Church of St Thomas. Church Street, off Huddersfield Road, Newhey Rochdale

Built in memory of their father, Thomas, by William and James Heap. Cost £10,000

The Church was built in 1876 as a replica of Holy Trinity Church, Weston-super-Mare, Somerset which had been erected fifteen years previously. It is made of Bath stone which gives it a clean and shining appearance during the day and a translucent appearance at night, especially when the moon is out. [Building News 12 January 1877 Page 50]

NEW CHURCH AT NEW HEY – The Bishop of Manchester preached yesterday at the consecration of a new church, to be called the Church of St Thomas at New Hey. … The new church has cost about £10,000, and will seat some 600 persons. The seats will be free. The church is erected by Messrs William and James Heap in memory of their father, the late Mr Thomas Heap. [Manchester Guardian 22 December 1876 page 7]

CONSECRATION OF A NEW CHURCH AT NEW HEY, ROCHDALE -  Yesterday morning, the new church of St. Thomas, New Hey, near Rochdale, was consecrated by the Lord Bishop of Manchester. The edifice, which stands on an eminence, overlooking the valley in which the village is situate, has been built at the sole cost of Messrs William and James Heap, flannel manufacturers New Hey, in memory of their father, Mr Thomas Heap. It has been erected from the designs of Mr Henry Lloyd of Bristol, the work of building being commenced in July, 1875. The plan of the church cruciform, and comprises north and south aisles, and north and south porches, the latter being under the tower, which, with the spire, forms an imposing feature in the design. The style of architecture adopted is pointed, decorated Gothic; and the materials used externally are Yorkshire stone with Bath stone dressing, all the windows and tracery being worked in the latter material. The windows on the east and west sides are filled in with flowing tracery of appropriate design; and the clerestory windows, formed of small columns and capitals, connected with continuous mouldings, are very effective. All the gables are surmounted with crosses. The height of the tower and spire together is 148 feet. In addition to the aisles referred to, the church consists of north and south transepts, chancel, organ chamber, vestry and ante-room. The length of the nave is 82 feet, the width 24 feet. and the height to the apex of the roof, 55 feet. The arches on each side of the nave are of free-stone, and spring from mouldings and elaborately carved capitals, supported by solid columns of Yorkshire stone. The chancel arch is also built of free stone springing from corbel columns with foliated capitals surmounted by label mouldings and terminating in carved heads.  The chancel is large and spacious, being 28 feet long and 22 feet wide, and is lighted by a five light window, which is of elaborate tracery. The north aisle is 58 feet long by 12 feet 6 inches wide: and the south aisle is 37 feet long by 12 feet 6 inches wide. The transepts are each 24 feet long by 22 feet wide, and are lighted by large four-light windows. The sets are of pitch pine, and the pulpit, which is octagonal in form, is of Bath stone. The base is partly curved, and partly moulded, the upper compartments of the octagon being panelled and curved. The floor of the pews is laid with wood, but the aisles and passages are tiled. The font, which stands on the south side of the western entrance, is of carved Caen stone, with foliated capitals. The organ pipes are not yet fitted in the organ chamber, but when erected they will add greatly to the appearance of the interior of the edifice, as also will the reredos now in course of construction. The building is to be heated by hot water pipes and lighted with gas, and a peal of eight bells is being fixed in the tower. The total cost of the structure is about £10,000, and accommodation is provided for 600 worshippers. [Manchester Courier 22 December 1876 page 8]

Reference    Building News 12 January 1877 Page 50
Reference    Manchester Courier 22 December 1876 page 8
Reference    Manchester Guardian 22 December 1876 page 7