You can tell by the lack of leaves on the trees that this photograph wasn't taken this weekend
The Flowery Field website says this about the building of the church:
'Work commenced on the building of the Church in 1876.
Thomas Worthington FRIBA of Manchester was commissioned to be the Architect. The building is in the Perpendicular or Tudor Gothic style of architecture and is cruciform in shape. There is a separate though connected Tower which rises 81 feet above street level. Work was finished towards the end of 1878 and the Opening Ceremony was held on Thursday 19th December 1878.
Following the Opening Service a Soirée was held in the "Flowery Field Educational Institute" better known today as "the School". At this meeting Mr. Ashton handed over the Trust Deeds of the Church to the Church Officers and also returned the sum of £1000 raised by the congregation, on condition that the money be invested and the interest used to augment a Minister’s stipend.
Thus, by this magnificent gesture, Thomas Ashton actually built the Church at his own expense, handing it to the congregation as a sacred trust and responsibility.'
To the left as you go through the main door, on the wall of the vestibule formed by the church tower, there is a brass plaque dedicating the church to Thomas Ashton and his wife, Elizabeth.'
And amongst the various documents, photographs and other items on display on the open day was this illuminated address given to Mr and Mrs Ashton at the opening of the church.
This is a photograph of the interior of the church from the gallery at the rear.
The church has several striking stained glass windows
The part of the transept to the right in the previous photograph contains the war memorials and this window.
The other side of the transept is the childrens' corner which contains a small altar and this window.
There are three sets of four stained glass windows behind the altar, apparently representing the twelve Apostles. There are names beneath the two bottom ones in each set of four, but the top six don't appear to be named.
Saint Bartholomew and Saint Philip at the bottom
Saint Matthew and Saint Simon at the bottom, Saint Peter on left above
Saint Thomas and (what appears to say) Saint James Minor at the bottom, Saint Andrew on left above
And finally another view of the interior looking towards the tower end of the building from the transept at the childrens' corner.
5 comments:
Another lovely church. So nice to see the pews retained and not replaced by chairs.
Excellent picture Dave... and another great post.
have just come across this in a Book by Harry Lever, called
Flowery Fiield
A Village and a Way of Life Gone
"As the Ashton's and their friends the Greg's who were also cotton masters were Unitarians, most people seem to think that Flowery Field Church is Unitarian. On some maps it is shown as Unitarian, but they are all wrong Flowery Field Church is a Free Church and the inscription on the back wall of the tower entrance can prove this as it reads:"
TO THE WORSHIP OF GOD BY A CONGREGATION BOUND BY NO CREEDS OR CONCESSIONS OF FAITH, WHO UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF MINISTERS EQUALLY FREE TO FOLLOW TRUTH, HUMBLY STRIVE TO LOVE GOD AND TO SERVE THEIR FELLOW MEN. THIS CHURCH IS DEDICATED BY THOMAS ASHTON OF HYDE AND ELIZABETH HIS WIFE AD1878
Lovely to come across this post on your blog - I'm getting married at Flowery Field Church next December.
I think the church is a beautiful building and I'm lucky to live near to it. Means a lot to me that I'll be able to be see where we got married every day. :)
My fella's family come from Stockport but they've been researching their family history and it seems that the family originally come from Hyde. All roads eventually lead back to Hyde! ;-)
Thank you for your comment... send us a picture of your wedding and I will be glad to include in on this post..
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