St. Thomas' Church, Mellor

St. Thomas' Church, Mellor, Stockport
St. Thomas' Church, Mellor, from the southeast
St. Thomas' Church, Mellor, Stockport Location in Greater Manchester
Coordinates: 53°23′49″N 2°01′43″W / 53.3969°N 2.0287°W / 53.3969; -2.0287
OS grid reference	SJ 982 889
Location	Mellor, Greater Manchester
Country	England
Denomination	Anglican
Website	/ Mellor Church
History
Dedication	St Thomas
Architecture
Status	Parish church
Functional status	Active
Heritage designation	Grade II
Designated	20 December 1967
Architectural type	Church
Style	Gothic
Specifications
Capacity	200
Materials	Stone
Administration
Parish	Mellor
Deanery	Chadkirk
Archdeaconry	Macclesfield
Diocese	Chester
Province	York
Clergy
Vicar(s)	Rev'd Alex Sanders, MA
Laity
Reader(s)	Dr Peter Harrison, Mr Nick Sanders
Director of music	Mr Andrew Dean
Churchwarden(s)	David Butterworth, Maggie Williams
Parish administrator	Val Wallace

St. Thomas' Church is at the top of a lane overlooking the village of Mellor, Greater Manchester, England with magnificent views over Manchester, Cheshire and beyond. It is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade II listed building. The church contains the oldest wooden pulpit in England and a late 12th-century Norman font. It is an active Anglican parish church in the deanery of Chadkirk, the archdeaconry of Macclesfield, and the diocese of Chester.

The first stone building was probably erected in the early 14th century. In 1783 the walls were partly rebuilt and galleries were constructed on the south and east walls. At this time the church could seat 700 people. In 1815 a new entrance and porch were built and the south wall was repaired. In 1827-29 the chancel and the north wall were reconstructed to designs by the antiquarian Thomas Rickman. In 1885 the east gallery was removed. In the first decade of the 20th century the south and west galleries were demolished. In 1960, a death watch beetle was found in the roof and the roof was replaced. The screen was moved from the front of the nave to its present position at the rear creating a new chapel at the west end. A new Mander organ was installed in 1977.

The tower dates from the 15th century, it was built on 12th-century foundations, and the rest of the church dates from its rebuilding in the early 19th century.

The church is built in stone. Its plan consists of a west tower, a four-bay nave, a one-bay chancel and a south porch. At the east end is a pointed-arch window. The tower is in three stages and has a west door and window, two-light bell openings above which are clock faces, and a castellated parapet with finials.