Our Lady & The Apostles

Introduction

Our Lady & The Apostles in Stockport was built in 1903-5 by Edmund Kirby in Gothic Revival style. The church replaced an earlier church dedicated to SS Philip and James.

History

The present church was built from 1903 to 1905 and replaced St Philip and St James Church, built in 1803, which was the first permanent Catholic church to be built in Stockport after the English Reformation. In 1802, the foundation stone of St Philip and St James Church was laid by Fr Richard Thompson, the curate of St Mary’s Church, Mulberry Street. On 1 May 1803, the church was opened and Mass was said by Fr Rowland Broomhead, the parish priest of St Mary’s Church. In the 1830s, the church was enlarged with a tower, side galleries and a larger vestry, and on 23 September 1832 the church was reopened.

The sanctuary was re-ordered in 1989 to bring it into line with post Vatican-Two requirements. Edmund Kirby of Liverpool designed the church, and its west front resembles that of the Church of the Sacred Heart, Chorley, which Kirby designed in 1894. A re-ordering around 1989 extended the screen to form an enclosed sanctuary chapel, and placed a new high altar, font and lectern before the chancel arch.

Architecture and furnishings

The church has a nave with apse at the east end, double entrances to the west end, side aisles continuing as an ambulatory around the apse, and a baptistery projection to the north. The west front has a deeply set, large rose window above an arcade of 6 lancets, framed by a full height, 4 centred arch of 9 ribbed orders. The nave roof is hammer beamed but without collars, the roof being scissor-braced instead. The chancel screen was added in similar style in circa 1989.

The baptistery retains a wrought iron screen added 1929. The organ was rebuilt in 1955, framing the rose window.

The church contains a three manual pipe organ with 49 speaking stops and 2,088 pipes, originally built by Hardy & Son as a two manual instrument. The organ was rebuilt and considerably enlarged by Jardine & Co in 1955. In 1985 George Sixsmith, organ builders, carried out further changes including the rebuild of the choir organ as well as adding new pipes.

The west end is topped by a pair of louvered turrets with spires, and the gable is topped by a cross finial. The nave has eleven bays, with the westernmost bay being blind. All of the arcading has polished marble cylindrical pillars. The windows are nearly all clear glazed with diamond leading, although a small proportion has been replaced with plain glass with fake leading.

The east windows to the chapels and ambulatory all have pictorial stained glass. The large rose window in the west end has a geometrical design in lead work, with mainly clear and pale yellow glazing. The large organ loft at the west end is thought to be original.

Apart from the changes to the choir section, the instrument remains largely similar to the rebuild of 1955. The parish choir supports a traditional musical style of chant and hymnody, along with more contemporary and multicultural song.

Parish life

The choir's music programme covers Gregorian chant, traditional hymns, contemporary hymns and worship songs, Taize and multi-cultural song. The parish has a Society of St Vincent de Paul (SVP) group. The parish has a Children's Liturgy Group. The parish has Extraordinary Ministers of Communion.

The parish has Readers (Lectors). The parish has Altar Servers. The parish has Family Groups. The parish has a Medical Outreach Mission (MOM).

The parish has a Three Parish Young Catholic Adults group. The parish priest administers the Sacrament of Anointing to those in need during home visits.

Sacraments and pastoral care

Couples wishing to marry at one of the parishes speak to the parish priest about beginning marriage preparation. Adults interested in joining the Church follow a six-month RCIA course culminating at the Easter Vigil Mass when they receive the Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation and Holy Communion.