Manchester Rd, Denton
Christ Church was erected in 1853 and it was built from a design by Sir George Gilbert Scott RA for the Church Commissioners.

This hammer-dressed stone church, with a slate roof, is in the Early Gothic style and it consists of a chancel, nave of five bays, aisles, north porch and a western tower with a spire containing a clock and one bell. There are 10 stained windows, including the east window, which was placed in 1866 in memory of Edward, aged 5 years, son of John Bradbury, a proprietor of Broomstair Colliery. A new north vestry and organ chamber were added in 1889.

The church is listed Grade II, List Entry No. 1067969.

The ecclesiastical parish of Christ Church, Denton, was formed on the 17 Mar 1846 but the church was not erected until 1853. The Revd Richard Greswell, who was a benefactor of his father’s (Revd William Parr Greswell) parish of Denton, was instrumental in the building of Christ Church and its parsonage schools and for the provision of an endowment. The schools were opened prior to the consecration of the church, which was on the 13 Oct 1853. The consecration was by the first Bishop of Manchester, Dr James Prince Lee, and the sermon was preached by Dr Samuel Wilberforce, Bishop of Oxford. Among the dignitaries present were the 2nd Earl of Wilton, Thomas Egerton, and the Rt Hon William Ewart Gladstone MP FRS FSS, Chancellor of the Exchequer (later Prime Minister). Richard Greswell was a contemporary of William Ewart Gladstone at Oxford University and they were personal friends. The first rector in 1846 was the Revd Thomas Newham Farthing MA. He graduated at St Catharine’s College, Cambridge and he was a man of great energy and noted as a preacher and speaker (Middleton, p.77). On leaving Christ Church in 1872 he held the living at St George’s Church, Mossley, until his death at Lytham, Lancashire, on the 31 May 1885, aged 65 years.

Rolls of Honour for the Churchyard
Six casualties have been identified who are buried in the churchyard, four from the Great War and two from the Second World War. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission has provided a special memorial for them.

Memorial inscription

1914-1918   1939-1945 THOSE HONOURED HERE DIED IN THE SERVICE OF THEIR COUNTRY AND LIE BURIED IN THIS CHURCHYARD PRIVATE J. BENNETT* 76TH TRAINING RESERVE BN. 18. 9. 1917 PRIVATE W. G. BLACKLEDGE† GLOUCESTERSHIRE REGIMENT 3. 5. 1916 AIRCRAFTMAN G. H. BRENCHLEY ROYAL AIR FORCE 22. 4. 1945 SAPPER H. COLLINS* ROYAL ENGINEERS 31. 12. 1946 DRIVER J. MAUDE ROYAL FIELD ARTILLERY 1. 1. 1918 PRIVATE C. J. READ* LABOUR CORPS 30. 3. 1921

*These casualties are not listed on the Rolls of Honour inside the church.
†The name of Private William Gregson BLACKLEDGE also appears on the War Memorial of Manchester University. His father, the Revd Robert Thomas BLACKLEDGE MA, was the Rector of Christ Church between 1896 and 1927. On the 23 Jul 1921 the Revd Captain Robert Dallas Blackledge MM, brother of the late Private William Gregson Blackledge, dedicated the War Memorial in Victoria Park, Denton. At this time he was the Curate at Christ Church.

Rolls of Honour inside the church