Church of St James Princess Road, Alexandra Park, Moss Side
The erection, at a cost of £5,000, of the proposed new church of St James, Alexandra Park, will at once be proceeded with. The architect is Mr John Lowe of this city. [Manchester Guardian 8 February 1887 page 6]
On Saturday afternoon the foundation stone of a new church to be erected at the corner of Prince’s Road and Great Western Street, Moss Side, was laid by Miss Sharp of Whalley Range. The church is intended to replace the temporary iron building in the same road, and like it will be named St James’s Church. ... The architect is Mr John Lowe, and Messrs R Neill and Sons are the contractors for the whole of the works. [Manchester Guardian 2 May 1887, page 6]
ST. JAMES'S CHURCH, MOSS SIDE, MANCHESTER - The foundation-stone of this church was laid on the 30th ult. The site is at the junction of Prince’s-road and Great Western Street. The church consists of nave, 93 ft. by 33 ft. wide, with north and south aisles, each 93 ft. by 13 ft., divided from the nave by an arcade of six bays, supported on pillars of red granite, with moulded caps and bases. The chancel is 33 ft. by 27 ft., on the south side of which is a lofty organ chamber, and on the north, vestries for the clergy and choir, with lavatory attached. The principal entrances are from Great Western-street and Prince’s-road. The style adopted is the Late Decorated period of Gothic architecture, the aisles being kept low, to give greater effect to the lofty clerestory. At the junction of Prince’s-road and Great Western-street is a campanile 100 ft. high. The roof is open-timbered, with framed principals. The church externally will be faced with Ruabon red stock bricks and terra-cotta, with tracery of windows, and bands of stone. The seats will be of pitch pine, and afford accommodation for 800 persons, inclusive of the choir. Messrs. Robert Neill & Sons, of Strangeways, are the contractors for the whole of the works, involving an outlay of about £5,000, under the superintendence of the architect, Mr. John Lowe, of Manchester, whose design was selected in a limited competition. [Builder 7 May 1887 page 688]
On Saturday afternoon the foundation-stone of $t. James's New Church, to be erected at the corner of Prince's-road and Great Western-street, Moss Side, Manchester, was laid. The architect is Mr. John Lowe, of Manchester, and Messrs. R. Neill and Sons are the contractors for the whole of the work. [Building News 20 May 1877 page 781]
The Bishop of Manchester yesterday consecrated the new church which has been erected at Moss Side. .... The new church which has been built by Messrs Robert Neill and Sons, Manchester, from the designs and under the superintendence of Mr John Lowe, architect, St Ann’s Square, has cost about ,5,500, nearly the whole of which large sum has already been subscribed. Provision is made for seating 800 persons. The building, which occupies an admirable site at the junction of Great Western Street with Prince’s Road is in the late Decorated style of architecture, and the materials used for the exterior are Ruabon bricks with terra-cotta dressings. The interior presents excellent proportions and a pleasing appearance. The nave is 93 feet long by 35 feet wide and 56 feet high, and there are north and south aisles, each 13 feet wide, the latter being divided from the nave by arches supported by Aberdeen polished granite pillars. On the south side of the chancel - which is 35 feet by 27 feet in extent and has an apsidal termination - there is a spacious organ chamber, and on the north side are erected well-appointed vestries for clergy and choir. The principal entrances are by spacious porches at the west end on the north and south sides, and on the south side there is also a picturesque campanile rising to a height of 125 feet. Additional entrances are also provided for the vestries and on the south side near the organ chamber. The church is well lighted throughout by the lofty clerestory and an imposing window at the west end. The roofs are open timbered with covered ceilings, and the floors are laid with blocks, which give place in the aisles and chancel to encaustic tiles. The seats are of pitch-pine in the body of the church, while those for the choir are of English oak. The heating is by means of hot air, the apparatus being provided by Mr John Grundy of London. A rich stained-glass window is placed in the chancel in memory of the late Bishop of Manchester. This is by Messrs Lavers and Westlake of London, and has been subscribed to by the ladies of the congregation. The pulpit is of alabaster and other marbles and is the gift of Dr Coghlan while the font is presented by Mr Lee. [Manchester Guardian 4 May 1888 page 7]
ST. JAMES' CHURCH, MOSS SIDE, MANCHESTER - This church was consecrated on the 3rd inst., and is of the Late Decorated style, comprising nave 93 feet by 33 feet, and 56 feet to the ridge, with north and south aisles, spacious chancel, organ chamber and vestries for the clergy and choir. The campanile at the south west angle forms an attractive and imposing feature in the locality, rising to the height of 125 feet. Spacious entrance porches are provided at the west end, also separate entrances for the choir and clergy, vestries, etc. Externally the church is faced with Ruabon bricks, terra-cotta, and Runcorn stone. The internal wood work is of pitch-pine with wood block floors. The pulpit, font, and all internal fittings are of effective designs. The heating is by means of hot air. The windows are of geometric design in Cathedral tinted glass, the centre window of chancel is of stained glass, in memory of the late Bishop of Manchester. The expenditure has been about £5,500 with accommodation for 800 persons. Messrs. Robert Neill and Sons, Manchester, were the contractors, and Mr. John Lowe, 17, St. Ann's Square, Manchester, the architect. [British Architect 18 May 1888 page 368]
MOSS SIDE, MANCHESTER - The Bishop of Manchester consecrated, on Friday, the new church dedicated to St. James, which has been erected at Moss Side. The new church, which has been built by Messrs. Robert Neill and Sons, Manchester, from the designs and under the superintendence of Mr. John Lowe, St. Ann's-square, in that city, has cost about £5,500. Provision is made for seating 800 persons. The building, which is placed at the junction of Great Western-street with Prince's road, is in the Late Decorated style, and the materials used for the exterior are Ruabon bricks with terracotta dressings. The nave is 93ft. long by 33ft. wide and 56ft. high, and there are north and south aisles each 13ft. wide, the latter being divided from the nave by arches supported by Aberdeen polished granite pillars. On the south side of the chancel—which is 35ft. by 27ft. in extent, and has an apsidal termination—there is an organ-chamber, and on the north side are vestries for clergy and choir. On the south side there is also a campanile rising to the height of 125ft. The roofs are open-timbered with coved ceilings, and the floors are laid with blocks, replaced in the pas sages and by encaustic tiles. The seats are of pitch-pine in the body of the church, while those for the choir are of English oak. The heating is by hot-air apparatus provided by Mr. John Grundy, of London. A stained-glass window is placed in the chancel in memory of the late Bishop of Manchester, by Messrs. Lavers and Westlake, of London. [Building News 11 May 1888 page 687]
St. James's Church, Moss-side, Manchester, was consecrated on the 3rd inst. It is of late Decorated style, comprising nave, 93 feet by 33 feet, and 56 feet to the ridge; with north and south aisles, spacious chancel, organ chamber, and vestries for the clergy and choir. The campanile at the south-west forms a prominent feature, rising to the height of 125 feet. Spacious entrance porches are provided at the west end, also separate entrances to the choir and clergy vestries, etc. Externally the church is faced with Ruabon bricks, terra-cotta and Runcorn stone. The internal woodwork is of pitch pine, with wood-block floors. The heating is by means of hot air. The window. are of Geometric design, in cathedral tinted glass: the centre window of the chancel is of stained glass, in memory of the late Bishop of Manchester. The expenditure has been about £5,500, with accommodation for 800 persons. The work has been executed by Messrs. Robert Neill & Sons, contractors, Manchester under the superintendence of the architect, Mr. John Lowe, Manchester. [Builder 26 May 1888 page 384]
Reference Manchester Guardian 8 February 1887 page 6 - work to commence
Reference Manchester Guardian 2 May 1887 page 6- foundation stone
Reference Builder 7 May 1887 page 688
Reference Building News 20 May 1877 page 781
Reference Manchester Guardian 4 May 1888 page 7 – consecration
Reference Manchester Courier 5 May 1888 page 14 – consecration
Reference Building News 11 May 1888 page 687
Reference British Architect 18 May 1888 page 368