THE CIVIL ENGINEER AND ARCHITECTS JOURNAL. 



[March, 



bis design are apportioned ; you see the architect as much as his edi- 

 fice. \\ hen he introduces ornament he makes you to revel very often 

 in a part where the eye should not remain, or he encloses a free figure 

 in some stiff panel and destroys its expression. The decoration is not 

 such that the part would look bare without it, or that the proportion 

 would become affected if it was not there. You see not as in Jones 

 the onwraent as identified leilh the mass, but only as a part of it. You 

 detect too much of the hand which placed it there, and too little of its 

 relation to surrounding objects. 



Contrasting him with Jones whom he imitates, or with Palladio 

 whom he affects, we at once see tluit liis very study makes him miss 

 the careless beauties of the former, %vhilst liis caution prevents him 

 soaring into the grand simplicity and rich excellence of the latter. 



Campbell thus although of the Palladian school is only of such in its 

 leading characteristics. That quick perception of grace and of beauty 

 ever necessary to relieve the huge superficies is not his. His sensibi- 

 lities seem dull upon the lesser auxiliaries, so useful to design. He 

 is not grand in his comprehension, and yet at the same time minute in 

 his care ; or if he does descend to minuteness, he does not change 

 from the greater to the less, from the grand to the inferior with the 

 care of a genius, but creeps into his parts with the fear of a copyisU 

 Finally, he seems to have wanted more quickness of apprehension, 

 more fertility of thought, and more liveliness of fancy, to have in any 

 way equalled bis originals. 



Frederick East. 

 Ftbruanj 10, 1S41. 



ST. LUKE'S CHURCH, CHEETHAM HILL. 



Sir — Being a constant reader of your most valuable Journal, and 

 knowing the great number of communications which must be forwarded 

 to you for perusal, I appreciate the difficulty of the task you have to 

 perform in selecting those which may best serve the two professions, 

 the interests of which you so strenuously and successfully advocate. 

 By way of apology for this comramiication, the following reasons may 

 be deemed sufficient. 



1st. 1 consider the design and execution of the edifice alluded to to 

 be of such high excellence, that it is only doing a bare act of justice 

 to the architect to whose genius we are indebted for this beautiful 

 work of art, and also to the admirers of modern ecclesiastical archi- 

 tecture, to give a greater publicity to it than it has yet received, and 



2ndly. Not having observed anything more than a casual notice of 

 this edifice in your publication, I think a few descriptive remarks, 

 even from an incompetent person, if given in sincerity, and with an 

 eye to the advantage and improvement of the profession, would not 

 be misapplied. 



The church under consideration is advantageously situated in the 

 township of Cheetham, on the main road from Manchester to Bury. 

 The funds were raised by subscription, some of the principal residents 

 in the neighbourhood being most liberal in their donations; it is 

 erected from the design of J. W. Atkinson, Esq., architect, who has 

 adopted the Gothic style most happily blending the late ornamental 

 with tlie early perpendicular style. It is very simple in plan, the body 

 of the church being divided by two rows of piers and arches into nave 

 and aisles; there is a steeple at the west end, and an altar recess at 

 the east, behind which is a large vestry. There are galleries in the 

 aisles and at the west end. The roof of the nave is carried much 

 higher than tliat of the aisles, so as to admit of clerestory windows. 



The steeple consists of a tower and spire. The former has octagon 

 turrets with buttresses at the angles, terminated with crocketted pin- 

 nacles. The lower compartment has a well proportioned and deeply 

 recessed doorway, over which is a lofty perpendicular window, and at 

 the sides arc windows similar in style. The spandrils over the large 

 window are filled with perpendicular tracery, in the centre of which 

 is the clock. The belfry has two narrow windows on each side, and 

 is crowned with a bold cornice and perforated battlement. The spire 

 is crocketted at the angles, and beautifully connected with the tower 

 by j)erforated flying buttresses springing from the pinnacles at the 

 angles of the tower ; it is finished with a belt and crocketted tiiiial, 

 surmounted by a cross, the emblem of Christianity. 



The aisles are divided by buttresses and crocketted pinnacles into 

 six compartments, each decorated with a lofty window ; the clerestory 

 has two windows to every one in the aisles, also divided by smaller 

 buttresses and crocketted pinnacles. The nave terminates at the 

 east end with octagon buttresses, and a lofty iidt window to light the 

 altar recess. The east end is simple but original, having iw large east 

 Window, but three well i)roportioned niches in its place. The ends of 

 the aisles are finished with windows similar to those in the side, and 

 buttresses at the angles. 



The whole of the external detail, window dressings, cornices, &c., 

 are good, plain, and effective, and it seems to have been the aim of 

 the architect to obtain a good outline rather than any small frittered 

 ornament, which is only gained at a great expense arid trouble, to be 

 lost sight of when viewed at a little distance. 



On entering the churchyard from Manchester, the spectator has a 

 S.W. view of the church, the tower standing boldly forward, and the 

 pinnacles and flying buttresses which connect it with the spire giving 

 a diversity of shadow which is most beautiful. The beauty of this 

 view is somewhat lessened by the three large windows in the tower, 

 which crowd it too much, and having only the octagon buttresses at 

 each angle, they seem inadequate to support the weight of the belfry 

 and spire ; it is also a pity that the spire was not higher, as it does 

 not harmonize with the beautiful proportion of the tower. At the 

 cast end you sec the effect of the three niches, which are substituted 

 for the great window. 



From the tower you enter a vestibule under the gallery, which is 

 divided from the body of the church by an ornamental glass screen. 

 In the centre of the vestibule and opposite to the entrance door, is a 

 handsome stone font, and on the right and left are doors which com- 

 municate with the gallery stairs as well as the body of the church. 

 The altar is beautifully ornamented with perpendicular panels and 

 niches, with richly ornamented canopies; it is lighted by side windows, 

 which have a good effect. It is composed of two compartments, di- 

 vided by a bold cornice, which runs underneath the side windows. 

 The lower one consists of three Gothic panels with heads of tracery, 

 in which are written the Creed, Commandments, and the Lord's 

 Prayer; on one side of the altar table is a deeply recessed doorway to 

 vestry, and on the other a false one to correspond. The side walls 

 under windows are beautifully ornamented by a series of small arches, 

 springing from isolated columns with foliated caps and bases, forming 

 a sort of triforium. The top compartment consists of a large centre 

 panel, which it is hoped will be fitted with some talented painting; 

 on each side of this are niches and rich canopies ; the plainness of the 

 wall above this is hid by perpendicular panelling which reaches to 

 the ceiling. 



The pulpit, which is situated rather on one side of the altar, is 

 quite exquisite. The base represents a rock, on which are seated 

 statues of our Saviour and two Magdalens which support the pulpit, it 

 being the medium through which the Gospel is propagated. On the 

 other side of the altar is the reading desk, which is a large Gothic 

 chair, with a stand for the books supported by an eagle ; between it 

 and the pulpit is a smaller chair for the clerk. 



The organ screen is very beautiful, in the ornamental style, divided 

 into three compartments by niches, canopies, &c., and crowned by 

 three crocketted spires and pinnacles. The organ is a very good one, 

 built by Hill of London, at an expense of about ^£600. 



On entering the church from the west end, the eye is disagreeably 

 affected by the west gallery projecting too far into the church, and 

 cutting short the view of the altar piece ; this, however, ceases when 

 you get fairly into the church, and if viewed on a fine day, is very 

 chaste and elegant. Turning round on reaching the altar, you have 

 a view of the organ screen. It is to be regretted that it and the altar 

 piece do not accord better as to style, for there is decidedly a want of 

 unity in them when viewed as part of the same edifice. 



I am happy in being able to state that the finishing .md painting of 

 this beautiful church was intrusted to the care of Mr. Atkinson, who 

 seems to have spared no pains or trouble in fulfilling the arduous task 

 imposed on him. The whole of the walls are tinted of a warm stone 

 colour, the mouldings left white, and the most prominent members of 

 them gilt, which gives it a most rich and mellow appearance. The 

 ceiling over the nave is divided by the roof principals, and moulded 

 ribs into square compartments, and these again painted in imitation of 

 oak tracery and |)anels. The pews are painted to imitate grained 

 oak, and lined with crimson moreen. There is accommodation for 

 about fifteen hundred people. 



The cost of the chitfch I have not been able to ascertain. The de- 

 sign fii-st determined on was to have been erected for about five thou- 

 sand pounds, but when it was as forward as the window cills, it was 

 altogether altered, and continued to be so until finished, so that it is 

 now supposed to have cost from fourteen to fifteen thousand pounds. 



Craving your indulgence for so lengthened and perhaps unprofes- 

 sional a description of this interesting and beautiful church, and hoping 

 that you may have an opportmiity of testing the truth of my remarks 

 by a personal view of it. 



I remain, your obedient servant, 



Frank T. Bellhouse, Architect. 



Gronvenor-sguare, Manclieiter, 

 Ftbruanj 9, lb41. 



