We are pleased to announce our Church of the Week, which has just re-opened after a huge two-year restoration project - St Stephen and All Martyrs Church in Oldham, Greater Manchester! This historic stone church was constructed in 1873 from rough-faced ashlar with stone-coped gables with finials and slate roofs. The imposing building is Grade II Listed and has a Nave and Chancel in one, north transept, aisles and a three stage south west tower topped by a pyramidal slate roof. The body of the church has a clerestory above each aisle of arched triple lancets. The long high nave and chancel create an impressive interior with an unusual roof structure of alternating scissor braced and arched braced trusses. All very technical... the long and the short of it is that it is a very fine Victorian church, and well worth a visit! Tragically, St Stephen and All Martyrs Church was severely damaged in September 2012 when the south side window wall collapsed – and the displaced congregation was forced to take up residence at the neighbouring Higginshaw ARLFC rugby clubhouse while the damage was corrected. In light of such desperate need, we were proud to support the Church with a £40,000 Cornerstone Grant to bring it back into use for its local community. The repairs were very complex, as Lambert Walker Conservation and Restoration Ltd - who were appointed by architects Lloyd Evans Prichard to undertake the works - explained: “The repairs involved specific glazing and masonry repairs to a clerestory window. The surrounding wall façade and stone window structure was rebuilt and the damaged triple windows were reinstated with diamond pattern leaded glazing. General masonry and repointing work was carried out to the south elevation, the stair turret and west and east gable end walls. All masonry and repointing works were executed with a traditional lime based mortar. Roofing works allowed for new Welsh Blue slates to replace damaged or broken slates to match existing. Timber repairs were carried out on the roof structure of the Lady Chapel and as part of this work a new wall plate was also inserted. Associated leadwork and rainwater goods were renewed and restored as required, with some lead flashings being replaced with stainless steel. Internally, areas of wall plaster were repaired and renewed using a traditional hair reinforced lime based plaster and redecorated to match existing finishes.” Wonderfully however, that daunting programme is now complete and last Sunday’s family communion at St Stephen and All Martyrs Church was a wonderfully celebratory occasion. Father Nick Smeeton said: “It is fantastic to be back in the church today. The church has worked so hard to stay in this community and grow. To give the building back to residents is just what was needed.” A worthy church for Church of the Week, not only for being such an impressive Victorian structure, but for having such a brave congregation, determined to battle through two hard years of repairs to save their church for its local community now and in the future.
Posted on: Wed, 22 Oct 2014 13:28:19 +0000
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