It’s a miracle!

[Excerpt and photo from a Stockport Express article, 10/1/07]
IN just under a month the Stockport community has raised £42,000 to save St Mary’s in the Marketplace.

And Reverend Roger Scoones would like to say a big thank you to everyone who helped raise the cash.

The total amount that had to be raised by December 31 was £42,000 to secure an English Heritage grant to start major restoration work on this historic building and its tower. This work is now set to start later in the year.

[Click here to see the full article.]

[On the downside, someone tried to break into the Heritage Centre. Fortunately, having climbed on to the roof getting very dirty with anti-vandal paint in the process, they realised it was not practical. The Trust property is untouched, but the church is going to have make repairs to the building.]

Heritage Centre exhibition changes

The main exhibition area is going through a process change. The Wedding display is being replaced by a display on Babies and Children's Clothes From Victorian to Wartime. Visitors are still welcome during this change, in fact its the best time to discuss the exhibits with the organiser, Angela Kenrick.





In the second room, the collection of photos continue to expand and a special Christmas display has been created for the children, the Teddy Bears' picnic meets Goldilocks and the three bears. It's an interactive, visual and audio display.

As well as the Heritage Centre, there is the St Mary's repair and restoration display in the porch. Perhaps even more illustrative of the problems the building faces is the continuing growth in fences and protection, to shield the public from falling masonry. By the end of this month the church must raise £42,000 or else it loses promise of HLF funds. This is a very difficult target to reach and the church continues to look for generous benefactors, large or small.

Church prays for Christmas miracle

[Excerpt from the Stockport Express - 6/12/06]

St Mary's Church
Photo by Bill.

THE REVEREND of St Mary's in the Marketplace is hoping for a miracle to raise cash to save the church.
It is the 11th hour for the church, which needs to raise £42,000 by December 31 to secure an English Heritage grant to start major restoration work on this historic building and its tower.

Rev Roger Scoones said: "If this is raised then English Heritage will give us about £120,000 to start the first phase of the work. If we don't raise the money by this date then the deadline will be passed and we would have to re-apply and start the process all over again, which has taken over a year."


Click on the above image for the full article.

The Richard de Vernon Legacy

Stockport Heritage Trust's Honarary Chair, Jim Claire, held the audience spell bound at St Mary's Church for a 750 year journey through time. Trust lectures have become an annual event, but this was something special as it was single hour long lecture, rather than 3 shorter lectures and allowed the topic to be discussed in full detail.

If you want to learn about the topic, you will have to come to the Heritage Centre and talk to Jim himself. He be found there most Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays.








Finally, celebrating another successful Trust event.

Heritage Day events, 7-10 September

7-10 September is Heritage Day (work that one out for yourself). The long list exciting, free places to visit can be found by clicking on the image below. Not least of which is Stockport Heritage Trust's town centre guided walk, hourly from St Mary's Church on Saturday, September 9. Some of the events need to be booked in advance, so take a look now. (Abney Hall, Air Raid Shelters, Art Gallery, Bramall Hall, Chadkirk Chapel, Crematorium, Hat Works, Heaton Moor Park, Hollywood Park, Marple Locks, Plaza, St Peter's Church, St Thomas' Church, Staircase House, Town Centre walks, Town Hall, The Brinnington Story, Vernon Mill, and Vernon Park.)

Stockport's Heritage Centre is the cool place to be

In the current heat wave, it's always nice to know a cool place to chill out. St Marys and the Heritage Centre are naturally peaceful and cool because of the Cheshire sandstone walls. There is always something new to see. In fact the challenge to the Heritage Centre volunteers, Jim, Eric, Alan, Grace and Sheila, is displaying the latest items donated by the public, which can anything, from waistcoat to doctor's prescription. Here is one of the most recent donations, a brass plaque from Stockport Baths.

Future events

Events organised by the Trust are in red.

25th April Wednesday. Trip to Manchester Police Museum. Places limited.
contact Kevin on 01614274006

15th March, Thursday. Stockport Story.
Talk on Underground Stockport, by Kevin Drafield. Also a booksigning for Rivers Under Your Feet by Coral Dranfield.

24th March, Saturday. St Marys. Two speakers will talk on the subject of Stockport Sunday School, recently
brought to prominence due to the display case and impressive stain glass window, now part of the permanent Stockport Story exhibition. £1.50 (or £2 on the door).

1st April, Sunday. 9am-12 noon. Chadkirk Chapel. Bird Watching for Beginners. Free, but booking is essential.

Easter Saturday - Market Fun for all the family.

2nd May, Wednesday, 8pm. The Old Rectory. Stockport Heritage Trust's AGM.

Work Starts on St. Mary's Church

An area of the market was cordoned off today as workers dismantled the offending finials on the top of St. Mary's church gateway.


Hopefully this will mean that some of the barriers can now be removed from around the pavement.

St Mary's Church Inspection 24.03.06

St Marys Church Inspection 24.03.06
Originally uploaded by A G 1.

Bought to you by Allen, our photo-journalist on the spot, we can see the tower of St Mary's Church (Churchgate) being inspected.
For the full set of photos: click here.

For information on this work, see the previous post.

Stockport Times excerpts - 23/3/06

St Marys Church Clock
Originally uploaded by A G 1.

"£129 blessing for St Mary's Church
"one of the most historic churches is to recieve a grant for £129,000 to help restore it to its former glory.
"English Heritage (North West) is to make the grant to St Mary's Church, in Stockport Market Place, to carry work needed to repair damage to stonework and masonry features.
"Architect Graham Cunningham said the £129,000 would be used for a survey of the external fabric of the church and the essential repairs this would reveal. The survey is likely to be carried out soon, but it is not yet known when work will take place."

"Ring out for keeper of bells
"A volunteer who has worked tirelessly to maintain the bells and tower of St Mary's Church has been presented with a picture of the church.
"Steeplekeeper Clive Calton, the busband of the late Mp Patsy Calton, was presented with the token of appreciation by Stockport's Mayor and consort.
"Rev Roger Scoones rector of St Mary's said Clives voluntary and exemplary work over the last nine years has not gone unrecognised.
"He said: 'He is an unsung hero of some considerable dignity. It's thanks to him that whatever the stateof the building, the bells are still ringing. We are very fortunate to have him at St Mary's'"

"Spot a chance to walk with the wildlife
"Stockport Council's Parks and Recreation team has joined up with the RSPB to offer people the chance to stroll around Bruntwood Park, Cheadle.
"The free walk will take place on Saturday April 1, from 7am to 9am.
"For more information and to book a place in advance contact Bruntwood Park on 428 5391."

"Heritage areas to increase
"Nine new areas of Stockport have been given the conservation area green light by the borough council.
"The new areas are Cheadle Royal, Cheadle Village, Compstall, Heaton Mersey and Marple Bridge, plus Church Lane in Romiley, and Heaton Moor Road and Mauldeth Road, both in Heaton Moor.
"The conservation status, will, according to the local authority, offer greater protection to the buildings and spaces around them. It also makes them subject to special planning controls in order to protect their status."

"Supermarket plan halted
"Tesco's bid to build another large supermarket store in Stockport has finally bitten the dust.
"The retail giant had wanted to construct a 77,000 sq ft on a vacant site at Tannock Rd, Hazel Grove.
"Tesco do not own the site but did have first option to buy it in the event of planning permission being granted.
"It is now hoped another developer, which has sens its plans for industrial units and offices in Tannock Rd previously refused, can modify proposals to an acceptable form."

"Cale Green Primary pupils worked with hammers and chisels when stonemason Michael Disley visited them. Some of the carvings will decorate an area at nearby Florist Street in a project being undertaken with the Groundwork Trust."

"Choral Society
"Members of Stockport Symphony Orchestra will perform Bach's Mass in B Minor with Marple Choral Society soloists at St Paul's Church, Compstall at 7.30pm. Tickets 6.50 (concessions £5) on the door." The Times doesn't say what day, but it's 25 March.

The History of St Mary's

Jim gaves us an interesting and lighthearted history of St Mary' church from 1066 to current day. Jim provided his own illustrations, which should be a hit with children when he takes the talk to schools.
Jim showed us a fresh piece of Runcorn Red, a piece of sandstone broken from the debris fallen from St Mary's church. It must been beautiful when the whole church was this colour.

St Marys Clock

Reading the post about St Marys clock and the masonary falling. I was suprised just how much fine masonary there was round the clock faces. I just hope it can be repaired as soon as possible