St Martin's Church, Ashton upon Mersey
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| St Martin's Church, Ashton upon Mersey | |
  Shown within Greater Manchester
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| Basic information | |
|---|---|
| Location | Ashton upon Mersey, Sale, Greater Manchester, England |
| Geographic coordinates | Coordinates: |
| Religious affiliation | Anglican |
| Ecclesiastical status | Parish church |
| Architectural description | |
| Architect(s) | W. H. Brakspear George Truefitt |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Year completed | 1887 |
| Specifications | |
| Materials | Lymm sandstone Slate and tile roofs Timber framed top stage to tower |
St Martin's Church, Ashton upon Mersey is in Ashton upon Mersey, a district of Sale, Greater Manchester, England (grid reference SJ773930). It is a Grade II* listed building.[1]
Contents |
[edit] History
The first church, probably timber framed, was built in 1304 on the site of an old Saxon burial place. In 1704 it was destroyed by a storm.[2] A new church was built in 1714 for Joshua Allen. In 1874 a baptistery by W.H. Brakspear was added. A tower was built in 1887 designed by George Truefitt for Sir Williams Cunliffe Brooks.[1] In the same year a ring of 13 bells was installed and a new lych gate was built.[2]
[edit] Structure
The church is built in Lymm sandstone[2] with slate and tile roofs. Its plan consists of a wide nave of four bays, a south porch, a north baptistery and a chancel with an adjoining tower containing a vestry to the south. The tower is square, its top stage being timber framed. It contains a clock face to the south, gables on each side and an elaborate weather vane. The baptistry is octagonal with a pyramidal roof.[1]
[edit] Fittings and furniture
At the west end is a gallery. The roof is double hammer beam in type. The chancel walls are panelled with the ends of former box pews. One font dating from the 16th century on a 20th century shaft is wrongly dated 1304. Another font dates from the 18th century.[1] The parish chest is long and narrow, and is dated 1706. On the walls are a number of memorial tablets. The parish registers date from 1631 but are not complete and are in part difficult to decipher.[2]
