Church of St Ignatius of Antioch

Church of St Ignatius of Antioch

This is a Grade II listed church aligned north-west to south-east, comprising a tall nave with lower side aisles under separate roofs, an apsidal chancel, and a tall south-west tower. Architectural references in this description are given in their ritual sense.

Exterior

The church features continuous hoodmoulds to windows and doors, with most elevations incorporating buttresses and cross finials. Many windows retain original diamond-patterned leaded glazing. The chancel apse and tower retain their original slate roofs, whilst the remaining parts have replaced concrete-tile roofs.

The west end faces St Ignatius Walk and consists of the nave's west gable, flanked by lower lean-to side aisles; all incorporate Lombard friezes below the eaves. The nave's east gable also has a Lombard frieze but is largely hidden by the chancel. The west entrance projects under a gable and comprises an arched terracotta surround of three orders with a carved tympanum depicting peacocks (symbolising eternal life) and a recessed door. Above are three tall windows with paired round-headed lights separated by half-columns with worn carved capitals and roundels, set within arched surrounds; the centre window is raised slightly, rising above the gabled entrance. At the gable apex is a much smaller version of the west windows with a plain central mullion. The side aisles are lit by large round-headed windows with plain mullions, replicated to the side chapels at the east end. Due to in-filling of a former yard area to the south, some south aisle windows have been blocked, and one has been converted into a doorway accessing a later extension.

Attached to the right of the south side-aisle is a tall four-stage south-west tower, with upper stages separated by cornices. The tower has a west entrance styled similarly to that of the nave, but with the addition of a terracotta roundel containing a Canterbury-style cross. The tower's second stage incorporates a single round-headed window to each face, whilst the third stage has paired windows set within shared arched surrounds with raised brickwork tympanums. The belfry has triple-arched openings to each face with a Lombard frieze below the eaves. The whole is topped by a pyramidal slate roof surmounted by a cross finial. A 1904 rectory is attached to the south side of the tower but is excluded from the listing.

The five-bay nave has a clerestory formed by triple-light round-headed windows, with continuous hoodmoulds giving the appearance of arcading. The chancel has a near full-height semi-circular apse lit by round-headed windows incorporating paired lights separated by half-columns with stiff-leaf capitals and roundels to the centre above, set within arched surrounds. Small side chapels flank the chancel at right angles. A vestry is attached to the south side-chapel, lower in height and lit by small round-headed windows to the east wall and two windows matching those of the side chapels to the south gable end. Beneath is a full basement.

Interior

The church contains quarry tile, parquet and floorboard floors. Walls are mostly plastered with a brown glazed-tile dado to the nave and side aisles.

The tower entrance has exposed brick where plaster has been removed. It features painted diagonal rib-vaulting to the ceiling with a central carved boss, above which is the timber floor of the tower room. A stone spiral stair is accessed by a door in the south-west corner, with a recessed doorway providing access into the former rectory; both have cast-iron lintels. A wide round-headed opening to the east wall accesses a semi-circular apsidal recess forming the baptistery, lit by three round-headed windows. The baptistery contains a Caen stone font with a polished granite shaft. A carved terracotta round-headed opening with later inserted doors provides access into the main body of the church.

The nave roof is panelled and incorporates a series of queen-post arched-braced roof trusses. Five-bay round-headed nave arcades are supported by pink sandstone nave piers with carved cushion capitals and tall bases. The easternmost bays on each side have been bricked-up (1990s) and the chancel arch has been sealed to separate the chancel. A brick wall has been inserted at the east end of the south side-aisle, creating a lobby by the south side-chapel entrance. The clerestory windows are arcaded with red sandstone columns styled similarly to the nave piers.

Both side aisles have king-post trusses supported by stone and timber corbels with curved angle braces. The surviving part of the church's pulpit has been placed at the west end of the aisle. At the east end of the north side-aisle is an internal terracotta window incorporating round-headed lights and a roundel, behind which is the north side-chapel. One window in the south side-aisle has been converted into a doorway accessing parish rooms and the rectory, all excluded from the listing.

The two-bay chancel has a panelled roof incorporating trusses, with arcade piers of polished red granite with pink sandstone bases and capitals. In front of the altar apse are timber and wrought-iron altar rails (partly gilded) incorporating foliage decoration. The semi-circular apse has a half-domed ceiling painted blue with gold stars. The three east windows retain original leaded glazing incorporating some stained glass with Christian monograms and symbols. Running around the apse wall beneath the windows is a red sandstone and polished granite arcade with coloured and gilded mosaics by Jabez Thompson of Northwich depicting vases of varying design containing lilies, surmounted by a panel of green glazed-tiles. Attached to the centre of the apse wall is a carved timber reredos containing a painted panel depicting the Last Supper, said to have been painted by Nancy Mitford. A plain free-standing timber altar lies in front. The side chapels have scissor-rafter roofs; that to the south side incorporates a First World War memorial timber screen attached to its south wall. A doorway leads into the vestry, which is plain.