The first church was built about 1512, in wood, and dedicated to St. Clement. It was rebuilt in 1780 in red brick, and enlarged in 1837 by addition of two sides which lie outside the pillars. It consisted of a nave, aisle and a western turret containing one bell. There was seating for 350, of which when you had to rent a pew only 75 were free. In 1839 it was designated a parish church, before then Chorlton was in the Parish of Manchester. An organ was installed in 1842 - previously a cello had led the singing. The church closed after frost damage in 1940, and was demolished in 1949. The new Saint Clements up the road dates from 1866. So for a long time there were two rival church groups
the lychgateBuilt in 1897 to commemerate Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee. This was a part of a huge building programme across the British Empire with statues, fountains, towers and halls built to celebrate the monarch's 60 years on the throne. Though they chose the word jubilee it wasn't in the true sense. The word is from the Old Testament (Leviticus XXV), which was a year of emancipation and restoration of land. This one didn't change anything - apart from getting a nice looking lychgate which needs constant upkeep. It used to contain some tubular bells which were rung to announce church services.
the old churchyardNow landscaped, but the foundations of the old church, and many of the old gravestones can be seen and walked over. This wasn't the first landscaping to be done. Many overcrowded graveyards in the 19th century were grassed over and the old grave markings removed. This was to accommodate yet more burials. Cremation was not then an option in England
.
reverend joshua
brookes
The eccentric cleric was curate at st.clements between
1782 and 1791. Immortalised as a character in a
successful Victorian novel 'The Manchester Man', and more
recently in the name of a public house in Manchester.
Jabez Clegg, the hero, from the same book also has a pub
named after him.
Description
of Josuha Brookes from 'The Manchester Man'
tales about the
old graveyard
Manchester
City News 1886
When
they ran out of space to bury their dead by John Lloyd 1991