St Thomas Aquinas & St Stephen Harding

Introduction

In 1883 a large room was fitted up as a temporary chapel in Cheshire Street, opened as 'St Thomas Aquinas'.

History

The parish was founded in 1857, as stated in the parish history book. The first Mass was said in a private house by the Rev James Kenny of Whitchurch, and from 1864 it was served from Crewe for four years and then from Nantwich till 1884 when the Rev. Laurence Levett came as the first resident priest. Mr Egerton Harding made a partial endowment of £50 and later gave a plot of land in Great Hales Street. The solemn opening took place on 7th November 1886.

The consecration of the new church was carried out by Bishop Knight on 17th August 1887, dedicated to 'Saints Thomas Aquinas and Stephen Harding'. In August 1896 the sanctuary was re-opened after extensive decorations, with a new alabaster altar, reredos of Caen stone, three stained glass windows, and incidents in the lives of the saints depicted on the walls.