St Stephen's Church, Astley facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Stephen's Church, Astley |
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The third St Stephen's Church
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| 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 special church located in Astley, England. It is an active Anglican church, which means it is part of the Church of England. The church was built in 1968. It works together with St George's Church, Tyldesley and St John's Church, Mosley Common to serve the local community.
The story of St Stephen's Church goes back a long way! The first church building, called Astley Chapel, was built in 1631. Another church was built later, but sadly, it was burned down in 1961. The church you see today is the third one.
Contents
History of St Stephen's Church
The First Church Building (1631-1760)
The very first chapel was built in 1631. A wealthy man named Adam Mort, who owned a place called Damhouse, paid for it. The chapel was officially opened on August 3, 1631, by the Bishop of Chester.
This first chapel was special because it was the first "chapel of ease" for the main church in Leigh, St Mary the Virgin's. A chapel of ease is a smaller church built to make it easier for people in a village to attend services without traveling far to the main parish church. This chapel was named after St Stephen, who was an early Christian martyr. It was built using local bricks on a piece of common land. Reverend Thomas Crompton became the first minister in 1632.
The Second Church Building (1760-1961)
The first chapel served the community for about 130 years. By 1760, it was getting old and needed to be replaced. So, a new, slightly larger church was built in the same spot. Thomas Froggatt, another person from Damhouse, helped pay for this new building.
This second church was made from 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. It had a main area called a nave with windows, a small chancel (the area near the altar), and a tower at the west end with one bell. The church was made even bigger in 1834, 1842, and 1847 to fit more people.
The Fire and the New Church (1961-Present)
Sadly, the second church building was destroyed by a fire on June 18, 1961. Instead of rebuilding on the same spot, it was decided to move the church to a new location on Manchester Road.
The third and current St Stephen's Church was officially opened on October 26, 1968. This is the church that stands today, continuing the long history of St Stephen's in Astley.
Church Leaders (Clergy)
Over the centuries, many dedicated leaders have served St Stephen's Church. Here are some of the ministers who have guided the congregation:
- 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
- 1970s Jack Finney
- 1980s John Findon
- 2010 Jonathan Carmyllie (who is currently the main leader for the churches in Astley, Tyldesley, and Mosley Common)
See also
