Church of St James, Didsbury
Encyclopedia
The Church of St James, Stenner Lane, Didsbury
, Manchester
is an ancient Anglican church of medieval origins with significant subsequent alterations in the 17th and mid-19th centuries. The church was designated a Grade II* listed building on 25 February 1952.
The original chapel is believed to have been a 13th-century oratory. Rebuilding took place in the early seventeenth century, including the "dumpy" tower. The pinnacles and loops which surmount the tower are a particular feature, dating from 1801. The Mosley family, local magnates, were the benefactors. It became the parish church of Didsbury in 1850. The nave was constructed in 1855, the chancel in 1871 and the east half of the south aisle in 1895. The church is of red sandstone with slate roofs.
Pevsner
found the interior "odd, [with] early seventeenth century fabric, but later additions and alterations [have] changed its character". The 18th-centuries galleries, themselves a later addition, have been removed and substantial reconstruction took place both in the 1850s and 1890s. The stained glass is all 19th century. The church contains some impressive funerary monuments, particularly of the Mosley family. A "good early C17 wall monument in Renaissance style, [...] a 3-bay Ionic
colonnade surmounted by a central Corinthian
architrave
with cresting, with kneeling figures in each part" commemorates Ralph Mosley, who died in 1616. Sir Nicholas Mosley
, the builder of Hough End Hall
, is shown kneeling, "dressed in the robes of the Lord Mayor
of London (1599)". The Mosley heiress, Ann, Lady Bland, the founder of St Ann's Church, Manchester
, is also represented.
Didsbury
Didsbury is a suburban area of the City of Manchester, in Greater Manchester, England. It lies on the north bank of the River Mersey, south of Manchester city centre, in the southern half of the Greater Manchester Urban Area...
, Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
is an ancient Anglican church of medieval origins with significant subsequent alterations in the 17th and mid-19th centuries. The church was designated a Grade II* listed building on 25 February 1952.
The original chapel is believed to have been a 13th-century oratory. Rebuilding took place in the early seventeenth century, including the "dumpy" tower. The pinnacles and loops which surmount the tower are a particular feature, dating from 1801. The Mosley family, local magnates, were the benefactors. It became the parish church of Didsbury in 1850. The nave was constructed in 1855, the chancel in 1871 and the east half of the south aisle in 1895. The church is of red sandstone with slate roofs.
Pevsner
Pevsner
Pevsner is a surname, and may refer to:* Antoine Pevsner , a Russian sculptor* Sir Nikolaus Pevsner , a German-born British scholar of the history of architecture;** ....
found the interior "odd, [with] early seventeenth century fabric, but later additions and alterations [have] changed its character". The 18th-centuries galleries, themselves a later addition, have been removed and substantial reconstruction took place both in the 1850s and 1890s. The stained glass is all 19th century. The church contains some impressive funerary monuments, particularly of the Mosley family. A "good early C17 wall monument in Renaissance style, [...] a 3-bay Ionic
Ionic order
The Ionic order forms one of the three orders or organizational systems of classical architecture, the other two canonic orders being the Doric and the Corinthian...
colonnade surmounted by a central Corinthian
Corinthian order
The Corinthian order is one of the three principal classical orders of ancient Greek and Roman architecture. The other two are the Doric and Ionic. When classical architecture was revived during the Renaissance, two more orders were added to the canon, the Tuscan order and the Composite order...
architrave
Architrave
An architrave is the lintel or beam that rests on the capitals of the columns. It is an architectural element in Classical architecture.-Classical architecture:...
with cresting, with kneeling figures in each part" commemorates Ralph Mosley, who died in 1616. Sir Nicholas Mosley
Nicholas Mosley (mayor)
Sir Nicholas Mosley , also spelt Mosly and Moseley, was a manufacturer of woollen cloth, lord of the manor of Manchester, and Lord Mayor of London....
, the builder of Hough End Hall
Hough End Hall
Hough End Hall is a historic house in Chorlton-cum-Hardy, Manchester, North West England. It was built in 1596 during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I by Sir Nicholas Mosley , when he became Lord of the Manor of Manchester and of the dependent Manor of Withington...
, is shown kneeling, "dressed in the robes of the Lord Mayor
Lord Mayor
The Lord Mayor is the title of the Mayor of a major city, with special recognition.-Commonwealth of Nations:* In Australia it is a political position. Australian cities with Lord Mayors: Adelaide, Brisbane, Darwin, Hobart, Melbourne, Newcastle, Parramatta, Perth, Sydney, and Wollongong...
of London (1599)". The Mosley heiress, Ann, Lady Bland, the founder of St Ann's Church, Manchester
St Ann's Church, Manchester
St Ann's Church, Manchester, was consecrated in 1712. Although named after St Anne, it also pays tribute to the patron of the church, Ann, Lady Bland. St Ann's Church is a Grade I listed building.-Architecture and setting:...
, is also represented.