St Michael and All Angels' Church, Howe Bridge facts for kids

Quick facts for kids St Michael and All Angels' Church, Howe Bridge
St Michael and All Angels' Church, Howe Bridge, from the east
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OS grid reference	SD 665,025
Location	Leigh Road, Howe Bridge, Atherton, Greater Manchester
Country	England
Denomination	Anglican
Website	Atherton Team Ministry
History
Status	Parish church
Consecrated	7 February 1877
Architecture
Functional status	Active
Heritage designation	Grade II*
Designated	31 July 1996
Architect(s)	Paley and Austin, Austin and Paley
Architectural type	Church
Style	Gothic Revival
Groundbreaking	1875
Completed	1877
Specifications
Materials	Sandstone with tiled roofs
Administration
Parish	St Michael and All Angels, Howe Bridge
Deanery	Leigh
Archdeaconry	Salford
Diocese	Manchester
Province	York

St Michael and All Angels' Church is located in Howe Bridge, which is a part of Atherton, England. It is an active Anglican church, meaning it belongs to the Church of England. This church is a parish church, serving the local community. It is part of a larger group of churches called the United Benefice of Atherton and Hindsford with Howe Bridge. The church is very important historically and architecturally. It is officially recognized as a Grade II* listed building on the National Heritage List for England. This means it is a particularly special building.

History of St Michael's Church

The building of St Michael's Church started in 1875 and finished in 1877. It was designed by famous architects named Paley and Austin from Lancaster. The church was built for a company called Fletcher, Burrows and Company. They owned three coal mines in Atherton. Ralph Fletcher paid for the church, which cost about £7,000 at the time. This was a very large amount of money back then!

The church was officially opened and blessed on 7 February 1877. This ceremony is called a consecration. In August 1878, it became its own separate parish. This meant it had its own area and priest. Later, in 1928, the church was updated. New seats were added for £1,056. In 1938, a new room called a vestry was built at the east end. This cost £1,338. In 2002, St Michael's joined with other local churches. They formed a team to work together.

Architecture and Design

Outside the Church

St Michael's Church is built from strong stone. It has red sandstone details and tiled roofs. The church has a cross shape when you look at it from above. It has a main hall called a nave without side aisles. There is a porch on the north side. It also has side chapels and two parts sticking out, called transepts. At the front, there is a chancel with high windows. There is also a meeting room and a choir vestry.

Above the center of the church, where the nave and transepts meet, is an octagonal (eight-sided) tower. On top of this tower is a tall, thin spire. This spire is called a flèche. At the west end of the church, there is a large central support. It has two-light windows with pointed tops on each side. Above these windows, in the triangular part of the roof, are three small, narrow windows. These are called lancet windows.

The porch on the north side is made of wood. It has a pointed roof and windows on its sides. The church has many windows of different sizes. Some have two lights, and others have three. The large window at the east end has five stepped lancet windows. There are also more lancet windows in the rooms next to the chancel. A small, gabled tower with decorative arches is on the north wall of the chancel.

Inside the Church

The nave of the church has an open roof. The chancel, which is the area near the altar, has a stone-vaulted ceiling. This means the ceiling is made of curved stone arches. The arches in the chancel are supported by round and clustered pillars.

The reredos, which is a decorated screen behind the altar, is made of marble. It was added in 1903. The choir stalls, where the choir sits, were made in 1919. They are in a style called Perpendicular. The screens for the chapels are in a Decorated style. The screen in front of the chancel and the pulpit, where the priest gives sermons, are made of wrought and cast iron. They also date from 1919.

The font, used for baptisms, is a round marble structure with decorative panels. Many of the beautiful stained glass windows were made by C. E. Kempe. Some date back to 1896. There is also a window in the north transept from 1922 by Edward Moore. Inside the church, you can find memorials. Most of these are dedicated to the Fletcher family, who helped build the church. The church also has a large organ with three keyboards. It was made in 1932 by Rushworth and Dreaper.

St Michael's Church Today

St Michael and All Angels' Church was officially listed as a Grade II* building on 31 July 1996. This means it is considered a very important building. Experts say it is "particularly important" and has "more than special interest." Architectural historians Richard Pollard and Nikolaus Pevsner have praised its design. They called it "one of their most stimulating churches."

Today, the church holds regular services on Sundays and during the week. It has a choir that sings during services. There is also a Mothers' Union group. The church runs a Sunday School for children. It also hosts groups like the Scouts and Guides.

See also

• Grade II* listed buildings in Greater Manchester
• Listed buildings in Atherton, Greater Manchester
• List of churches in Greater Manchester
• List of ecclesiastical works by Paley and Austin