Christ Church Schools

Manchester Rd, Denton
The stone-built Christ Church Schools were designed in the Gothic style and they were completed in 1848. They faced Christ Church, which was completed and consecrated in 1853. The schools closed on the 16 Jun 1978 and in 1979 they were demolished so that the M67 motorway could be cut through the site.

On the day the foundation stone of Christ Church Schools (then known as the National schools) was laid, clergy, dignitaries and parishioners first assembled in the school room of Denton Chapel (St Lawrence’s). From there they processed to the site of the new schools on Manchester Rd. The procession was headed by the Revd William Parr Greswell, Revd Aspinall and Revd Thomas Newham Farthing. The foundation stone was then laid by William Peacock (William Cooke Peacock), a hat manufacturer, who was a large contributor to the cost of construction. Afterwards the assembly processed to Mr Peacock’s residence on Broom Ln for refreshments. Next they went to the residence of Mr Sidebottom* at Haughton Green for more refreshments. They then returned to the school room at Denton Chapel where hymns were sung and in the evening there was a tea party. The estimated cost of the schools was £1,200, which was raised by a grant and contributions from William Peacock, Revd William Parr Greswell and other friends.

*The identity of Mr Sidebottom is unknown but it is likely that he was a member of the mill-owning Sidebotham family of Hyde and Haughton Green.
Left: Christ Church Schools viewed from Manchester Rd, 7 May 1978.
Right: Christ Church Schools viewed from the Seymour St side, 7 May 1978.