Sandbach Methodist Church facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Methodist Church on Wesley Avenue |
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| OS grid reference | SJ 756 609 |
| Location | Wesley Avenue, Sandbach, Cheshire |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Methodist |
| Website | Unity Methodist Church |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Heritage designation | Grade II |
| Designated | 26 January 1993 |
| Architect(s) | Alfred Price |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Style | Neoclassical |
| Completed | 1873 |
| Specifications | |
| Materials | Brick with stone dressings |
Sandbach Methodist Church is a special building located on Wesley Avenue in Sandbach, Cheshire, England. It's a place where people gather for worship. On September 1, 2020, this church joined with two other local Methodist churches, Sandbach Heath and Wheelock, to form a new group called Unity Methodist Church. Even though they are now part of a bigger group, all three church buildings are still used. This church building, along with its Sunday school, is considered a very important historical site. It's officially listed as a Grade II building on the National Heritage List for England, which means it's protected because of its special history and architecture.
Contents
A Look Back: The Church's History
The Sandbach Methodist Church building was constructed in 1873. It was designed by an architect named Alfred Price. Over the years, parts of the church have been updated. For example, a room used by the choir, called a vestry, was changed into a small chapel in the 1980s. Later, it was changed back into a vestry.
Other changes include turning a former vestry into a kitchen. The old kitchen and toilet area were made larger to include a toilet for people with disabilities. In the 2010s, the church added a modern sound and video system. This system includes three screens and microphones placed around the worship area.
The Church's Design: Architecture
The church is built from red bricks and has special stone decorations. The front of the church, which faces the street, looks like it has two floors. It has a triangular top part called a pediment. The front is also symmetrical, meaning it looks the same on both sides.
The middle part of the ground floor sticks out a little. This is a special entrance area called a portico. It has columns, known as Doric pilasters, and decorative carvings. There is a window on each side of this central entrance. On the upper floor, there are three windows in the middle and one window on each side. All these windows have rounded tops. The triangular pediment at the very top has a round window, called an oculus, with fancy decorations around it.
Along the sides of the church, there are two rows of six windows. These windows also have rounded tops. Inside the church, there are balconies, called galleries, on all sides. These galleries are held up by strong iron columns. The church also has a large organ with two keyboards, built in 1890 by Conacher and Company. This organ was updated in 1938 and again in 1971.
The Wesley Centre: Sunday School
Behind the main church building is the Sunday school. This building is actually older than the church, built in 1871. In the 2000s, the Sunday school building was updated. It now has a large hall, meeting rooms, kitchens, and toilets. Even with these modern changes inside, the outside of the building still looks original.
This updated building is now known as the Wesley Centre. It was officially opened on May 5, 2006, by Lady Ann Winterton. The Sunday school building is also considered a historically important site, just like the church.
See also
- Listed buildings in Sandbach
