St George's Church, Altrincham facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St George's Church, Altrincham |
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St George's Church, Altrincham, from the west
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 St George's Church, Altrincham
Location in Greater Manchester
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| 53°23′24″N 2°21′04″W / 53.3900°N 2.3511°W | |
| OS grid reference | SJ 766,882 |
| Location | Altrincham, Greater Manchester |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Anglican |
| Website | St George, Altrincham |
| History | |
| Status | Parish church |
| Dedication | Saint George |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Heritage designation | Grade II |
| Designated | 12 July 1985 |
| Architect(s) | Paley and Austin |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Completed | 1897 |
| Specifications | |
| Materials | Red brick with terracotta dressings Slate spire and clay tile roofs |
| Administration | |
| Parish | St George, Altrincham |
| Deanery | Bowdon |
| Archdeaconry | Macclesfield |
| Diocese | Chester |
| Province | York |
St George's Church is a beautiful church located in Altrincham, a town in Greater Manchester, England. It is a very important building, listed as a Grade II historic building. This means it's protected because of its special history and architecture. Today, it is an active Anglican parish church, serving its local community.
Contents
A Look Back: The Church's History
The first church building here was a small chapel built in 1799. It was like a smaller church that helped the main church, St Mary's Church, Bowdon. Later, in 1874, a tower and spire were added. The front part of the church, called the chancel, was built in 1886.
Between 1896 and 1897, architects from Lancaster, Austin and Paley, rebuilt the main part of the church, called the nave, and the side sections, known as aisles.
The story of St George's Church in Altrincham is connected to the Wesleyan Movement. This movement was started by John Wesley, who founded Methodism. John Wesley visited Altrincham many times, starting in 1738. His last visit was in 1790, just a year before he passed away. He preached at the first Wesleyan chapel in the town.
A successful grocer named Oswald Leicester lived in Altrincham. His son, also named Oswald Leicester, was born in 1761. This younger Oswald Leicester is known as "The Founding Father of St George's Altrincham" because of his important role in the church's early days.
The First Sunday School in Altrincham
In 1783, when he was only 22, Oswald Leicester started a Sunday School in Altrincham. He rented a room in a cottage on Ashley Road. On Sundays, children would go there to learn to read and write and to hear Bible stories. He was inspired by Robert Raikes, who had started the first Sunday School in 1780.
This Sunday School was an important step. It showed Oswald Leicester's strong belief and dedication, which eventually led to the building of the Parish Church of Altrincham.
Church Design: Architecture
Outside the Church
St George's Church is built with red bricks and decorated with terracotta, which is a type of baked clay. The roof of the spire is made of slate, and the other roofs are made of clay tiles.
The church has a tower and a porch at the west end. It has a main area called a nave with a clerestory (a row of windows high up). On the north and south sides, there are six-section bay aisles that continue along the tower. The front part of the church, the chancel, is shaped like a polygon and has a vestry (a room for clergy) and a chapel.
The tower has three levels with decorative supports called corbelled eaves. The large window at the east end has three sections, and above it is a beautiful rose window, which is a round window with patterns. The other windows in the church have rounded tops.
Inside the Church
Inside the chancel, there is a special memorial for Rev. Oswald Leicester, who was the church's first leader. He passed away in 1831. You can also see two painted staffs from 1838 that belonged to the churchwardens (people who help manage the church).
The stunning stained glass windows in the chancel were made in 1895. They were designed by Mary Lowndes. She was the first woman glazier (someone who works with glass) in the Arts and Crafts movement. She was also a very important person in the suffragette movement, which fought for women's right to vote.
The church also has a large organ with two manuals (keyboards). It is located in the west gallery. This organ was built in 1977, using parts from an older chapel.
Church Leaders: Incumbents
The church has had many leaders over the years, called vicars or curates. Here are some of them:
- 1799–1831: Revd Oswald Leicester (the first leader)
- 1868–1893: Revd George London (the first vicar of the Parish Church)
- 2006–2021: Revd Edmund John Betts
- 2022 – present: Revd Claire Corley (the current vicar)
See also
- Listed buildings in Altrincham
- List of churches in Greater Manchester
- List of ecclesiastical works by Austin and Paley (1895–1914)
