St German’s Cathedral, Peel, Isle of Man.

ISLE OF MAN - The foundation-stone of a new church in the parish of German, Peel, has just been laid. The old church is of great age, and has been condemned as being unhealthy, owing, it is said, to the graveyard being fully 3 feet higher than the body of the church. The new church, will be in the Early Decorated style, erected from designs prepared by Messrs T D Barry & Son, architects, Liverpool. It is designed to accommodate about 900 persons, and will cost about £5,000, exclusive of the spire, which can be added at a future date at a cost of about £1,500.  There are two churches in progress in the Island, one at * and the other at Patrick, from designs by the same architects. [Builder 6 September 1879 page 1007]

A new church is about to be built at Peel, Isle of Man, from the designs of Messrs. T D Barry and Son, of Liverpool, and in counterpart of a church recently erected by them at Bolton. Reference Building News 3 January 1879 page 26

PEEL (ISLE OF MAN) - The new church at Peel, Isle of Man, was opened on the 25th ult. by the Archbishop of York, who spoke of the new building as being “possibly the future cathedral of the diocese.” The church, which is cruciform in plan, consists of a nave, 96 feet by 21 feet; north and south aisles, 70 feet by 12 feet; north and south transepts, 32 feet by 24 feet; chancel aisle, 23 feet by 17 feet; chancel, 38 feet by 21 feet; organ-chamber, 18 feet by 18 feet; vestry, lavatory, meter-room, north and south porches, and tower. It is of the Early Decorated style of Gothic architecture, boldly and freely treated. The walls are composed of the Peel red stone, in courses of varied thicknesses, and the whole of the dressings to windows and doors, also the quoins, tracery, spire, and other' dressed work are of red sandstone, from the quarries of Mr. Guest, of Runcorn. The interior stonework is also of red Runcorn sandstone. The lower portion of the tower serves as a porch, which forms the principal entrance to the building. Immediately above this, and approachable by a winding staircase, is the ringing-floor; and above, at an elevation of about 50 feet from the ground, is the belfry, which contains a peal of eight bells from the works of Messrs. Warner, bell-founders, London. The tower rises to a height of 70 feet, and is 18 feet square. The tower is surmounted by a spire, which, when finished, will rise to a height of 86 feet above the square of the tower, and a wrought iron vane will add 8 feet more to this height, making a total of 164 feet above the ground level. The roofs externally are surmounted by red ridge tiles. The whole of the interior fittings are of pitch-pine, stained, and polished. The roofs are open - timbered, and also of pitch-pine. The chancel roof is wagon-headed, with the interior panels of pitch-pine’ The whole of the glazing was executed by Mr. T. Holt, of Liverpool. The church is warmed n by the hot-water system of Mr. George Knoale, of Liverpool. The whole of the carving was executed by Messrs. Norbury & Co., of Liverpool. The encaustic and tile-work has been executed by Messrs. Chantrell & Son, of Liverpool. The font is of Caen stone, supported on marble columns, and stands at the west is of nave in the centre. The pulpit is of Caen stone, with bands of red sandstone, with marble shafts and carved panels and spandrels. The reredos is of Caen stone also, with richly diapered panels, gilded on the main lines. The reading-desk is of oak. The gas-fittings were executed by Mr. A. Bucknall, of Liverpool, and are a very good sample of art metal work. The fixing of these, as well as the gas and water mains, was entrusted to Mr. Kermode, of Peel. The fittings of the church have already been mentioned in these columns. The contract was taken by Messrs. D. Anderson & T. Radcliffe, of Peel, Mr. Clague being the foreman mason. The architects are Messrs. Thomas D. Barry & Son, of Liverpool. [Builder 13 September 1884 page 374-375]

NEW CHURCH, PEEL - The church, which in cruciform in plan, consists of a nave. 96 feet by 21 feet; north and south aisles, 70 feet by 12 feet; north and south transepts, 32 feet by 2i feet: chancel aisle, 25 feet by 17 feet; chancel, 33 feet by 21 feet; organ chamber. 16 feet by 18 feet; vestry, lavatory, meter-room, north and south porches, and tower. It is of the early decorated style of Gothic architecture, boldly and freely treated. The walls are composed of the Peel red stone, in courses of varied thicknesses, and the whole of the dressings to windows and doors, also the quoins, tracery, spire and other dressed work are of the best red sandstone, from the quarries of Mr Guest, of Runcorn. The interior stonework, which is also of red Runcorn sandstone, has a very beautiful effect in contract with the plastering and the moulded-pointed arches, and carved trusses, and capitals combine to make a grand and picturesque interior. The tracery of the windows has been made a special feature by the architects, and great variety and beauty of form are displayed; the west window and that of the transepts are particularly handsome in their treatment. Too great praise cannot be bestowed upon Messrs Anderson and Radcliffe, the builders, for this particular and intricate portion of the work. This work will compare favourably with any in England. The principal feature is, of course, the fine and nobly proportioned tower and spire, which stand in a commanding position at the north-west corner of the building. The tower portion serves as a, porch, which forms the principal entrance to the building Immediately above this, and approachable by a winding staircase, is the ringing-floor; and above, at an elevation of about 50 feet from the ground, is the belfry, which contains a peal of eight bells from the works of Messrs Warner, bell-founders, London. The tower, pierced by beautiful windows of varied design, and the sides embellished by sets off and weatherings and moulded strings, rises to a height of 70 feet, and it is 18 feet square. It is decorated with a pierced and cusped panel on each of the four sides, and a deeply moulded cornice, at the four corners of which are beautifully carved and well-proportioned gargoyles. The whole is surmounted by a spire, which when finished will rise to a height of 86 feet above the square of the tower, and a wrought iron vane will add 8 feet more to this height, making a total of 164 above the ground level. The roofs externally are surmounted by red ridge tiles of elegant design. The whole of the interior fittings are of the best pitch-pine, stained and polished, and great care has been bestowed in the selection *»f the wood, which is of the description known as "'flowered" pitch-pine. The seats are 2 feet 10 inches. from back-to-back, and have sloping backs and seats. The top rails are deeply moulded, and the backs and front framing are panelled. The, roofs are open timbered, also pitch-pine, chamfered and stopped, and all the rafters are left open to view. The chancel roof deserves special mention. This is a wagon-headed roof, with the interior panels of pitch-pine, and the under rafters deeply moulded; these, with the intersections of the octagon hips to the apse, form a feature that if perhaps the finest about the building. The committee and the architect have decided not to stain and varnish this and the nave roofs: and indeed, the appearance of the dead wood is so grand and sober in its effect that it would be a mistake to varnish it. This roof hart a very characteristic and ecclesiastic effect, the deeply moulded chancel arch adding greatly to the solid character of the interior. The transepts have each a wide and lofty stone arch, one side of which is supported by coupled stone columns. Suitable stone arches are employed to open out the chancel aisle, and organ chamber into the transepts and chancel. The glazing of all the windows is in toned-rolled cathedral glass, in alternate panels of diamonds and squares, with double margins and divisions and the tints are arranged to form patterns and devices. The whole of the glazing was executed by Mr T. Holt, of Liverpool. The church is warmed by the hot water system, and a commodious apparatus chamber beneath the organ contains the boiler. Rows of pipes 4-in. in diameter run down the aisles ana against the walls, and the heating power Is capable of raising the temperature when freezing outside to 60 degrees at least. The system is that of Mr George Kneale, of Liverpool. The whole of the carving was executed by Messrs Norbury & Co., of Liverpool, and reflects great credit upon that well-known firm. The aisle and nave and transept passages are laid with tiles to a design in harmony with the surroundings, the chancel and sacrarium being laid with rich encaustic tiling, the whole being executed by Messrs Chantrell and Son, of Liverpool. The font is of Caen stone, supported on marble columns, and stands at the west of nave in the centre. The pulpit is of Caen stone, with bands of red sandstone, with marble shafts and carved panels and spandrils. The reredos is of Caen stone also, with richly diapered panels, gilded on the main lines. The reading desk is of oak and is of ornamental and suitable design. The gas fittings, which form an important feature in this church, are composed of standards and brackets, and two very large and handsome brass standards, with jewelled crowns, and four smaller standards of similar- design, though differently treated, arc provided to light the sacrarium and chancel. The whole of this work was executed by Mr A. Bucknall, of Liverpool, and is a very good sample, of art metal work. The fixing of these, as well as the gas and water mains, was entrusted to Mr Kermode, of Peel. The fittings of the church have already been mentioned in these columns. The contract was taken by Messrs D. Anderson and T. Radcliffe, of Peel, who have carried out the work to its completion in a most workmanlike and satisfactory manner, and with credit to themselves and to the workman they have employed. A meed of praise is due to Mr Radcliffe, junior, Mr F. Anderson, and Mr Clague, foreman mason, for their interest in and attention to the works during their progress The architects are Messrs Thomas D. Barry & Son, of Liverpool. [Isle of Man Times 30 August 1884 page 3]

Foundation      21 August 1879
Spire               Removed 1906

Reference        Builder 1 February 1879 page 138 – tenders
Reference        Building News 3 January 1879 page 26
Reference        Builder 6 September 1879 page 1007
Reference        Isle of Man Times 30 August 1884 page 3
Reference        Builder 13 September 1884 page 374-375