St. Thomas' Church, Mellor
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| St. Thomas' Church, Mellor | |
St. Thomas' Church, Mellor |
|
  Shown within Greater Manchester
|
|
| Basic information | |
|---|---|
| Location | Mellor, Greater Manchester, England |
| Geographic coordinates | Coordinates: |
| Religious affiliation | Anglican |
| Ecclesiastical status | Parish church |
| Leadership | Rev. Dr Peter Jenner, Vicar |
| Website | http://www.mellorparish.org.uk/ |
| Architectural description | |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Architectural style | Gothic |
| Specifications | |
| Capacity | 200 |
| Materials | Stone |
St. Thomas' Church, Mellor is at the end of a lane overlooking the village of Mellor, Greater Manchester, England (grid reference SJ982889). It is a Grade II listed building.[1] It contains the oldest wooden pulpit in England and a late 12th century Norman font.
Contents |
[edit] History
The first stone building was probably erected in the early 14th century. In 1783 the walls were partly rebuilt and galleries were constructed on the south and east walls. At this time the church could seat 700 people. In 1815 a new entrance and porch were built and the south wall was repaired. In 1827-29 the chancel and the north wall were reconstructed to designs by the antiquarian Thomas Rickman.[2] In 1885 the east gallery was removed. In the first decade of the 20th century the south and west galleries were demolished. In 1960, a death watch beetle was found in the roof and the roof was replaced. The screen was moved from the front of the nave to its present position at the rear creating a new chapel at the west end. A new Mander organ was installed in 1977.[3]
The tower dates from the 15th century, built on 12th century foundations, and the rest of the church dates from its rebuilding in the early 19th century.[1]
[edit] Structure
The church is built in stone. Its plan consists of a west tower, a four-bay nave, a one-bay chancel and a south porch. At the east end is a pointed-arch window. The tower is in three stages and has a west door and window, two-light bell openings above which are clock faces, and a castellated parapet with finials.[1]
[edit] Fittings and furniture
Two important items of furniture in the church are the 14th century pulpit and the Norman font. The pulpit is unique in England. Richards states it is the oldest wooden pulpit in England, and possibly in the world. It dates from the time of Edward II. It is octagonal in shape, with two of the sides forming the entrance. Five of the other six panels are carved with tracery.[4] It is carved out of one block of wood.[5] The font dates from the late 12th century. It is round and plain apart from the bowl which is carved with an incised design of figures and animals. The basin, which is lined with lead or zinc, is large enough for the total immersion of a small child.[6] The church silver plate includes a chalice dated 1782 and a paten and a flagon dated 1791. The parish registers begin in 1629.[4]
[edit] External features
In the churchyard are the remains of an Anglo-Saxon cross[7] and a pair of stone shafts of stocks dating probably from the 19th century.[8]
[edit] See also
[edit] Notes
- ^ a b c Images of England: Church of St Thomas the Apostle, Mellor. English Heritage. Retrieved on 2007-12-18.
- ^ Howard Colvin, A Biographical Dictionary of British Architects 1600-1840 3rd ed. (Yale University Press) 1995, s.v. "Thomas Rickman".
- ^ Hearle, Ann. A Brief History. Mellor Parish. Retrieved on 2007-12-18.
- ^ a b Richards, Raymond (1947). Old Cheshire Churches. London: Batsford, 232–234.
- ^ Pevsner, Nikolaus; Edward Hubbard [1971] (2003). The Buildings of England: Cheshire. New Haven: Yale University Press, 279. ISBN 0 300 09588 0.
- ^ St Thomas, Mellor. Corpus of Romanesque Sculpture of Great Britain and Ireland. Retrieved on 2007-12-30.
- ^ Images of England: Remains of Saxon Cross. English Heritage. Retrieved on 2007-12-18.
- ^ Images of England: Stocks. English Heritage. Retrieved on 2007-12-18.
