Foundation Stone
'General Advertiser', Saturday 7th May 1853
NEW CHURCH AT SALE MOOR
LAYING THE FOUNDATION STONE
On Saturday a very considerable number of the inhabitants of Sale, near Stretford, and the surrounding neighbourhood, assembled for the purpose of laying the foundation stone of a new church, which is about to be erected in the parish of Ashton-upon-Mersey. The site upon which the church is to be erected is a piece of land about half a mile from the railway station at Sale, on the road leading to Northenden. The land is about an acre in extent and was given by Mr. Samuel Brooks, banker, of Manchester, in addition to a donation of £250; his son, Mr. William C. Brooks, also subscribing £100. The gentlemen who have taken a prominent part in promoting the erection of this church are Messrs. Thomas William Tatton, Withenshaw Hall; Edmund Howarth, William Joynson, George Kinsey, Thomas Dale, and George B. Brewer, who formed a building committee.
By their efforts, with the assistance of other gentlemen, the handsome sum of £2,940 has already been obtained, and a contract for the erection, amounting to £2,318, has been entered into. It is calculated that the amount which will be required for the endowment and maintenance of the edifice in repair will be £1,200, and that £400 will be sufficient to defray the expense of the necessary heating apparatus, fencing the church, and the usual furnishings of the pulpit and seats. The total expense, therefore, including the endowment and repair fund, will be £3,900, so that about £1,000 more is still required. One of the principal subscribers is Mr. Edmund Howarth, of Sale Lodge, who has given the very handsome sum of £500. The foundation stone was laid by Mr. Thomas William Tatton, of Withenshaw Hall, who has also been a very liberal subscriber.
The church, which is dedicated to St. Ann, will be a Gothic edifice, in the style of architecture which prevailed in the 14th century, called the decorated style. The tower is to be placed at the north-west angle of the nave, and will be 3 stories high. In the first story is the principal entrance to the church, which consists of a bold canopied doorway; above this will be placed a two-light window, with tracery. At the corners of the tower there will be angled buttresses, over which, supported by gurgoyles, will be crocketed pinnacles, terminating in finials, the highest part of which will be 70 feet above the ground line. The parapet will be composed of a series of open arches. Surmounting the tower will be a light elegant spire, 60 feet high. In the east end will be a four-light, and the west end a five-light window, both filled in with rich tracery. The west end will also have a perforated parapet. The sides to have three and two-light windows. The transepts, also, will have three-light windows, all filled in with tracery heads. The buttresses will be in two stages, and die away in the wall. The whole of the church is to be built of stone; that for the dressings and moulded work is to be procured from Lymm, and the wall stone from the neighbourhood of Penistone.
The extreme length of the building will be 100 feet, and the width across the transepts 60 feet. The church will consist of nave, transepts, and chancel, the floor of the latter being raised 2 feet above the floor of the nave; the whole to have open timber roofs. It is calculated that the edifice will afford accommodation for 500 persons; and provision is to be made for warming the building with hot water.
The architect is Mr. William Hayley, Cross-st., Manchester; and the builder Mr. Robert Neal, of this city.
At a quarter to three o’clock a large number of gentlemen who were to take part in the interesting ceremony met at the school room, situate a short distance from the railway station, and walked in procession to the site of the church, where already had assembled a considerable number of ladies, amongst whom were Mrs. T.W. Tatton and family; Mrs. Howarth, Sale Lodge; Mrs. Foster, &c.
Amongst the clergy and gentlemen present we observed the Revs. Dr. Orton, Altrincham; J.D. Elliott, Bowdon; J. Clark, Stretford; W. Birley, Chorlton-cum-Hardy; T. Buckley, Chaplain of the Blind Asylum, Old Trafford; W.J. Kidd, Didsbury; E. Dowling, Timperley; J.A. Page, Tintwistle; E.B. Chalmer, Tintwistle; J. Hunter, Ashton-upon-Mersey; J. Kingsley, Bowdon; W .Whitelegg, Manchester; H. Sayers, Manchester; and Mrs. Edmund Howarth, J.F. Foster, William Joynson, G. Kinsey; Oswald Grundy, J. Slagg, E. Hahnel, Peter Joynson; Councillors Joseph Lamb, W. Medcalfe, and Robert Neill, Manchester; Robert Holmes, Manchester, &c.
The Rev. J. Hunter, Curate of Ashton-upon-Mersey, who officiated on behalf of the Rev. C.B. Sowerby, Rector of Ashton, opened the proceedings by offering up prayer.
Mr. WILLIAM JOYNSON then addressed Mr. T.W. Tatton, and said, that, as chairman of the building committee, he had great pleasure in presenting him with a silver trowel to lay the foundation stone of this sacred edifice. On behalf of the building committee, he begged to offer him their hearty thanks for the readiness with which, upon all occasions, he had come forward to render assistance in the noble object before them. He sincerely hoped that this trowel would be retained by him, and that by the family at Withenshaw it would always be considered a memorial and a testimony of the high esteem and regard which all his neighbours entertained of his personal character, and for the exemplary manner in which he had performed all the duties of his station, both in public and private life. It appeared to have been the custom on all occasions, whenever any necessity rose to appeal to him (Mr. Tatton) for assistance, and never had those appeals being made in vain. (Hear, hear.) He trusted that this trowel would be handed down to his descendants, and that it would incite them to perform their duties as well as he (Mr. Tatton) now did, and that the Tattons of Withenshaw would in future generations always come forward to sustain this church whenever any assistance was necessary. – Mr. Joynson then presented to Mr. Tatton a beautiful silver trowel which bore the following inscription: -
Presented to Thomas William Tatton, Esq., of Withenshaw Hall, Cheshire, on the occasion of his laying the foundation stone of St. Ann's Church, Sale Moor, April 30th, 1853.
Mr. TATTON having received the trowel and performed the formal ceremony, said:
By permission, and in the name of the supreme Architect of heaven and earth, God the Father, the Son, and Holy Ghost, I lay this foundation stone, humbly imploring the Divine aid and blessing upon this our solemn undertaking. May this edifice redound to the glory and praise of God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, and promote the temporal and religious welfare of generations yet to come, until time shall be no more! –
In the stone was deposited a bottle, containing a number of silver and copper coins, and a copy of each of the Manchester newspapers. These were covered by a brass plate, on which was the following inscription: -
Deo Gloria in Excelsis! The foundation stone of this church, dedicated to the worship and glory of God, by the name of St. Ann, was laid on Saturday, the 30th of April, in the year of our Lord 1853, by Thomas William Tatton, Esq. – John Graham, Bishop of Chester; C.B. Sowerby, Rector of Ashton-upon-Mersey.
Edmund Howarth, )
Thomas William Tatton, )
George Kinsey, ) Building Committee
Thomas Dale, )
George Bannister Brewer, )
William Haley, Architect.
Robert Neill, Builder.
A hymn was then sung; after which:
Mr. T.W. TATTON addressed the assembly, and observed, that he had felt encouragement and support in the ceremony which he had just performed, by the assurance that in all who were present there was but one mind and one feeling, namely, the promotion of God's glory and the spiritual welfare of our fellow creatures. All who had attained an advanced period of life would remember the state of this neighbourhood many years ago, when it was merely a reclaimed moor, and it would almost appear marvellous to them within so short a period so large a population and so great a number of buildings could spring up around them. They would agree with him, that it was a most gratifying trait in the character of Englishmen, that wherever they established their homes, they never felt satisfied until they had provided near those homes a building sacred to God, in which, on each returning Sabbath, they could join their fellow-creatures in worshipping their Maker.
He congratulated the ladies and gentlemen who had chosen this spot for their homes on so early a prospect as was now presented of having a church near them, and he trusted it would be one not unworthy of their admiration. Let us hope, he said in conclusion, that the blessing of God may rest upon the solemn work which had been inaugurated today; and that is pray to Him, that here in this church those who are in sickness or sorrow may find comfort and support, and that those who are blessed with health and prosperity may learn here to whom it is they owe that health and prosperity, and may here offer up their grateful thanksgiving
The Rev. J.CLARKE, of Stretford, said, that as a neighbour he had long taken a deep and lively interest in the welfare of this parish. While, on the one hand, he could not but regret that there was a prospect, by this beautiful church being built, that he should lose some of the kindest members of his congregation, on the other hand, he sincerely rejoiced that they and all the members of this parish would be so accommodated with those ordinances of religion which they had so long needed. Just as the sun was now shining upon this multitude he sincerely prayed that the blessing of God would shine upon all who assembled in this church after it had been built.
The ceremony of to-day had reminded him of the same work which they had to perform at Stretford a few years ago. That church was then considered too large for the population; and if he was not mistaken, they would find in this parish that in a few years they would have to enlarge their church, as he should probably have to enlarge his at Stretford. He hoped the time would soon come when the church would be well filled - the gospel faithfully, scripturally, and truly preached - for the good of their souls and for the glory of God.
The Rev. W. BIRLEY, of Chorlton-cum-Hardy, said he should consider himself wanting in good fellowship and proper feeling if he gave way to any disposition that he felt rather to retire than come forward to offer a few remarks on this occasion. Like his friend (Mr. Clarke) he had long been aware of the destitution which existed in this part of the parish of Ashton, and the inconvenience that many persons laboured under in having to attend the services of the mother church at so remote a distance from them. Like Mr. Clarke, also, he should, perhaps, lose many faces that he had long been accustomed to see in his own Church, but he was perfectly reconciled to it, because he would rather that each sheep should keep within the precincts of its own fold than be compelled to stray abroad, and pass in to that fold to which, according to the regulations of our church, they do not properly belong. He congratulated them up on the work which at last was commenced for their benefit. Unfortunately, in many districts of our country, the population has been allowed to increase and outgrow the ability of the Church to render to that population her services.
The work had consequently been rendered doubly difficult by not only embracing the evils existing, but the accumulated evils of days gone by. In this district to a certain extent this evil could not be said to exist, because simultaneously with the planting of the buildings which he saw on all sides, God had put it into the hearts of some of them to assist in the work which had been inaugurated to-day. Their gratitude had been appealed to. There were many who were unable to contribute of their pecuniary means to the expense of this undertaking, but there was a more tangible gift which they could bestow - one more grateful to those who had undertaken this work no less for their benefit than their own: this was a practical use of the building when it should have been erected and consecrated. That must be done, and they might indulge the hope that the generations which seeded them would be led into that good path which should be carried out to succeeding generations one after another, to the temporal and spiritual benefit of all.
The Rev. Dr. ORTON, of Altrincham, said that as a neighbouring clergyman, he was exceedingly glad of the opportunity of making a few observations on this occasion. The object which they had now in view was connected with four considerations. It was connected with our God - with our country - with our church, and with the best interests of all our fellow creatures. We were now living in remarkable times when God was accomplishing his purposes respecting our Redeemer - and all the nations of the world were to become the nations of our Lord and his Christ, and when he was to reign over them forever. Satan knew this, and he went about as a roaring lion. No doubt he was here at this time looking malignantly at this blessed work. God was looking down upon it, and had been listening to the prayer and the praise that had been offered up to him. If we decide to promote the glory of God, how could it be better promoted than in erecting a house to His worship, and especially for the promulgation of his holy commandments, and the reading of his Word? What could be more comprehensive than the beautiful Liturgy of the Church of England?
Many there were who placed especial advantage of the preaching of God's Word, and it was by preaching that we generally found souls converted to God. But the house of God was called, not a house of preaching, but a house of prayer; and, after all, it was in prayer that God delighted. It was prayer of which we stood in need, and it was prayer that brought down the blessing of God upon us and upon our country. It was the glory of a land when the truth was preached in it - when the word of God was circulated in it. Our country was great, and stood foremost among all nations of the earth, but its chief strength lay in the defence of the most High God. He must be our bulwark, and wherever a church was planted there we might expect there would be such principles as would tend to promote God’s honour in the declaration of the truth, and in promoting loyalty, peace, and happiness in the neighbourhood around.
The precepts of God’s Word enjoined the two-fold duty, to fear God and honour the Queen. He trusted that we should bear our beloved Queen in our hearts, and pray that she would be long be preserved to rule over this nation. Then, again, consider what a happiness it was to society to have a church in their midst; it formed a standard for all who were in trouble or distress, and the minister was always considered as a father to his people, as the good Samaritan, to whom the poor, and all who were in distress, could appeal. He also acted as the representative, to his influential friends around him, on behalf of his poorer neighbours. He believed that the poor, generally speaking, though their means of education and knowledge might have been limited, loved the established worship of our Church. Though the beautiful prayers offered up by Dissenters were full and comprehensive, still they fell short of that enlarged view taken by our Liturgy, which included prayer for all persons, in whatever station, or under whatever affliction.
Another prayer was then offered up, and the proceedings terminated by the singing of the national anthem.