St Elisabeth's Church, Reddish facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St. Elisabeth's Church |
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| Denomination | Church of England |
| Churchmanship | Anglo-Catholic |
| Website | www.saintelisabeths.com |
| History | |
| Dedication | St. Elisabeth |
| Architecture | |
| Heritage designation | Grade I listed building |
| Designated | 30 October 1973 |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | Manchester |
| Province | York |
St. Elisabeth's Church is a beautiful old church located in Reddish, a town near Manchester, England. It was designed by a famous architect named Alfred Waterhouse in a style called Victorian Gothic. This means it looks like old churches from the Gothic period, but it was built during the Victorian era. It's also a grade I listed building, which means it's super important and protected because of its history and special design. The church is part of the Church of England and follows an Anglo-Catholic style of worship, which means it has a more traditional and ceremonial approach to its services.
Contents
Building the Church: A Special Design
Who Built St. Elisabeth's Church?
A rich local mill-owner named Sir William Henry Houldsworth asked Alfred Waterhouse to design this church in the 1870s. Sir William paid for the entire building himself! The church was built between 1881 and 1883. It was officially opened on August 4, 1883, by Bishop James Fraser. The church was big enough to hold 750 people and was named after Sir William Houldsworth's wife, Elisabeth.
What Does the Church Look Like?
A famous expert named Nikolaus Pevsner described the church as "a superb job, big-boned, with nothing mean outside or in." This means he thought it was a fantastic building, strong and impressive both inside and out. The church is made from special Openshaw brick and has decorative parts made from Wrexham stone.
There's a tall belltower that stands almost separately from the main church. It holds eight bells that were made by a company called Taylor. Six of these bells were specially dedicated in 1897.
Interesting Facts About the Church's Inside
Imagine this: the huge pillars that hold up the roof inside the church were so big that they had to be moved from the nearby canal to the building site on the backs of elephants! These elephants came from Belle Vue Zoo.
Inside, you'll also find a beautiful marble screen with four figures on top. These figures might represent the four evangelists: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.
Modern Art in an Old Church
In 1983, some very modern artworks called the Stations of the Cross were added to the church. These were created by an artist named Graeme Willson. What's cool about them is that they show local scenes, like the famous Stockport Viaduct and Pendlebury Hall, mixed in with the traditional religious story.
Church Services and Music
What Kind of Services Are Held?
St. Elisabeth's is an Anglo-Catholic church, which means it's a "high church" within the Church of England. This style of worship often includes more traditional ceremonies, music, and decorations. This reflects Sir William Houldsworth's own beliefs. The church holds several services each week, with the main one being a Sung Mass at 10:30 AM on Sundays.
The first priest at the church was Rev Addison Crofton, and then Rev Edmund Oldfield took over in 1893.
The Church Organ
The church has a large organ that was first built in 1882 by William Hill & Son of London. It was a very complex instrument with three keyboards and pedals. Over the years, it has been rebuilt and improved several times. In 2017, it was restored and made even better by F H Browne, bringing back some of its original grand sound.
Other Important Buildings
The rectory, which was the house for the church's priest, was also designed by Alfred Waterhouse. It was built in 1874. This rectory, along with the walls around the south and west sides of the church, are all special buildings. They are listed as Grade II* buildings, meaning they are very important historically and architecturally.
See also
