Church of St Mary Magdalene, Ashton-on-Mersey
NEW CHURCH AT ASHTON-ON-MERSEY Yesterday the foundation stone of the new church of St Mary Magdalene at Ashton-on-Mersey was laid by Mr W C Brooks MP. A procession of clergy and others headed by the Sale Volunteer Rifle Band marched from the old church to the site of the new building of which Messrs W Wilson and Oldham, John Dalton Street, Manchester, are the architects. The nave will be 83 feet long by 41 feet wide and the chancel 30 feet by 19 feet. Sittings will be provided for 650 worshippers. The buildings will be erected in the early decorated style, at a cost, exclusive if the site (which has been given by Mr Brooks MP) of between £5,000 and £6,000. Mr Kirkley of Sale is the contractor. ..... In a cavity under the stone a bottle containing the Manchester and the local newspapers of the 20th inst, and a document relating to the history of the building, was placed. On a brass plate which covered the cavity the following inscription was engraved: THE CHURCH OF ST MARY MAGDALENE, ASHTON-UPON-MERSEY - The foundation stone of this church was laid by William Cunliffe Brooks Esq MP lord of this manor, and deputy lieutenant and justice of the peace of the counties palatine of Chester and Lancaster, in the faith of Jesus Christ, in the name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, on the 22nd day of July 1872, upon the festival of St Mary Magdalene, in whose memory this church is dedicated. [Manchester Guardian 23 July 1872 Page 8]
ASHTON‑UPON‑MERSEY - On Monday the foundation stone of the new church of St Mary Magdalen, at Ashton‑upon‑Mersey, was laid. Messrs W Wilson and Oldham, John Dalton‑street, Manchester, are the architects. The nave will be 83 feet long by 41 feet wide, and the chancel 30 feet by 19 feet Sittings will be provided for 650 worshippers. The building will be erected in the Early Decorated style, at a cost, exclusive of the site, of between £5,000 and £6,000. Mr Kirkley, of Sale, is the contractor. [Building News 26 July 1872 page 69]
The Bishop of Chester consecrated the new church of St Mary Magdalene. The old parish of St Martin has for some time been inadequate to the increasing demands of the parishioners, and two years ago the foundation stone of a new church was laid by Mr W H Cunliffe Brooks MP, the donor of the site, upon the Festival of St Mary Magdalene, to whose memory it is dedicated. About £7,000 has already been expended on its erection, and it is estimated to cost before its completion an additional sum of £2,000. The design was selected in competition and is of the early decorated character. [Manchester Guardian 26 March 1874 page 8]
Reference Manchester Guardian 23 July 1872 Page 8 – foundation
Reference Building News 26 July 1872 page 69 - foundation
Reference Manchester Guardian 26 March 1874 page 8 - consecration.
Reference British Architect 3 April 1874 page 219
Reference Building News 26 July 1872 page 69
Reference Kelly