St James’s Church (RC) Church Street, Pendleton, Salford

 The foundation stone of St James’s Church, Church Street, Pendleton, has been laid by Dr Vaughan. The church will be built in the Early English style and will cost from £5,000 to £6,000. It is estimated to seat about 700 people and will be 114 feet long by 52 feet wide, and its height 60 feet from the floor to the ridge of the roof. The building will include a residence for the clergy, sacristy, choristers’ vestry etc. The architect is Mr H E Tijou of Manchester and the church is expected to be finished by 1 October next. [Builder 25 October 1873 page 854] 

The church, dedicated to the Mother of God, St James and St Eleytherius was opened (Wed last week) by Cardinal Manning. [British Architect 7 May 1875 Page 262]

 The new church, of which the foundation stone was laid by the present Bishop of Salford (Dr Vaughan) about 18 months ago, is to be known as the Church of St James and will be dedicated to the Mother of God, St James and St Eleutherius. It is a spacious building calculated to seat 700 people and is in the Early English style of architecture. It is situated off Church-street Pendleton, and the principal entrance faces that street. It has been erected from designs and under the superintendence of Mr Herbert E Tijou, architect, of Manchester by Mr Edward Johnson, builder, also of Manchester. It consists of nave and sanctuary under one roof, north and south aisles, Lady Chapel, sacristy and large entrance porch. The interior dimensions are; length of nave and sanctuary, 113 feet; width across nave and aisles, 52 feet; length of north aisle and Lady chapel, 140 feet; height from street level to ridge of roof, 60 feet. On the roof just over the junction of the sanctuary and nave is a pointed framed turret, the height of which, measured from the top of the cross to the ground is 100 feet, and which contains a fine-toned bell, weighing 5 cwt, the work of Messrs Mears and Stainbank, London. The roofs of the church, which are of pitch pine, are open framed and boarded, but that of the Lady Chapel is panelled and richly carved. Pitch pine, French polished, is also the material used for the seats. The sanctuary, which is separated from the nave by a communion rail, is approached by three stone steps, another step divides the sanctuary; and the altar is reached by three more steps. The sanctuary is furnished with handsome brass candelabra and lamp, the work of Messrs Hardman and Company, Birmingham, and the gift of a member of the congregation; and the wrought iron parclose, also in the sanctuary, made by Freeman and Collier of Manchester, is the gift of the architect. The church remains for the present in an unfinished state, there being neither pulpit or baptismal font and a mere temporary structure serving as altar. The organ chamber and singing gallery are placed over the sanctuary, and open into the sanctuary and south aisle. The church is flagged with stone, with the exception of the sanctuary and lady Chapel, which are paved with Minton=s encaustic tiles. Adjacent the church is a presbytery for the accommodation of three clergymen who will be attached to it and the space about it will be enclosed by a plain stone boundary wall surmounted by iron railings. The church will be heated with hot water in coil pipes. [Manchester Guardian 29 April 1875 page 6 – opening]

Reference    Builder 25 October 1873 page 854 – foundation stone
Reference    Manchester Guardian 29 April 1875 page 6 - opening
Reference    British Architect 7 May 1875 Page 262 – from Manchester Guardian
Reference    Murrays Lancashire Architectural Guide page 171