St Stephen's Church, Moulton Explained

St Stephen's Church, Moulton
Pushpin Map:Cheshire
Pushpin Mapsize:250
Map Caption:Location in Cheshire
Location:Moulton, Cheshire
Country:England
Coordinates:53.2227°N -2.5168°W
Osgraw:SJ 655,697
Dedication:St Stephen the Martyr
Consecrated Date:16 January 1877
Status:Parish church
Functional Status:Active
Heritage Designation:Grade II
Designated Date:12 March 1986
Architect:John Douglas
Architectural Type:Church
Style:Gothic Revival
Groundbreaking:1876
Completed Date:1877
Materials:Sandstone, slate roof, lead spire
Parish:St Stephen the Martyr, Moulton
Deanery:Middlewich
Archdeaconry:Chester
Diocese:Chester
Province:York
Vicar:Revd Mark Green
Priest:Revd Pauline Rowe
Reader:Cath Milnes
Warden:CathMilnes, Beth Domanski

St Stephen's Church is in the village of Moulton, Cheshire, England. The church is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade II listed building. and is an active Anglican parish church in the diocese of Chester, the archdeaconry of Chester and the deanery of Middlewich.

History

The village developed with the growth of the salt industry in nearby Winsford and it was decided to have a church in the village. The church was designed by John Douglas and the foundation stone was laid in 1876. In 1877 St Stephen's was established as a separate parish and the church was consecrated on 16 January 1877 by Dr William Jacobson, Bishop of Chester.

Architecture and fittings

The church is built in yellow sandstone with red sandstone ashlar dressings and has a green slate roof with a lead spire. Its style is Gothic Revival. The plan of the church consists of a nave and chancel with a north-eastern transept, a south-eastern vestry and a southwest porch. While the exterior is in stone, the interior is built in two kinds of brick. In the church is a plain sedilia. The stained glass in the east window is by J. C. Bewsey. Elsewhere there is a millennium window by R. N. Bradley. The organ was built in 1876 by Henry Bevington and Sons.

External features

The vicarage in Jack Lane was also designed by John Douglas and is listed Grade II.

Present day

Anglican services are held regularly on Sundays, and baptisms, weddings and funerals are performed in the church. Regular children's and youth activities are also organised.

See also