Minor amendments have been made (c)2005.
Church History: Page One || Page Two (1844-1879) || Page Three (1880-1926) || Page Four (1926-1965)
This portion of my web site contains the text of a history of my local parish church which I wrote in 1979.
THIS TEXT IS COPYRIGHT 1979 BY STEPHEN SHAW. THE AUTHOR ASSERTS HIS RIGHT TO HAVE HIS NAME ASSOCIATED WITH HIS WORK.
THE INFORMATION IN THIS BOOK IS FREE. It may be copied, distributed and/or modified under the conditions set down in the Design Science License published by Michael Stutz
Stephen Shaw ENGLAND
Shortly after his arrival Mr Denton suffered a coronary thrombosis and a curate was brought in to look after the Parish- Mr B Willcock.
In view of Mr Denton's poor health it was not possible to properly celebrate the bicentenary of the church although a souvenir brochure was brought out.
Work progressed on the gardens at the front of the Church.
Funds became available for the school extension, the churc h being required to provide its share of the funding, some ten thousand pounds, to be repaid over thirty years.
In 1966 Mrs P Denton was instrumental in introducing the Girls Friendly Society to the Parish. The curate Mr Willcock left and was replaced by a new curate, Rev Sebastian Charles, who stayed with us for only a year before marrying and leaving to go to St Barnabas in Salford.
In 1968 a storage shed was built at the end of the school playground, and a Parish Kitchen was added to the school, as the main kitchen used for school dinners, was not available for church use. The PCC passed a resolution calling for the outside lamps on the Buckingham Road outside wall to be removed- they were still there in 1979.
In 1969 the Church Lads Brigade was introduced to the Parish. The church heating was again in need of attention and a further second hand boiler was bought, a coke burner, converted to gas in 1971.
In 1974 a new purple altar frontal, bearing the symbol of St Thomas, was donated, and the church was redecorated principally in pale shades of pale pink and white.
The Parish Festival series of events was launched on 27th April 1975, with a special service at which the Bishop of Manchester (Rt Rev Patrick C Rodgers) was present. The Poynton Band (now the Vernon Building Society Brass Band) accompanied the organ for a communion service. Other services later were attended by the band and songsters of the Salvation Army, the Choir of St Winifreds (RC) School, and choirs from other local junior schools and the Hazel Grove Male Voice choir.
To remind us that our church was initially consecrated by the Bishop of Chester (when Manchester was a mere parish), the 210th Anniversary Service held on 13th July was conducted by the Bishop of Chester, Rt Rev Victor Whitsey. The Bishop first spoke to the children on temptation, and thanked the congregation for their work and witness.
He urged the congregation to stand up for its faith, and contrasted two debates at General Synod- one on the ordination of women, which was full, and well reported in the national press, and one on evangelism and communication of the Gospel, which was two thirds empty and not mentioned in the press. The Bishop spoke without formality and his deep and resonant voice is well recalled.
During the Summer there was a break in the celebrations, and Mr Denton and his family returned for a holiday to their home town of Canterbury.
During a communion service at Canterbury Cathedral Mr Denton suffered a fatal heart attack.
A memorial service was held at St Thomas on 21st September and saw the church full to overflowing. I don't think the church has (at least in modern times) ever been so full. A fitting tribute to a man of God, who spent his entire period with us battling poor health.
The festival services continued, including a presentation in the church of The Vigil.
There was a lengthy inter-regnum during which the church-wardens, Mr Price and Mr Swain, worked to keep the parish functioning, ensuring a steady supply of ministers for the services.
The average number of communicants had fallen to 45 in 1970 and remained at that level for some time.
Plan of Church 1979 - use back button to return here.
St Thomas was Mr Alderson's first appointment as Rector. Mr Alderson made a number of changes in the Parish, spread over a period. He had expressed to the first interviewing committee his Anglo-Catholic views, and had indicated that some changes would be made. Unfortunately the majority of those present understood this to mean something different to Mr Alderson, as unfortunately "some" can be understood to mean a lot, or a little. One member present had the same interpretation as Mr Alderson. There seems to have been no meeting of minds.
Amongst the changes made, in no particular order were:
Communion now referred to as Mass.
The Rectors Vestry now referred to as the Sacristry.
The use of the term Father in referring to any episcopally ordained minister.
Changes in worship included:
Conducting the principal part of the Mass from behind the altar, rather than from the front or side.
The introduction of Vestments rather than simple cassock and surplice.
The introduction of an Easter Vigil.
The benediction of the blessed sacrament.
A photograph of the church taken at the turn of the century shows a lectern in the centre of the church. The 1936 rebuilding gave the church a lectern at the side of the chancel. Mr Alderson reintroduced the practice of reading the Lessons from the centre, and also gave the sermons from this location.
To enable the Mass to be celebrated from behind the altar, the two altars had to be moved forward, and in the main body of the Church, the stainless steel altar cross was moved from the altar to stand behind the table, so once again, after the revolution of Mr Whatmough's altar cross, the altar had no cross upon it.
The dark dorsal curtain was removed to make the cross and minister more visible, whilst in the Lady Chapel the dorsal curtain and riddle posts were removed, and the fixed altar rail, which was becoming loose, was replaced by a free standing rail - although not in use this was already in the Lady Chapel.
The traditional Watch Night services on New Years Eve were abandoned.
Mattins disappeared and every morning service was now Mass, although the monthly evening Communion was abandoned. Mr Alderson said Mass every day of the week (except Saturday) at various times. The daily services led to the introduction of the Roman Catholic Missal, which provides a different reading and prayer for each day. The Mass used was the Church of England Series 3 service.
The Sunday Service times were amended, with Mass at 8am, 9.30am, and Evensong at 3pm. Attendance at Evensong fell from just over a dozen to four or less.
The old heating system was still a problem, and two oil fired industrial heaters were installed - as the fans of these were very noisy, they were run before the service then turned off during the service.
As may be appreciated, such changes did not please everyone, and the P C C treasurer ended his term of office on 31st December 1978, whilst the PCC Secretary (his wife) ended her term of office in April 1979, with both resigning from the PCC in March 1979. The Lay Reader although remaining in post, regularly worshipped elsewhere. The Rectors Warden, Mr P Swain, resigned in April 1979. All of these people were at the initial interview. Note that this time there was sadness, but none of the bitterness that seems to have grown when Mr Whatmough made his changes.
The level of the congregation remained more or less unchanged, for example the highest congregation in May 1974 was 60, whilst in May 1979 the comparable figure was 61.
The PCC purchased: a set of vestments (from a bequest left by Miss C Cooper), a sick communion set (in memory of Mr Denton, from the collection at his memorial service), and two ciboria (in memory of A Holt, the gift of his family).
The use of a sacring bell was introduced.
During Lent 1979 the 15 stations of the Cross were put on the walls, purchased with funds donated for the purpose in memory of J Boardman. The 15th station is The Resurrection. The style is modern.
The Girls Friendly Society donated a Madonna, and a sacring bell was given by Mr Clem Rutter.
Mr Alderson married shortly before he joined St Thomas, and his first born children, Kirsty Elizabeth and Helen Rachel were baptised on 12th November 1978.
Please note that I have been advised that the following story is not quite correct...
Manchester Evening News - Tuesday, 20th January 2004
Teachers and parents at six primary schools have been told their schools will be axed. Nine schools had been on a Stockport council hit list for closure, but at a meeting last night councillors decided that three should be reprieved.
St Thomas' CE, Heaton Chapel; Brookside in High Lane; and Outwood, Heald Green were
reprieved.
I have been advised that the St Thomas concerned was in fact the "other" St Thomas in
Central Stockport, NOT our St Thomas in Heaton Chapel as stated. As the MEN story will be
archived long term, this correction will be retained to try to head off yet another
historic inaccuracy caused by the number of St Thomas churches (and their schools) in the
vicinity.
From an undated "Team Ministry" web site, 2005: St. Thomas' distinctive tradition could best be described as Modern Catholic. The 2 main services in a week are the Parish Eucharist at 10 a.m. [incorrect- the chapel notice board announces 9.30 am] on Sundays and a weekday mass at 7.15 on Thursdays. Attendance on Sundays averages out at around 45 adults and 15 children. Thursdays see 6 - 7. There are additional services for different seasons and occasions such as Stations of the Cross during Lent. As regards occasional offices there may be 10 - 15 baptisms in a year, weddings only very occasionally (no more than one a year for the last few years) and 35 or so funerals in a year.
21st August 2005- a notice outside the chapel announces the first of a regular 2 hour Sunday service from 11am to 1pm, to be led by "Pastor Sam" of the Eternal Glory Christian Centre based in West Didsbury.
In 2007 the school built a new small building to the North, tight up against the Church land, to serve as a reception, and joined to the old boys entrance by a glass corridor. Some attempt was made to match the style of the new tiny building to the brickwork of the old school. The Church erected a huge bright blue Notice Board announcing the two services of Eucharist and giving the current contact details of a minister (phone number and email address).
The Church now has its own web presence at http://www.stthomasheatonchapel.co.uk/index.html.
The church is not left open during the day.
From outside the church looks unusual, and has no pretension to beauty. The central part, the Nave, is the oldest, mostly dating to around 1758, although the moulding over the windows, the mullions, and the glass are 1870. The buttresses are also 1870 apart from that nearest to the Chancel, which is 1936.
The moulding over the Chancel end window looks damaged, but that is not the case. In an earlier time a transept came out very close to this window and the missing part was never there because there was a wall in the way.
The Chancel End is 1936, designed by B A Miller.
The current entrance is on Buckingham Road, but the original entrance was reached via the Lych Gate (1890), passing the First World War memorial. The original entrance facing Wellington Road North is a 1960 rebuild, with a Wardens Vestry to its left. The door leads into a Narthex from which two doors lead in to the Nave.
The wall at the back of the church is probably 1758, but the Lady Chapel dates from 1960 and now contains the first altar (circa 1928) which replaced the earlier communion table.
The original wooden floor over concrete (now covered) and roof are probably 1870.
The round headed windows at the sides are mostly 1758 but the windows nearest the chancel may be 1838.
The window mullions, labels and glass are all 1870 as is the gallery at the back, although there was originally a previous gallery, probably flat rather than stepped. The Arms in the larger window at the back of the church are on the left the Hulme family and on the right the Egerton (of Tatton) family.
Most of the light oak furnishing is by Sheprherdsons of Stockport, and the light over the altar is in memory of a previous incumbent, Mr Whatmough.
The St Christopher was surplus to the requirements of a church of that name.
The somewhat square shape of the Chancel is due to a potential plan to build a new nave aligned with Buckingham Road.
The Wall Tablet memorials are:
1843...William Travis (warden)
1846...A Green
1851...T Rostron
1858...J E Turner (Warden)
1862...T M Fisher
1864...H Taylor (East Window- now lost)
1879...E D Jackson (incumbent)
1882...J D Bird (warden)
The 1890 Lych Gate is in memory of T Beaumont (Warden)
There was a mosaic pavement (1904) in memory of J Henn (incumbent) but this has been destroyed.
Other memorial gifts include:
1925- Bible (S S Sutcliffe-incumbent); 1934 Prayer Book (K I Carter); 1942 Processional Cross (W Chapman); 1944 Flagon (R K Ridgway);
1945 Prayer Book (G Crimes); 1947 Wafer Box (A Caldwell); 1949 Litany Stall (A MacGill); 1950 Bookstand (P Atkinson);
1951 Organ Console (H Greenwood); 1957 Font Cover ( M R Gutteridge); 1959 Sanctuary Chair (D F Burdett); 1962 Lectern and Bible (C J Knight); Gilt cross and candlesticks ( G M Briscoe); Altar Table (J Bowker); 1967 Bible (G J Bowers); 1970 Flower Stands(2) (K Smith); 1971 Cross and Candlesticks (A Taylor); Green frontal (F Picker); about 1972 Bible (H and L Smith); Book Shelves (E Vizard); 1973 Prayer Book (Mrs M G Cooke); 1977 Two industrial heaters (S Price, S Lawson, Mrs Mars, K Walker, Mr Lorange, Miss C Cooper); Flower Stand (S Lawson); 1978 Vestments (4) (C Cooper); Sick communion set (P F B Denton); 1979 Stations of the Cross (J Boardman)
1832 First organ (Renn)
1838 Parish status
1847 First rectory
1848 Transfer to new Diocese of Manchester
1854 Gas lighting installed
1865 Font, Church Plate
1866 First church school built
1870-74 Extensive rebuilding
1892 New school building
1897 Second Organ (Jardine)
1910 Electric lighting
1920 PCC formed
1928-33 Liturgical changes
1936 New East end
1951 Third organ (Walklett)
1957 New rectory built
1959 Churchyard closed
1969 New West End
1964 Old rectory demolished
1968 School extended
1976 Liturgical changes
Church History: Page One || Page Two (1844-1879) || Page Three (1880-1926) || Page Four (1926-1965)
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