Independent Chapel Queen Street Middlewich

The laying of the corner stone of the New Independent Chapel occurred a few days since. The proposed edifice, to seat 880 persons, is to be in the Lombardic style of architecture from plans drawn by Messrs Barker and Ellis of Manchester. Contractor, Mr A P Cotterill of Crewe. The material will be red brick, with Hollington stone dressings. The windows, supplied by Messrs Edmundson, of Manchester, are to be of stained glass. The dimensions of the structure are: Length 62 feet 3 inches, by 37 feet 3 inches wide. Two vestries will be built at the back, each being 13 feet by 9 feet 6 inches. The pulpit is to be erected in the form of a platform, with iron ornamental handrails. The pews, which are arranged on either side, and in the centre, leaving two aisles up the chapel, are made of pitch pine, varnished. There are to be two entrances, both of which face Queen Street. The estimated cost of the building, excluding the site, is £2,000. [The Architect 25 June 1870 page 322]

NEW CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, MIDDLEWICH —This place of worship occupies the site of the old chapel in Queen Street. The new building is set back 13 feet from the street, and is in the Romanesque style of architecture, faced with bricks, and has dressings to the doors and windows of Hollington stone. There are two main entrances in the front, with moulded stone arches and gables over, projecting from the front 3 feet, supported on detached columns, 10 inches diameter, with carved caps. In the front gable are three large windows, having moulded stone arches and shafts with carved caps in the jambs; under the windows between the porches are deeply-recessed panels with circular heads, supported by stone shafts with carved caps. The interior of the church is 62 feet long and 37 feet wide, without galleries, and gives accommodation for 360 sittings. The roof is open-timbered, the trusses are supported on carved corbels, and all the timbers are stained and varnished. The pews are open benches of varnished pitch-pine. At the end of the church, opposite the entrances, are three deeply-recessed arches, one being partially used as a separate entrance to the two vestries which are at the back. The other is for the organ. The large centre arch encloses an octagonal recess, and forms of the platform of the pulpit, which projects in front into the church. The pulpit is of stone, with a carved cornice round, and is polygonal in form, with sunk quatrefoils in each face and columns at the angles. The three front windows are of stained glass, and the side windows of cathedral glass slightly tinted in pattern. The work has been carried out by Mr. Arthur P. Cotterill, of Crewe, the contractor; the brickwork has been done by Mr. Clarke, of Middlewich; the stained glass by Messrs. Edmundson & Son, of Manchester; and the heating by Messrs. Wood & Co., of Altrincham. Messrs Barker & Ellis, of Manchester, are the architects. [The Architect 8 June 1871 page 293]

MIDDLEWICH - The corner stone of a new Congregational Church was laid at Middlewich, Cheshire, on Thursday week. The chapel, which is Lombardic in style, will be constructed of best stock bricks, with Hollington stone dressings, and will seat about 380 persons. The cost will be £2000. [Building News 17 June 1870 page 458]

Reference        The Architect 25 June 1870 page 322
Reference        The Architect 8 June 1871 page 293
Reference        Building News 17 June 1870 page 458