelTyldesley Top Chapel
The Tyldesley Top Chapel is a chapel in Tyldesley. It is a Grade II Listed building.Top Chapel was built in 1789 on a site of 1,300 square yards at the top of Tyldesley Banks opposite the Square. The site and building materials were all provided by Thomas Johnson...
, the population of Tyldesley was dependent on the Parish Church of St Mary the Virgin
Church of St Mary the Virgin, Leigh
The Parish Church of St Mary the Virgin, Leigh is a Church of England parish church in Leigh, Greater Manchester, England. It is a member of the Leigh deanery in the archdeaconry of Salford, diocese of Manchester.It is a Grade II* listed building....
in Leigh
Leigh, Greater Manchester
Leigh is a town within the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan, in Greater Manchester, England. It is southeast of Wigan, and west of Manchester. Leigh is situated on low lying land to the north west of Chat Moss....
. As the population grew very
quickly after 1800 a movement seeking to have an established church in the township developed. Thomas Johnson, owner of the Banks Estate gave a plot of land at the western end of the Banks on
which to build the new church, a Waterloo or Commissioners' Church
Commissioners' Church
A Commissioners' church is an Anglican church in the United Kingdom built with money voted by Parliament as a result of the Church Building Act of 1818 and 1824. They have been given a number of titles, including Commissioners' churches, Waterloo churches and Million Act churches...
, paid for by money from the parliament of the United Kingdom
Parliament of the United Kingdom
The Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the supreme legislative body in the United Kingdom, British Crown dependencies and British overseas territories, located in London...
raised by the Church Building Act 1818, and said to be a celebration of Britain's victory in the Battle of Waterloo
Battle of Waterloo
The Battle of Waterloo was fought on Sunday 18 June 1815 near Waterloo in present-day Belgium, then part of the United Kingdom of the Netherlands...
. £17,000 (£ as of ),
was promised by the Church Building Commissioners. The architect was Robert Smirke
Robert Smirke (architect)
Sir Robert Smirke was an English architect, one of the leaders of Greek Revival architecture his best known building in that style is the British Museum, though he also designed using other architectural styles...
. Tyldesley Church was one of 174 Gothic churches built under the Act, the remaining 40 churches were built in the Classical style.
Work began in November 1821 and the foundation stone laid on 23 April 1822—St George's Day
St George's Day
St George's Day is celebrated by the several nations, kingdoms, countries, and cities of which Saint George is the patron saint. St George's Day is celebrated on 23 April, the traditionally accepted date of Saint George's death in AD 303...
. As the church was being built it was realised that the structure was too big for the site and that the plans had been inadvertently exchanged for the Church of St George, Chorley. George Ormerod
George Ormerod
George Ormerod was an English antiquary and historian. Amongst his writings was a major account of the history of Cheshire, a county in northwestern England.-Biography:...
, heir to Thomas Johnson, gave more land for the churchyard and £2,000 (£ as of ),
so that the church could be finished. Building work was completed in November 1824. Bells for the tower were transported on carts from Leigh on 10 August 1825 arriving to celebrations in the town when the largest bell was upturned and filled with ale supplied by all the local inns.
The chapel was consecrated on 19 September 1825 by the Bishop of Chester and dedicated to Saint George
Saint George
Saint George was, according to tradition, a Roman soldier from Syria Palaestina and a priest in the Guard of Diocletian, who is venerated as a Christian martyr. In hagiography Saint George is one of the most venerated saints in the Catholic , Anglican, Eastern Orthodox, and the Oriental Orthodox...
. Tyldesley Church was originally licenced as a daughter church of the Parish of Leigh and known as St George's Chapel. Tyldesley became a District Parish in August 1829. On the last day of 1833 the curate of Tildesley, the Reverend Jacob Robson, writing in the parish registers, signalled the change in spelling of the village from Tildesley to Tyldesley.
The chancel was extended at the east end in 1887 forming the sanctuary. The church pews also date from this time having replaced the original pews with doors. In 1920 a War Memorial Chapel, known as the Lady Chapel was dedicated.
St George's has survived two fires, the first in 1878 when the upper west galley housing the choir and organ was destroyed causing their removal to the Chancel. The second fire, in 1966, destroyed half the roof and part of the ceiling.
Structure
Stone for St George's was quarried at Peel Quarry in Little HultonLittle Hulton
Little Hulton is a village—effectively a suburb—within the City of Salford, in Greater Manchester, England. It lies south of Bolton, west-northwest of Salford, and west-northwest of Manchester...
. The church was built in the Early English Gothic style
English Gothic architecture
English Gothic is the name of the architectural style that flourished in England from about 1180 until about 1520.-Introduction:As with the Gothic architecture of other parts of Europe, English Gothic is defined by its pointed arches, vaulted roofs, buttresses, large windows, and spires...
. The church has a seven bay nave
Nave
In Romanesque and Gothic Christian abbey, cathedral basilica and church architecture, the nave is the central approach to the high altar, the main body of the church. "Nave" was probably suggested by the keel shape of its vaulting...
and clerestory
Clerestory
Clerestory is an architectural term that historically denoted an upper level of a Roman basilica or of the nave of a Romanesque or Gothic church, the walls of which rise above the rooflines of the lower aisles and are pierced with windows. In modern usage, clerestory refers to any high windows...
which, according to Pevsner have, "unconvincing Geometric aisle windows and squashed Y-tracery on the clerestory". The chancel
Chancel
In church architecture, the chancel is the space around the altar in the sanctuary at the liturgical east end of a traditional Christian church building...
has two-light windows to the south and north walls and a three-light east window, all with geometrical tracery. There is a north vestry
Vestry
A vestry is a room in or attached to a church or synagogue in which the vestments, vessels, records, etc., are kept , and in which the clergy and choir robe or don their vestments for divine service....
and a north porch in the westernmost bay. The church is 112 feet (34 m) in length and 60 feet (18 m) in width.
The tower at the west end of the church has a west door and rises in three stages to a parapet with crocket
Crocket
A crocket is a hook-shaped decorative element common in Gothic architecture. It is in the form of a stylised carving of curled leaves, buds or flowers which is used at regular intervals to decorate the sloping edges of spires, finials, pinnacles, and wimpergs....
ed pinnacle
Pinnacle
A pinnacle is an architectural ornament originally forming the cap or crown of a buttress or small turret, but afterwards used on parapets at the corners of towers and in many other situations. The pinnacle looks like a small spire...
s and flying buttress
Flying buttress
A flying buttress is a specific form of buttressing most strongly associated with Gothic church architecture. The purpose of any buttress is to resist the lateral forces pushing a wall outwards by redirecting them to the ground...
es at each corner to a recessed octagonal spire
Spire
A spire is a tapering conical or pyramidal structure on the top of a building, particularly a church tower. Etymologically, the word is derived from the Old English word spir, meaning a sprout, shoot, or stalk of grass....
which rises to 150 feet (46 m) in height. There is a lancet window at the second stage, and three lancet belfry openings and clock to each side of the third stage of the tower.
Fittings and furniture
Downham Market
Downham Market is a town and civil parish in Norfolk, England. It lies on the edge of the Fens, on the River Great Ouse, some 20 km south of the town of King's Lynn, 60 km west of the city of Norwich and the same distance north of the city of Cambridge....
in Norfolk
Norfolk
Norfolk is a low-lying county in the East of England. It has borders with Lincolnshire to the west, Cambridgeshire to the west and southwest and Suffolk to the south. Its northern and eastern boundaries are the North Sea coast and to the north-west the county is bordered by The Wash. The county...
. In 1910 the bells were rehung and two trebles by Mears and Stainbank
Whitechapel Bell Foundry
The Whitechapel Bell Foundry is a bell foundry in Whitechapel in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, in the East End of London. The foundry is listed by the Guinness Book of Records as the oldest manufacturing company in Great Britain...
added.
A clock with three faces was erected on the church tower in 1847, the first public clock in the town
paid for by public subscription. In 1913 it was replaced by the present four-faced clock which was wound by hand until 1967 but now has an electrical movement.
The church, when first built, could seat 1,100 people. There is a west gallery, originally there were two, the upper gallery was destroyed in a fire. The original 1825 font was replaced by a larger one in 1853 and in 1860 an organ was bought from Willis of London for £350 which replaced a barrel organ given by George Ormerod when the church opened.
The stained glass in the east window was designed by William Pointer of Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
and dates from 1956. On both sides of this window are mosaic panels dated 1914, each of which depicts two of the Evangelists
Four Evangelists
In Christian tradition the Four Evangelists are Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, the authors attributed with the creation of the four Gospel accounts in the New Testament that bear the following titles:*Gospel according to Matthew*Gospel according to Mark...
. The stained glass in the north and south walls of the chancel was moved from Bishopscourt, the former palace of the Bishops of Manchester
Bishop of Manchester
The Bishop of Manchester is the Ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of Manchester in the Province of York.The current bishop is the Right Reverend Nigel McCulloch, the 11th Lord Bishop of Manchester, who signs Nigel Manchester. The bishop's official residence is Bishopscourt, Bury New Road,...
, in about 1958; these windows depict saints and date from the 19th century. The monuments include one dated 1855 showing a "grieving woman slumped over an urn
Urn
An urn is a vase, ordinarily covered, that usually has a narrowed neck above a footed pedestal. "Knife urns" placed on pedestals flanking a dining-room sideboard were an English innovation for high-style dining rooms of the late 1760s...
" and a bronze
Bronze
Bronze is a metal alloy consisting primarily of copper, usually with tin as the main additive. It is hard and brittle, and it was particularly significant in antiquity, so much so that the Bronze Age was named after the metal...
plaque
Commemorative plaque
A commemorative plaque, or simply plaque, is a plate of metal, ceramic, stone, wood, or other material, typically attached to a wall, stone, or other vertical surface, and bearing text in memory of an important figure or event...
from 1924.
Clergy
During the first hundred years of its existence, St George's Church had four vicars. Jacob Robson came to the church as curate in 1825, becoming vicar in 1842 although Tyldesley had become a parish in 1829. He died in 1851. His successor was George Richards who was vicar from 1851 to 1884, during which time 14 of the 25 victims of the Yew Tree Colliery firedamp explosion in 1858 were buried in the churchyard. John Lund was the next incumbent, he oversaw the extension of the east end of the church in 1886 and the building of the vicarage in 1902. He was vicar for 36 years from 1884 until 1920. Samuel Fleming was vicar from 1920 until 1948.See also
- List of churches in Greater Manchester
- List of Commissioners' churches in Northeast and Northwest England