St Margaret's Church, Prestwich facts for kids

Quick facts for kids St Margaret's Church, Prestwich
Parish Church of St Margaret
Location	Prestwich, Bury, Greater Manchester
Country	England
Denomination	Church of England
Website	St Margaret's Church Official Page: https://stmargaretsprestwich.com/
History
Status	Parish church
Dedication	St Margaret of Antioch
Architecture
Functional status	Active
Heritage designation	Grade II
Designated	9 May 2003
Administration
Parish	Holyrood, Prestwich
Deanery	Bury and Rossendale
Archdeaconry	Bolton
Diocese	Diocese of Manchester
Province	Province of York

The Parish Church of St Margaret is a beautiful Church of England church. You can find it on St Margaret's Road in Prestwich, Greater Manchester, England. This church is a special building, listed as Grade II listed because of its historical importance.

It was designed in 1849 by architects Travis and Mangnall. The church was built in a style called "Decorated," which means it has lots of fancy details. It first opened in 1851. Over the years, it was made bigger in 1863, 1871, 1884, 1888, and 1899. St Margaret's is famous for its amazing wood carvings by Arthur Simpson. These carvings are part of the Arts and Crafts movement, a style known for its handmade beauty. The church also has newer features from the late 1900s. Another church, St George, in Simister, is also part of the same parish.

History of St Margaret's Church

How the Church Started

In the mid-1800s, during the time of Queen Victoria, more and more people were moving to Prestwich. The town grew a lot, from 470 people in 1714 to over 5,000 by 1849! Because of this growth, a new church was needed.

The land for St Margaret's was given by the 2nd Earl of Wilton. He gave many gifts to the church over the years. Later, in 1884, a large window showing the story of the Good Samaritan was put in the church to remember him.

The church was named after St Margaret of Antioch. There used to be a special chapel in the old Prestwich Parish Church dedicated to St Margaret.

The first stone for the church was laid on October 3, 1849. A very important person, the Duchess of Cambridge, was there. The church officially opened for services on October 26, 1851, and was blessed on March 18, 1852.

Becoming Its Own Parish

In 1875, people who went to St Margaret's asked for the church to be allowed to hold weddings. They got permission, and soon after, weddings could take place there. The church was made bigger in 1863 and 1871. A new organ was added in 1884, and the room for the organ was also made larger. A new entrance porch was built at the same time.

In 1885, St Margaret's became its own separate parish. This was a big step! The Revd. Stanley Swinburne, who was already in charge, became the first official Vicar of the new parish.

More additions were made in the following years. In 1888, a room for the choir was added. In 1899, the church reached its current size with a large extension. This was done to celebrate Queen Victoria's 60 years as queen.

Also in 1899, a man named Benjamin Carver gave the church a piece of land. This land was turned into the St Margaret's Church Gardens. A special cross stands in the gardens today to remember his kindness.

Amazing Wood Carvings by Arthur Simpson

Around 1899, a man named Edward Holt started a project to make St Margaret's even more beautiful. He arranged for amazing carved oak wood pieces to be added to the church. These were made by a skilled craftsman named Arthur Simpson from Kendal.

Over the next 21 years, the church received many new carved items. These included new choir stalls, a high altar (the table where communion is held), a reredos (a screen behind the altar), wood panels, a bishop's throne, and a rood screen (a screen separating parts of the church). A war memorial and other items were also added. Most of these were designed by Dan Gibson and carved by Arthur Simpson.

This artwork is a fantastic example of the Arts and Crafts movement. Many people believe it's the best church work Simpson ever did. These carvings create a truly special and beautiful space for worship.

The Church in the 1900s

By 1900, Prestwich had grown even more, with over 12,000 people. More space was needed for burials. In 1909, land across the road from the church was bought and set aside for this purpose. It's now called the New Churchyard.

In 1910, the Church House was built opposite the church. It was used for church activities. It was made bigger in the 1950s and changed inside in 2005. It's still used by the church today.

To help people in the Simister part of the parish, a new church was built in 1915. It was designed by R. Basnett Preston. This church, dedicated to St George the Martyr, is special because it was started and finished during World War I. It hasn't changed much since then.

In 1932, the Revd. T. R. Musgrave became the fourth vicar. He made some changes to how services were held. He created a Children's Corner in 1932 and added a second altar in 1936 for daily services. This chapel was dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary.

In 1951, St Margaret's celebrated its 100th birthday with a year of special events. Later, in the 1960s, new ideas about worship led to changes in how services were done.

Also in the late 1960s, new buildings were put up for the young people of the parish. These included a Youth Centre and a place for Scouts and Guides. In 2005, these were replaced by a new two-story Youth and Community Centre.

Restoring the Church

In February 1985, the church was damaged by a fire. The organ, the Lady Chapel, and other parts of the church were completely destroyed. The church had to be closed for about 18 months for repairs. During this time, the church family met in the Church House for services.

During the restoration, some changes were made to the church's layout. The main altar was moved to a new spot, and the old screen was moved to the back of the church. A new area for baptisms was created with a new marble font. The church was officially reopened on September 8, 1986.

New artworks were also added during this time. An artist named Graeme Willson painted a large picture of the Crucifixion that hangs over the main altar. He also painted the Madonna of the Passion and designed a font cover. In 2004, an embroidered banner showing the church's patron saint was added. A special carved beam with the words "I am among you as one who serves" was put up in 2010.

A new organ was installed in 1986. Parts of it came from an older organ. A famous organist, Dr Allan Wicks, gave the first concert on the new organ in 1987. In 2010, the organ was updated and made even better.

In 2001-2002, the church celebrated its 150th anniversary!

Churchyard

The churchyard has a special section with war graves. These are the graves of 27 service members who died in World War I and World War II.

Vicars of St Margaret's Prestwich

Before 1885, the church was looked after by priests called Curates-in-Charge. The last one became the first official Vicar when the parish was created.

• 1885 — 1892 The Revd Stanley Swinburne
• 1892 — 1926 The Revd Joseph Herbert Kidson
• 1927 — 1932 The Revd George Stephen Osborn
• 1932 — 1939 The Revd Thomas Randolph Musgrave
• 1939 — 1959 The Revd Cecil Rhodes Ball
• 1960 — 1982 The Revd Canon David Nigel Astley Clegg
• 1983 — 2006 The Revd Martin Ashworth
• 2007 — 2014 The Revd Canon Deborah A. Plummer (priest-in-charge)
• 2015 — 2022 The Revd Deborah Sandercock-Pickles (priest-in-charge)

The seventh vicar, the Revd Martin Ashworth, retired in 2006. The Revd Deborah Plummer then became the priest-in-charge in 2007.

See also

• Listed buildings in Prestwich
• List of Commissioners' churches in Northeast and Northwest England