The first chapel was replaced by a new St John's Chapel on the same site which was consecrated by the Bishop of Chester in 1814.[5] It was in turn replaced by the present church, designed by the Lancaster architects Paley and Austin. It was built in two phases. The chancel and first three bays of the nave were built in 1878–79,[6] and consecrated in 1879.[5] The cost was £10,000 (equivalent to £1,280,000 in 2023),[7] of which £3,200 was given by the colliery owners Fletcher, Burrows and Company.[8] The west end, which included a modified version of the southwest tower 120 feet (37 m) high, was completed between 1890 and 1896 by the successors in the Lancaster practice, Paley, Austin and Paley.[9]
From 1899 the church was affected by mining subsidence, causing the tower to separate from the south aisle. The tower has been stabilised, but remains out of alignment and is leaning. In 1991 the east end of the church was badly damaged by fire. It was repaired and re-ordered by Peter Skinner in 1996–97;[10] the re-ordering included dividing the chancel from the rest of the church to create a church hall.[10][11]
Architectureedit
Exterioredit
The church is constructed in Runcornsandstone with ashlar dressings and a tiled roof.[12] Its architectural style is that of the late Decorated period. The plan consists of a five-bay nave with a clerestory, north and south aisles, a two-bay chancel with a north chapel and a south two-storey vestry and organ chamber, and a southwest tower. The tower is in five stages with octagonal buttresses at each corner, which rise above the parapet to form turrets with conical caps. The parapet is embattled.[10] The doorway is on the south side of the tower, and above it is a four-light window. There are clock faces in the fourth stage, and the bell openings in the top stage have four lights. Above each bell opening is a statue in a canopiedniche. On the south side of the church the windows have four lights, while those on the north side have three lights.[3] Along the clerestory are square windows, two to a bay, which contain two different types of tracery.[10][11] To the east of the vestry and organ chamber is an octagonal turret.[3] The west and east windows are large, the west window having seven lights, and the east window six.[10] Under the east window is red and buff chequerwork carved with roses, the IHC christogram, leaves and swords.[11] The hour-chiming clock was installed by Potts of Leeds in 1895.[13]
Interioredit
The font
The interior is in Stourton stone with a Yorkshire stone floor. The nave has a hammerbeam roof. The arcades are carried on clustered piers. The former intricately carved chancel screen now acts as a reredos behind the altar at the east end of the nave. The stone pulpit, which contains marble panels with niches depicting scenes from the life of Christ in semi-relief, is a memorial to the Rt Revd James Fraser, Bishop of Manchester, who died in 1885. The octagonal font is in alabaster and is decorated with panels. Box pews, one of which is dated 1728, have been re-used as dado panelling in the vestry. In the nave are lamps designed by Peter Skinner. The stained glass in the east window, dated 1896, is by C. E. Kempe, and a window in the south aisle contains glass by Ward and Hughes dating from 1895. In another south aisle window is glass from 1922 by Edward Moore, which has been moved from the north chapel. The rest of the windows have been re-glazed after the 1991 fire with clear glass.[10] The two-manualpipe organ was built in 1967 by Hill, Norman and Beard,[14] replacing an earlier three-manual organ of 1888 by J. C. Bishop and Son.[15]
Appraisaledit
The church was designated as a Grade II listed building on 15 July 1966.[3] Grade II is the lowest of the three gradings given by English Heritage, and includes buildings that "are nationally important and of special interest".[16] The description in the National Heritage List for England states that it is "an imposing building which exhibits fine craftsmanship both inside and out".[3] The authors of the Buildings of England series describe the church as "monumental, one of Paley & Austin's best", and state that the tower is "magnificently monumental".[10] Brandwood et al. in their book on the architectural practice of Sharpe, Paley and Austin agree that it is "one of Paley & Austin's finest churches".[17]
^ abcFarrer, William; Brownbill, J, eds. (1907), "Atherton", A History of the County of Lancaster: Volume 3, Victoria County History, pp. 435–439, retrieved 8 January 2023
^UK Retail Price Index inflation figures are based on data from Clark, Gregory (2017), "The Annual RPI and Average Earnings for Britain, 1209 to Present (New Series)", MeasuringWorth, retrieved 7 May 2024
Brandwood, Geoff; Austin, Tim; Hughes, John; Price, James (2012), The Architecture of Sharpe, Paley and Austin, Swindon: English Heritage, ISBN978-1-84802-049-8
Potts, Michael (2006), Potts of Leeds - Five Generations of Clockmakers, Mayfield Books, ISBN0-9523270-8-2
Wright, John James (1921), The Story of Chowbent Chapel 1645-1721-1921, H. Rawson
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to St John the Baptist, Atherton.
Link to site with image of the second chapel
January 01, 1970
john, baptist, church, atherton, john, baptist, church, market, place, atherton, greater, manchester, england, active, anglican, parish, church, archdeaconry, salford, diocese, manchester, together, with, george, philip, churches, atherton, michael, angels, ho. St John the Baptist s Church is in Market Place Atherton Greater Manchester England It is an active Anglican parish church in the archdeaconry of Salford and diocese of Manchester 1 Together with St George s and St Philip s Churches in Atherton and St Michael and All Angels at Howe Bridge the church is part of the United Benefice of Atherton and Hindsford with Howe Bridge 2 It is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade II listed building 3 St John the Baptist s Church AthertonThe Parish Church of St John the Baptist AthertonTower of St John the Baptist s Church AthertonSt John the Baptist s Church AthertonLocation in Greater Manchester53 31 26 N 2 29 25 W 53 5239 N 2 4902 W 53 5239 2 4902OS grid referenceSD 676 031LocationMarket Place Atherton Greater ManchesterCountryEnglandDenominationAnglicanWebsiteOfficial websiteHistoryStatusParish ChurchFounded1645DedicationSt John the BaptistConsecrated1879 present church ArchitectureFunctional statusActiveHeritage designationGrade IIDesignated15 July 1966Architect s Paley and AustinPaley Austin and PaleyArchitectural typeChurchStyleGothic RevivalGroundbreaking1878Completed1896Construction cost 10 000 first phase SpecificationsMaterialsStone tiled roofsAdministrationProvinceYorkDioceseManchesterArchdeaconrySalfordDeaneryLeighParishAtherton and HindsfordClergyVicar s Revd Tracy Marshall Contents 1 History 2 Architecture 2 1 Exterior 2 2 Interior 2 3 Appraisal 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksHistory editThere have been three chapels or churches on the site of St John the Baptist parish church The first chapel at Chowbent was built in 1645 by John Atherton as a chapel of ease of Leigh Parish Church It was sometimes referred to as the Old Bent Chapel 4 It was not consecrated and used by the Presbyterians as well as the Vicar of Leigh In 1721 Lord of the manor Richard Atherton expelled the dissenters who subsequently built Chowbent Chapel The first chapel was consecrated in 1723 by the Bishop of Sodor and Man 5 The first chapel was replaced by a new St John s Chapel on the same site which was consecrated by the Bishop of Chester in 1814 5 It was in turn replaced by the present church designed by the Lancaster architects Paley and Austin It was built in two phases The chancel and first three bays of the nave were built in 1878 79 6 and consecrated in 1879 5 The cost was 10 000 equivalent to 1 280 000 in 2023 7 of which 3 200 was given by the colliery owners Fletcher Burrows and Company 8 The west end which included a modified version of the southwest tower 120 feet 37 m high was completed between 1890 and 1896 by the successors in the Lancaster practice Paley Austin and Paley 9 From 1899 the church was affected by mining subsidence causing the tower to separate from the south aisle The tower has been stabilised but remains out of alignment and is leaning In 1991 the east end of the church was badly damaged by fire It was repaired and re ordered by Peter Skinner in 1996 97 10 the re ordering included dividing the chancel from the rest of the church to create a church hall 10 11 Architecture editExterior edit The church is constructed in Runcorn sandstone with ashlar dressings and a tiled roof 12 Its architectural style is that of the late Decorated period The plan consists of a five bay nave with a clerestory north and south aisles a two bay chancel with a north chapel and a south two storey vestry and organ chamber and a southwest tower The tower is in five stages with octagonal buttresses at each corner which rise above the parapet to form turrets with conical caps The parapet is embattled 10 The doorway is on the south side of the tower and above it is a four light window There are clock faces in the fourth stage and the bell openings in the top stage have four lights Above each bell opening is a statue in a canopied niche On the south side of the church the windows have four lights while those on the north side have three lights 3 Along the clerestory are square windows two to a bay which contain two different types of tracery 10 11 To the east of the vestry and organ chamber is an octagonal turret 3 The west and east windows are large the west window having seven lights and the east window six 10 Under the east window is red and buff chequerwork carved with roses the IHC christogram leaves and swords 11 The hour chiming clock was installed by Potts of Leeds in 1895 13 Interior edit nbsp The font The interior is in Stourton stone with a Yorkshire stone floor The nave has a hammerbeam roof The arcades are carried on clustered piers The former intricately carved chancel screen now acts as a reredos behind the altar at the east end of the nave The stone pulpit which contains marble panels with niches depicting scenes from the life of Christ in semi relief is a memorial to the Rt Revd James Fraser Bishop of Manchester who died in 1885 The octagonal font is in alabaster and is decorated with panels Box pews one of which is dated 1728 have been re used as dado panelling in the vestry In the nave are lamps designed by Peter Skinner The stained glass in the east window dated 1896 is by C E Kempe and a window in the south aisle contains glass by Ward and Hughes dating from 1895 In another south aisle window is glass from 1922 by Edward Moore which has been moved from the north chapel The rest of the windows have been re glazed after the 1991 fire with clear glass 10 The two manual pipe organ was built in 1967 by Hill Norman and Beard 14 replacing an earlier three manual organ of 1888 by J C Bishop and Son 15 Appraisal edit The church was designated as a Grade II listed building on 15 July 1966 3 Grade II is the lowest of the three gradings given by English Heritage and includes buildings that are nationally important and of special interest 16 The description in the National Heritage List for England states that it is an imposing building which exhibits fine craftsmanship both inside and out 3 The authors of the Buildings of England series describe the church as monumental one of Paley amp Austin s best and state that the tower is magnificently monumental 10 Brandwood et al in their book on the architectural practice of Sharpe Paley and Austin agree that it is one of Paley amp Austin s finest churches 17 See also edit nbsp Greater Manchester portal Listed buildings in Atherton Greater Manchester List of churches in Greater Manchester List of ecclesiastical works by Paley and Austin List of works by Paley Austin and PaleyReferences editCitations Leigh Deanery anglican org archived from the original on 17 August 2009 retrieved 17 February 2013 The United Benefice of Atherton and Hindsford with Howe Bridge Atherton Parish retrieved 17 February 2013 a b c d e Historic England Church of St John Wigan 1068475 National Heritage List for England retrieved 19 October 2012 Wright 1921 p 37 a b c Farrer William Brownbill J eds 1907 Atherton A History of the County of Lancaster Volume 3 Victoria County History pp 435 439 retrieved 8 January 2023 Brandwood et al 2012 pp 111 112 UK Retail Price Index inflation figures are based on data from Clark Gregory 2017 The Annual RPI and Average Earnings for Britain 1209 to Present New Series MeasuringWorth retrieved 7 May 2024 Brandwood et al 2012 p 230 Brandwood et al 2012 pp 112 239 a b c d e f g Pollard amp Pevsner 2006 pp 136 137 a b c Brandwood et al 2012 p 112 Market Place Atherton Conservation Area Appraisal PDF Wigan Council April 2008 p 14 retrieved 19 October 2012 Potts 2006 p 378 Lancashire Manchester Greater Atherton St John the Baptist N00634 British Institute of Organ Studies retrieved 19 October 2012 Lancashire Manchester Greater Atherton St John the Baptist N00635 British Institute of Organ Studies retrieved 19 October 2012 Listed Buildings English Heritage retrieved 19 October 2012 Brandwood et al 2012 p 111 Sources Brandwood Geoff Austin Tim Hughes John Price James 2012 The Architecture of Sharpe Paley and Austin Swindon English Heritage ISBN 978 1 84802 049 8 Pollard Richard Pevsner Nikolaus 2006 Lancashire Liverpool and the South West The Buildings of England New Haven and London Yale University Press ISBN 0 300 10910 5 retrieved 19 October 2012 Potts Michael 2006 Potts of Leeds Five Generations of Clockmakers Mayfield Books ISBN 0 9523270 8 2 Wright John James 1921 The Story of Chowbent Chapel 1645 1721 1921 H RawsonExternal links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to St John the Baptist Atherton Link to site with image of the second chapel Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title St John the Baptist 27s Church Atherton amp oldid 1194154161, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
