St James' Church, Oldham facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St James' Church, Oldham |
|
|---|---|
St James' Church, Oldham. from the southeast
|
|
| Lua error in Module:Location_map at line 420: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). | |
| OS grid reference | SD 938 055 |
| Location | Barry Street, Greenacres Moor, Oldham, Greater Manchester |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Anglican |
| Churchmanship | Anglo-Catholic |
| Website | St James, Oldham |
| History | |
| Status | Parish church |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Heritage designation | Grade II |
| Designated | 8 March 1993 |
| Architect(s) | Francis Goodwin |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Style | Gothic Revival |
| Groundbreaking | 1827 |
| Completed | 1829 |
| Construction cost | £9,652 |
| Specifications | |
| Materials | Stone, slate roofs |
| Administration | |
| Parish | St. James with St. Ambrose Oldham |
| Deanery | Oldham East |
| Archdeaconry | Rochdale |
| Diocese | Manchester |
| Province | York |
St James' Church is a special church located in Oldham, Greater Manchester, England. It's an active Anglican church, meaning it's part of the Church of England. This church is so important that it's officially recognized as a Grade II listed building. This means it's protected for its historical and architectural value. It even received money from a special fund called the Church Building Commission to help build it!
Contents
History of St James' Church
The first stone for St James' Church was placed on 3 September 1827 by James Lees. The church was built between 1827 and 1829. It was designed by an architect named Francis Goodwin. The church received a grant of £9,652 to help with its construction. This was a lot of money back then!
Interestingly, another famous architect, Charles Barry, was first chosen to design the church. However, his design was too expensive, so Francis Goodwin took over. In 1883, a part of the church called the apse was added by John Lowe.
Exploring the Architecture of St James' Church
Outside the Church
St James' Church is built from stone blocks called ashlar. Its roofs are made of Welsh slate. The church has a main area called a nave, and two side sections known as aisles. At the east end, there's a slightly curved apse.
The church also has a tall tower at the west end. This tower has a door and a window above it. It also has strong supports called buttresses. Higher up, there's a space for a clock face. Above that, there are flying buttresses that hold up an octagonal (eight-sided) lantern. This lantern has openings for bells. The top of the tower has a decorative, castle-like edge called an embattled parapet.
There's another entrance on the south side of the church. The side aisles have six sections, each with a two-light window. These windows have decorative cast iron patterns called tracery, in a style known as Decorated Gothic. The chancel, which is the area around the altar, also has two-light windows.
Inside the Church
Inside St James' Church, you'll find galleries on three sides. These are like balconies where people can sit. The beautiful screen that separates the chancel from the rest of the church, along with its rood loft (a platform above the screen), was built in the 1920s. It was created as a memorial to remember those who fought in the First World War.
The screen has a central arch with a special shape called an ogee arch. Above this arch is a crucifix. On the sides of the arch, there are panels with words written on them. Above these panels, you can see statues of Saint George and Saint Michael. In the chancel, there's a special covered structure called a canopied reredos behind the altar. There's also a sedilia, which are seats for the clergy. The church also features beautiful stained glass windows, some made by artists from Shrigley and Hunt.
St James' Church Today
St James' Church is still an active church today. It is part of the Archdeaconry of Rochdale within the Diocese of Manchester.
The church follows the Anglo-Catholic tradition of the Church of England. This means it has some practices that are similar to those in the Roman Catholic Church. Because the parish does not agree with the ordination of women as priests, it is a member of a group called Forward in Faith. It also receives special guidance from the Bishop of Beverley (currently Stephen Race), which is known as alternative episcopal oversight.
More to Explore
- List of churches in Greater Manchester
- List of Commissioners' churches in Northeast and Northwest England
- Listed buildings in Oldham
- List of works by Francis Goodwin
