Parish Church Of St Thomas

The Parish Church of St Thomas is a large, classically-styled church built between 1822 and 1825 by George Basevi. It is the only surviving Commissioners church designed by him and considered the grandest classical church in the Manchester region, being the sole church in Cheshire funded by the first grant of the Million pound Act of 1818, costing £15,000. The design shows similarities to Hawksmoor's St Alphage in Greenwich. The church is constructed of ashlar and consists of a four-bay nave with aisles, north and south porches, and a tall west tower rising to a clock stage and cupola. The east end, originally the main entrance, features a large hexastyle Ionic portico with a pediment. The interior is notable for its Corinthian colonnade supporting galleries. It also includes an Ionic altar-piece. The chancel was remodelled in 1890 by Medland Taylor, and the original seating has been replaced.