St Thomas' Church, Stockport
Encyclopedia
History
The church was designed by George BaseviGeorge Basevi
Elias George Basevi FRS was an English architect. He was the favourite pupil of Sir John Soane.-Life:Basevi was the youngest son of a City of London merchant, also named George Basevi...
in the neo-classical style
Neoclassical architecture
Neoclassical architecture was an architectural style produced by the neoclassical movement that began in the mid-18th century, manifested both in its details as a reaction against the Rococo style of naturalistic ornament, and in its architectural formulas as an outgrowth of some classicizing...
. It was built as a 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...
at a cost of £15,611 (£ as of ), and received a grant of £15,636 from the Church Building Commission to cover the cost of construction plus other expenses. The contractors were Samuel Buxton and Son, and the land was given by Lady Warren-Bulkeley. It was consecrated in 1825 and could seat 2000.
The church is built of sandstone. It has a clock tower at the west end and a massive six-columned Ionic portico at the east.The central entrance beneath the portico provides entrance to the galleries, while the flanking doors lead to the vestries.The church was refurbished by T.H. Allen in 1881, and the chancel remodelled by Medland Taylor in 1890. The original seating has been replaced, but the galleries have survived.
The six-columned portico
Portico
A portico is a porch leading to the entrance of a building, or extended as a colonnade, with a roof structure over a walkway, supported by columns or enclosed by walls...
faces away from the 'obvious' main entrance (from the A6); the road was built after the church, to by-pass the town centre. The building was listed Grade I in 1952.
See also
- Grade I listed buildings in Greater ManchesterGrade I listed buildings in Greater Manchester-See also:*Architecture of Manchester*Conservation in the United Kingdom*Grade II* listed buildings in Greater Manchester*List of tallest buildings in Manchester*Scheduled Monuments in Greater Manchester-Bibliography:...
- List of Commissioners' churches in Northeast and Northwest England