DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.6912#0034
MANCHESTER CHURCH.
23
Stanley, who succeeded the latter. Private chapels, oratories, and various other
additions and alterations, have progressively been made, and the whole constitutes
a large pile of building. Its exterior dimensions are 232 feet in length from west
to east, by 132 feet in breadth from north to south. These measurements include
the tower and lateral chapels. The original edifice, begun by Lord Warr, and
finished by Bishop Stanley, was doubtless an object of grandeur and beauty : for
theirs was the era of architectural luxury. Then every part of a religious building
was surcharged with ornament: and laboured masonry, with elaborate sculpture and
carving, were displayed in vast and varied profusion. The church of Manchester
was evidently of this style and character : but formed of bad materials, a soft, red,
friable sandstone, and exposed to a corrosive atmosphere, it now assumes a dingy,
battered appearance. To the general observer, indeed, it may be thought an
ordinary and deformed edifice, rather than an object of beauty and curiosity : but
though its pristine features are obscured, they are not obliterated; though much is
lost, yet the remains cannot fail to interest the architectural antiquary. To furnish
the stranger with some idea of the extent and arrangement of the whole building, it
will be necessary to give a short account of its principal component parts.
The annexed view displays the south side, and eastern end of the church;
whereby it will be seen that there are twelve clerestory windows, a stair-case turret
near the centre, and that the windows are large, with several mullions, tracery, &c.
The low building projecting from the eastern end is the Chetham chapel; the next
projection, near the tomb with two figures, is the Chapter-house. West of this is
Hulme's chapel, Jesus-chapel, Trafford-chapel, and Brown's-chapel. At the west
end is a lofty handsome tower, surmounted by crocketed pinnacles, and ornamented
with four windows, tracery, &c. in its upper tier. The body of the church consists
of a nave, used as the parish church, with two ailes, and lateral chapels. East of
these is the choir, having wooden stalls, richly carved, on the north, south, and
western sides; the altar at the east end: and the whole surrounded by an aile. *
Diverging from this are the chapter-house and five chapels. Four of these are pri-
vate property : the one belonging to the Earl of Derby, (now let out as a common
cemetery) is an extensive building on the north side of the choir, partly erected by
* A view of the choir, stalls, and eastern window, has been published in the ninth volume of the Beauties of
England; wherein will be found many particulars relating to Manchester College, its founders, &c. written by the
Rev. John Greswell.
23
Stanley, who succeeded the latter. Private chapels, oratories, and various other
additions and alterations, have progressively been made, and the whole constitutes
a large pile of building. Its exterior dimensions are 232 feet in length from west
to east, by 132 feet in breadth from north to south. These measurements include
the tower and lateral chapels. The original edifice, begun by Lord Warr, and
finished by Bishop Stanley, was doubtless an object of grandeur and beauty : for
theirs was the era of architectural luxury. Then every part of a religious building
was surcharged with ornament: and laboured masonry, with elaborate sculpture and
carving, were displayed in vast and varied profusion. The church of Manchester
was evidently of this style and character : but formed of bad materials, a soft, red,
friable sandstone, and exposed to a corrosive atmosphere, it now assumes a dingy,
battered appearance. To the general observer, indeed, it may be thought an
ordinary and deformed edifice, rather than an object of beauty and curiosity : but
though its pristine features are obscured, they are not obliterated; though much is
lost, yet the remains cannot fail to interest the architectural antiquary. To furnish
the stranger with some idea of the extent and arrangement of the whole building, it
will be necessary to give a short account of its principal component parts.
The annexed view displays the south side, and eastern end of the church;
whereby it will be seen that there are twelve clerestory windows, a stair-case turret
near the centre, and that the windows are large, with several mullions, tracery, &c.
The low building projecting from the eastern end is the Chetham chapel; the next
projection, near the tomb with two figures, is the Chapter-house. West of this is
Hulme's chapel, Jesus-chapel, Trafford-chapel, and Brown's-chapel. At the west
end is a lofty handsome tower, surmounted by crocketed pinnacles, and ornamented
with four windows, tracery, &c. in its upper tier. The body of the church consists
of a nave, used as the parish church, with two ailes, and lateral chapels. East of
these is the choir, having wooden stalls, richly carved, on the north, south, and
western sides; the altar at the east end: and the whole surrounded by an aile. *
Diverging from this are the chapter-house and five chapels. Four of these are pri-
vate property : the one belonging to the Earl of Derby, (now let out as a common
cemetery) is an extensive building on the north side of the choir, partly erected by
* A view of the choir, stalls, and eastern window, has been published in the ninth volume of the Beauties of
England; wherein will be found many particulars relating to Manchester College, its founders, &c. written by the
Rev. John Greswell.