Church Heritage Record 636018

            Following the building of St. Matthew`s Church in 1708 the population of Douglas increased steadily and by 1761 Bishop Mark Hildesley realised the existing provision was inadequate. In the same year a number of leading local citizens put forward the idea of demolishing St Matthew`s and using the materials for the building a new church. In this form the proposal was never progressed but plans for a new chapel continued and a prime site at Oates Land was given by Philip Moore of  “The Hills”. By 1761 a substantial number of donations and promised contributions had been received and work on the new chapel went ahead. There is no record of an architect having been involved but it is known the stone came from the Howe just outside Douglas and timber was imported from Riga in Latvia. All the lime needed for the project was kilned and slaked on site. Work progressed slowly over the next four years but difficulties arose in 1765 with the passing of the Revestment Act by the Westminster Parliament, which gave control of custom duties to the British Crown. This had a catastrophic effect on the Manx economy and the recession which followed meant building work had to be stopped with many debts being left outstanding. Bishop Richmond revived the project 10 years later and appointed trustees to compound the old debts and to raise funds for the completion of all remaining work. At this stage the opportunity was taken to introduce improvements to the original design. The work was finally completed in November 1780 and the Church was consecrated by Bishop George Mason on the 27th September 1781. The Church then became a Chapel-of-Ease in the Parish of Braddan. The first Chaplain was the Revd. Charles Crebbin who was also vicar of Santon. In 1844 further increases in the local population resulted in the need for more seating accommodation and extensions to the Church were considered but not advanced. A rearrangement of the interior layout in 1847 gave nearly 200 extra seats for the poor. No structural alterations were processed until 1864 when the old semi-circular apse was pulled down to make way for an eastward extension which included a chancel, a reredos, vestries and an organ chamber. At this stage the Church had only two stained glass windows which were reset in the new chancel during building works, and in 1865 a large central window was presented by Henry Bloom Noble. A new font was provided in 1872. The Church became a separate Parish in 1878 and in 1880 a considerable sum of money was collected for repairs, some improvements and redecoration. The chancel was then richly ornamented with pilasters and the aisles and chancel floors were tiled.  Gas fittings were also installed and new stone windows replaced those in wood. In addition three stained glass windows in the side aisles were installed. In 1882 St George`s became the temporary pro-cathedral for the Diocese and all Diocesan and National services were held in the Church including the enthronements of the Lord Bishops. An extensive renovation scheme was approved in 1896 but work was not taken up in earnest until 1908 when considerable extensions and improvements were made between 1909 and 1910. The building was again extended eastwards to provide a new and narrower chancel which was raised four feet above the ground to enable the extension to be carried over existing graves. It was also re-roofed with separate roofs for the nave and the two galleries and additional vestries were provided. Stalls were built for the Bishop, the Archdeacon and four canons. The new work and the gift of a new pulpit in the form of a cross were dedicated by Bishop Drury in the presence of Archbishop Lang of York on the 5th May 1910. In 1969 the whole Church interior was redecorated and Dykes Bower architect to Westminster Abbey was invited to suggest a scheme; he proposed a reversion to the original Georgian style of decoration.

The main entrance is through an inner lobby within the narthex over which is the tower. From the narthex there is access to the galleries, the Church library and other offices on the first floor, and toilet accommodation and a kitchen on the ground floor. The narthex has a patterned polychromatic tiled floor.  In the north eastern corner of the nave is a side chapel with a carved wood parclose screen with open lights above transome level and a marble floor. Behind the altar are riddell curtains and a reredos. Opposite in the south eastern corner is the baptistry with an ornate stone font on a base and pedestal with an intricately carved wood cover operated by a winch mechanism. Around the baptistry is another carved wood parclose screen also with open lights above transom level. At the steps leading to the sanctuary are cast responds with a pointed equilateral arch over. On the north and south sides of the chancel are the choir stalls. Shallow steps lead to the altar and set above the reredos are three stained glass windows of exceptional quality. Either side of the large central window are pilasters with ionic capitals and bases and a broken pediment over.  There is a priest`s door in the north wall of the chancel. Pews are the fixed bench type with the aisles and walkways having patterned quarry tiled flooring. The octagonal columns supporting the galleries have superimposed columns in the Ionic order that continue up to the ceiling. In the west wall of the nave, at first floor level, are four borrowed window lights set in a classical surround resting on consoles supporting fluted columns. On either side they terminate with composite capitals and half-round arches over the windows, the whole being capped with deep cornicing. There is wood panelling to the walls around the Church to dado height with oak panelling to a height of 2 metres along the walls of the sanctuary. The Church is built in slate and limestone with red sandstone dressings to the door and window openings and other features. The main ceiling is barrelled in strip wood with exposed collars and centre struts. In 1833 the organ was rebuilt and again altered and improved in 1864. In 1885 a new organ was installed and was rebuilt in 1893.