Rebuilding of Parish Church, Newchurch-in-Culcheth, near Warrington

The fund which is being raised to rebuild the church at Newchurch, near Warrington, which was recently destroyed by fire and was only partially insured, amounts to £5,766. The latest donations include £500 from Lord Derby and £300 from Messrs. W. E. and R. T. Marsh, Kenyon. The plans of Mr. Ramsden. architect, have been accepted, and tenders for the work are about to be invited. [Manchester Guardian 29 June 1903 page 3]

REBUILDING CHURCH, NEWCHURCH, near WARRINGTON - Contractors desirous of Tendering for the Re-building of the above Church (to be built of stone and brick) should send their names into the architects Messrs. TRAVERS and RAMSDEN, 44, Church-street, Leigh. Lancs., on or before 14 July. Quantities will be ready on 4th, August and may be obtained at the above offices on payment of £2 2s. which will be returned to the Contractor on receipt. of a bona-tide tender. Plans and specifications will lay for inspection from 4 August to 17th. on or before which date all tenders must be delivered at the above. The architects do not bind themselves to accept the lowest or any tender. [Manchester Courier - Saturday 11 July 1903 page 3

A NEW LOCAL CHURCH. Foundation Stone Laid at Newchurch by Lord Lathom. On Tuesday afternoon the Earl of Lathom laid, with full masonic honours, the foundation stone of Newchurch Church, Culcheth, to replace the historic pile burned down last Easter. The old church was rich in historic association. The parish of Newchurch which has an area of over 10 square miles and embraces the townships of Culcheth, and Kenyon, dates back to the reign of Elizabeth. The church stands upon the estate of the Holcrofts of Holcroft and it is generally assumed to have been a daughter church of the ancient church of Winwick and this the name of Newchurch would appear to bear out. The registers date from 1599, and the communion plate has been used continuously for more than 216 years. This plate, happily rescued from the fire was the gift of Dr. Sherlock, rector of Winwick, to Bishop Wilson (of Sodor and Man) who at this time was curate-in-charge of Newchurch, holding this position from 1686 to 1692. Perhaps the most romantic incident connected with the ancient church was the marriage of the notorious Colonel Blood, who in the Cromwellian period leapt into fame by an audacious attempt to steal the Crown jewels from the Tower. It was here that Colonel Blood married the beautiful Maria Holcroft, the daughter of Colonel Holcroft, who gained some fame by his fighting with the Parliamentarians during the Civil wars. The new building will be in the Norman style of architecture, with a tower 51 (sic) feet high and providing seating accommodation for 500 persons. The total cost is £7.000, including furnishing, and towards this £6,000 has been raised. The stone, which was laid on Tuesday afternoon, bore the following inscription: " This foundation stone was laid with masonic ceremonies by the Right Hon. the Earl of Lathom, P.G.W., R.W. Pros-. G.M. of West Lancashire, on Tuesday, October 13th, 1903. T. E. Withington, J. Boardman, churchwardens; E. W. Whittenbury Kaye, rector." The Earl of Lathom was accompanied by members of the Provincial Grand Lodge, Western division of Lancashire, many being present from Warrington, Leigh, Earlestown and the surrounding district. [St. Helens Examiner - Saturday 17 October 1903 page 6]

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW CHURCH. Bearing in mind that the majority of churches are nowadays built in the Gothic style, and the fact that Newchurch is a country village, and also that the old church was to a great extent Norman in style, the architects (Messrs. Travers and Ramsden) felt that church built in the old Norman style would be a fitting edifice to the village. Walking up the pathway to the church, one will be confronted with a massive tower, flanked on either side with transepts. The tower doorway will a very fine example Norman enrichment, will also the round window over (the bell chamber). Some 300 feet from the ground will be a circular wheel-like division window called the Oculus of the church or rose window. Passing into the tower, on the right is a ladies' cloakroom, on the left, the circular staircase. The body the church is composed of nave, with centre and side aisles, east and west transepts and seating room for 540 people, an increase of 200 over the old church, and when completed will be 104 feet long by 47 feet wide inside. There are clergy and choir vestries to the right and left respectively of the chancel. The great fault in many churches being that the choir are placed on the east side of the chancel arch, and consequently decreasing the volume sound, the architects have manipulated the position so that the choir are placed on the west side of the arch, as is also the organ. Rounded columns and arches to the transept and chancel in Runcorn fleck stone, which will give warm appearance to the church, the whole of the chancel being built of this stone. The church will be faced outside with pitch faced, inside with flat faced Yorkshire (Halifax) wall stones; whilst the outside dressings are from Darley Dale. All inside dressings are Runcorn fleck stone. The windows are three lights each, the centre light rising above the others. All the woodwork is pitch-pine throughout, with wood block flooring to pews. Messrs. R. Rathbone and Son, of Atherton, are the contractors, and their accepted tender was £5,988. Mr, P. Crabtree is superintending the work on behalf of the architects. [Leigh Chronicle and Weekly District Advertiser - Friday 16 October 1903 page 5]

Reference    Manchester Guardian 29 June 1903 page 3
Reference    Manchester Courier - Saturday 11 July 1903 page 3 – contracts
Reference    St. Helens Examiner - Saturday 17 October 1903 page 6 – foundation stone
Reference    Leigh Chronicle and Weekly District Advertiser - Friday 16 October 1903 page 5 - description