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part of the Anglican communion |
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A Church of England in the diocese of Manchester. |
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St Nicholas Church with St John and St Michael
Founded 1511—listed 2* |
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The new Chancel and Sanctuary was consecrated on Friday September 30th 1898. During the service the bishop solemnly consecrated the Holy Table, the Font and the Choir Stalls. The Bishop’s throne, reredos, sidilia and panelling in the sanctuary were a later gift of the Watkinson family in memory of their parents, George and Alice Mary Watkinson in 1908
In November 1898 the Vicar appealed for some new altar frontals and a dossal. The Mothers of the ‘Service for Women’ on the 5th Sunday of the month, offered to purchase a new violet frontal in December 1898 which was obtained from Messrs Brown of 31, Princess Street, Manchester. Mrs Law also had the red altar frontal of the old altar enlarged so as to fit the
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A very old photo of the church in 1826. A framed picture of the same is to be found in the Narthex. Note that it has trees growing on top of the tower and a side staircase leading to a gallery above the altar—the altar being where the chancel steps are now.
There was also a gallery at the West end , there being no organ at this time. The North and South galleries as at present had not yet been built.
The trees have now been removed but the weather vane still remains. The side chapel has also gone, the main entrance being in the West end of the tower. |
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The oak Altar Rail which replaced the one present at the consecration of the new chancel, is in memory of John William Halstead—Parish Clerk for 24 years, died Feb.23rd. 1933.
The brass candlesticks were presented by Walter Hirst in 1944.
The oak Gospel lights were given in memory of Euphemia Weir, by their son and daughter in 1947. |
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The white Altar Frontal in the picture was dedicated on Palm Sunday 1960 and was made by Mrs Alice Nuttall, Miss Alice Buckley, Mrs Enid Lord and Mrs Olive Walls under the direction of Miss Law. The Georgian Style frontal is made from Osborne Damask in ivory. The centre is in the form of a cross with sprays enriched with the Rose Of Lancaster. The centre of the cross is emblazoned with the blue shield crest of St Nicholas. At the corners are the crests of York, Lichfield, Chester and Manchester.
The figures of the reredos were given in December 1962 by Roland Rawlinson as a memorial to his son, Roger Rawlinson and his daughters, Barbara who died in infancy and Patricia who died in an air crash near Calcutta in 1953. The figures from L to R are of St Christopher, St Hilda of Whitby, St Mary the Virgin and St Nicholas. The figures were made by Faith Craft Works of London. The central image depicts a Glory of Rays. The back panels were originally painted red, blue and green.
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new altar and this was used for the first time on Wednesday 21st December 1898. The School Monitors stated their intention of providing a green one. The cross upon the altar is inscribed: “To the glory of God in memory of Eliza Dawes, died 29th.June 1894 aged 11 years.” |
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The figures on the Reredos were dedicated in April 1963 |
