St Stephen's Church, Moulton facts for kids

Quick facts for kids St Stephen's Church, Moulton
St Stephen's Church, Moulton, from the south
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OS grid reference	SJ 655,697
Location	Moulton, Cheshire
Country	England
Denomination	Anglican
History
Status	Parish church
Dedication	St Stephen the Martyr
Consecrated	16 January 1877
Architecture
Functional status	Active
Heritage designation	Grade II
Designated	12 March 1986
Architect(s)	John Douglas
Architectural type	Church
Style	Gothic Revival
Groundbreaking	1876
Completed	1877
Specifications
Materials	Sandstone, slate roof, lead spire
Administration
Parish	St Stephen the Martyr, Moulton
Deanery	Middlewich
Archdeaconry	Chester
Diocese	Chester
Province	York

St Stephen's Church is a beautiful old church located in the village of Moulton, Cheshire, England. It's an important building, recognized as a Grade II listed building, which means it's protected because of its special history and architecture. Today, it's an active Anglican parish church, serving the local community.

History of St Stephen's Church

Moulton village grew bigger because of the salt industry nearby in Winsford. As more people moved to the village, they decided they needed their own church. A famous architect named John Douglas designed St Stephen's Church.

Building the Church

The first stone, called the foundation stone, was laid in 1876. This marked the start of building the church. Just one year later, in 1877, St Stephen's became its own separate parish. This meant it had its own area and community to serve.

Church Opening Day

The church was officially opened and blessed, or consecrated, on January 16, 1877. This special ceremony was led by Dr William Jacobson, who was the Bishop of Chester at the time.

Architecture and Design

St Stephen's Church is built in a style called Gothic Revival. This means it looks like churches from the medieval Gothic period, but it was built much later.

Outside the Church

The outside of the church is made from yellow sandstone. It has special red sandstone details called ashlar dressings. The roof is made of green slate, and the tall, pointed part at the top, called the spire, is covered in lead.

Inside the Church

The church's layout includes a main hall called a nave and a special area near the altar called a chancel. It also has a smaller section on the northeast side called a transept, a room for priests and robes on the southeast called a vestry, and a porch at the southwest entrance.

While the outside is stone, the inside walls are built with two different kinds of brick. You can also see a plain sedilia inside, which is a set of seats for the clergy near the altar.

Stained Glass and Organ

The beautiful stained glass window at the east end of the church was made by J. C. Bewsey. There's also a special "millennium window" created by R. N. Bradley. The church's organ, which makes music for services, was built in 1876 by Henry Bevington and Sons.

Other Buildings Nearby

The vicarage, which is the house where the vicar (a type of priest) lives, is on Jack Lane. It was also designed by the same architect, John Douglas. Like the church, it is also a Grade II listed building.

St Stephen's Church Today

St Stephen's Church is still a very active part of the Moulton community.

Services and Activities

• Regular Anglican services are held every Sunday.
• Special events like baptisms, weddings, and funerals take place in the church.
• The church also organizes fun activities for children and young people.

See also

• Listed buildings in Moulton, Cheshire
• List of new churches by John Douglas