St Thomas' Church, Mellor facts for kids

Quick facts for kids St. Thomas' Church, Mellor, Stockport
St. Thomas' Church, Mellor, from the southeast
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OS grid reference	SJ 982 889
Location	Mellor, Greater Manchester
Country	England
Denomination	Anglican
Website	https://mellorchurch.org/
History
Status	Parish church
Dedication	St Thomas
Architecture
Functional status	Active
Heritage designation	Grade II
Designated	20 December 1967
Architectural type	Church
Style	Gothic
Specifications
Capacity	200
Materials	Stone
Administration
Parish	Mellor
Deanery	Chadkirk
Archdeaconry	Macclesfield
Diocese	Chester
Province	York

St. Thomas' Church is a special old church located high up on a lane in Mellor, Greater Manchester, England. From here, you can see amazing views over Manchester, Cheshire, and even further. This church is officially recognized as a Grade II listed building, which means it's an important historical site.

Inside, the church holds some very old treasures. It has the oldest wooden pulpit in England. It also has a font that dates back to the late 12th century, built in the Norman style. St. Thomas' Church is still an active Anglican parish church today. It belongs to the deanery of Chadkirk and the Diocese of Chester.

Church History: A Timeline

The very first stone church building was likely built in the early 1300s. Over the centuries, the church has been changed and updated many times.

Early Changes and Rebuilding

In 1783, parts of the church walls were rebuilt. New seating areas, called galleries, were added on the south and east sides. At this time, the church could hold up to 700 people. In 1815, a new entrance and porch were built, and the south wall was repaired.

Major Reconstructions in the 1800s

Between 1827 and 1829, the chancel (the area around the altar) and the north wall were rebuilt. These changes were designed by a person interested in old things, named Thomas Rickman. Later, in 1885, the east gallery was removed. In the early 1900s, the south and west galleries were also taken down.

Modern Updates and Repairs

In 1960, a type of beetle called a death watch beetle was found in the roof. This meant the entire roof had to be replaced to keep the church safe. The screen, which used to be at the front of the main part of the church (the nave), was moved to the back. This created a new small chapel at the west end. A new Mander organ was put in the church in 1977.

Building Ages: Old and New Parts

The church tower is very old, dating back to the 1400s. It was built on even older foundations from the 1100s. Most of the rest of the church building you see today was rebuilt in the early 1800s.

Church Design and Features

St. Thomas' Church is built using stone. It has a tower at the west end, a main area called the nave with four sections, and a chancel with one section. There is also a porch on the south side.

Outside the Church: Exterior Views

At the east end of the church, there is a window with a pointed arch. The tower has three levels. It features a door and a window on the west side. Above these are openings for the bells, and even higher up are clock faces. The top of the tower has a castellated parapet (like the top of a castle wall) with decorative finials.

Inside the Church: Interior Highlights

Two of the most important items inside the church are the 14th-century pulpit and the Norman font.

The Ancient Pulpit

The pulpit at St. Thomas' Church is truly special. It is believed to be the oldest wooden pulpit in England, and possibly even in the world! It was made around the time of King Edward II. The pulpit has eight sides, with two of them forming the entrance. Five of the other six sides are carved with beautiful patterns called tracery. What's amazing is that it was carved from a single large block of wood.

The Historic Font

The font dates back to the 11th century. It's not completely clear if it was made before or after the Norman conquest. The font is round and mostly plain, but its bowl is carved with designs of figures and animals. The basin inside the font is lined with lead. The church's official records, called parish registers, began in 1629.

Churchyard Features

Outside the church, in the churchyard, you can find some interesting historical items. There are the remains of an Anglo-Saxon cross. You can also see a pair of stone shafts that were likely part of stocks, used for punishment, from the 1800s. Another notable feature is the headstone of Thomas Brierley, who passed away in 1855. His headstone is carved with Masonic symbols. The churchyard also contains the war graves of two soldiers who died in World War I.

See also

• Listed buildings in Marple, Greater Manchester
• List of churches in Greater Manchester