St Stephen's Church, Astley facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Stephen's Church, Astley |
|
|---|---|
The third St Stephen's Church
|
|
| 53°30′04″N 2°27′22″W / 53.501°N 2.456°W | |
| Location | Astley, Greater Manchester. |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Anglican |
| Website | St Stephen - Astley |
| History | |
| Founded | 1631 |
| Consecrated | 1968 |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Specifications | |
| Materials | Brick |
St Stephen's Church is a Christian church located in Astley, Greater Manchester, England. It is an active Anglican church, meaning it belongs to the Church of England. The current church building was finished in 1968.
St Stephen's is part of a larger group of churches in the area. It works together with St George's Church, Tyldesley and St John's Church, Mosley Common. This group is called a "benefice," which means they share a team of leaders. The church's history goes back to a much older chapel built in 1631. This first chapel was a "chapel of ease," a smaller church built to make it easier for people to attend services without traveling far to the main parish church.
Contents
The Story of St Stephen's Church
This section tells you about the different church buildings that have stood in Astley over the years.
The First Chapel: Built in 1631
The very first chapel was built in 1631. A wealthy local landowner named Adam Mort paid for it. He owned a place called Damhouse. The chapel was officially opened on August 3, 1631, by the Bishop of Chester.
This chapel was the first "chapel of ease" for the main church in Leigh. It was named after St Stephen, who was one of the first Christian martyrs. The building was made from local bricks and stood on what used to be common land. The first minister, Thomas Crompton, started working there in 1632.
The Second Chapel: From 1760 to 1961
The first chapel lasted for almost 130 years. By 1760, it was getting old and needed to be rebuilt. A new, slightly larger chapel was built in the same spot. Thomas Froggatt, another owner of Damhouse, helped pay for the new building.
This second chapel was also made of handmade bricks. It was about 16.6 meters (54 feet 6 inches) long and 11 meters (36 feet) wide. It could hold about 170 people. The chapel had a main area called a nave with windows on the sides and ends. It also had a small chancel and a tower at the west end with one bell. Over the years, the chapel was made bigger several times, in 1834, 1842, and 1847.
Sadly, this second chapel was destroyed by a fire on June 18, 1961. After the fire, people decided not to rebuild it in the same place. Instead, they chose a new spot on Manchester Road.
The Current Church: Built in 1968
The third and current St Stephen's Church was built at the new location. It was officially opened on October 26, 1968. This is the church building you see today.
Church Leaders Over Time
The church has had many ministers and rectors leading its community throughout its history. Here are some of the people who have served St Stephen's Church:
- 1632 Thomas Crompton
- 1683 John Battersby
- 1702 Roger Seddon
- 1716 James Marsh
- 1732 Thomas Mawdesley
- 1769 Robert Barker
- 1822 Thomas Birkett
- 1838 John Wilkinson Edwards
- 1840 Alfred Hewlett
- 1885 James Alexander Maxwell Johnstone
- 2010 Jonathan Carmyllie (Current Team Rector)
