Church of St. Mary Magdalene, Alsager, Cheshire.

NEW CHURCH OF ST. MARY MAGDALENE, ALSAGER, CHESHIRE - This church is of the Decorated style and consists of a nave and chancel 26 feet wide, north and south aisles opening into nave by arcades of five bays each, and organ chamber on the north side of the chancel, with choir and clergy vestries opening out of the same. The church will be entered at the west end by north and south porches, both of which open into the tower, which is 16 feet square and forms the baptistry. The tower will be surmounted by a spire. The total length of the church is 124 feet, the width across the nave and aisles, 56 feet. The portion now carried out consists of the chancel, organ chamber, and vestries, the nave, with the south aisle and a portion of the north aisle, the south porch, and the lower portion of the tower to the level of the roof of the nave. The church is seated at present for 450, but will eventually accommodate 700 people. The cost of the present portion will exceed ,8,000, an additional sum of ,1,500 being required to complete the tower and spire. The church is built of Alton stone throughout, the roofs, seats, and dados being of pitch pine and the chancel seats, altar rail, and altar table of wainscot oak. The roofs of the nave and chancel are covered with red Staffordshire tiles and of the aisles and porches with lead, the ceilings throughout being boarded. The heating is effected by hot water pipes on the low‑pressure system. The present contract has been executed by Mr John Fielding of Alton, and Messrs Austin & Paley, of Lancaster are the architects. [Builder 16 January 1897 page 62] 

Yesterday, the new Church of St. Mary Magdalene at Alsager was opened, the Ven. Archdeacon Woosnam conducting the dedicatory service in the presence of a large congregation. The Earl of Crewe, who is the patron of the Barthomley living (in which the town of Alsager is situated), laid the foundation stone of the new building. The church which is of the Decorated style of architecture, consists of a nave and chancel 26 feet wide, north and south aisles, organ chamber, and vestries. The total length of the church is 124 feet by 56 feet wide across nave and aisles. The church will seat at present 450, but when the full scheme is carried out there will be accommodation for 700 people. The cost of the present portion will exceed £3,000, and an additional £1,500 will be required for the completion of the tower and spire. The church is built of Alton stone throughout, the roofs, seats, and dados being of pitch pine, and the chancel seats, altar rail, and altar table being of wainscot oak. The architects were Messrs Austin and Paley of Lancaster, and the builder Mr John Fielding, of Alton. [Manchester Guardian 9 January 1897 page 5]

Reference    Builder 16 January 1897 page 62
Reference    Manchester Guardian 9 January 1897 page 5