Church Heritage Record 609305

The village of Gee Cross dates back to the times of the Domesday Book, but in recent times has merged with the southern part of Hyde. When formed in 1880, the parish comprised 4,000 souls, a figure which in the 2011 census had grown to around 11,500. 

During the 1850’s the Anglicans of Gee Cross, who had previously been obliged to travel either to Hyde (St George and St Thomas) or Compstall (St Paul), began to rent a small room over a workshop in Joel Lane. Led initially by a Mr Bradley and later by a Mr Bevan, the responsibilities were eventually taken over in the late 1850’s by the Reverend Thomas Bourke. A memorial to Reverend Bourke was erected in the north wall of the nave in 1883. In 1858 a gift of land was made by Mr Tatton of Wythenshawe and in the same year a School Church was erected. This building now forms part of the primary school. It was quickly realised that the accommodation in the School Church was inadequate. Lord Egerton of Tatton, a great benefactor to the Church, donated the land on which the Church is now built and contributed to the building fund. Despite some setbacks, the fund grew steadily and on 24th May 1873 the foundation stone was laid, marked by a procession from Hyde Market Square of the congregation, Sunday school, contingents from St George, St Thomas and St John, Hyde, representatives of local Friendly Societies and the Order of Freemasons. It is estimated that a crowd of 17,000 people witnessed the event! It was at this time that the decision was taken to consecrate the new Church “Holy Trinity”, though still as part of the parish of Werneth (St Paul, Compstall). In 1880 the new parish of Holy Trinity was created. In 1901, the first serious discussions about the erection of a tower, to form the centre of what was known as the “Queen Victoria Memorial”, were held. A building committee was formed and decided to erect a tower capable of safely housing a clock and peal of bells. The work was undertaken by Messrs. Armitage of Gee Cross (a family business which is still in operation). The memorial stone was laid on 18th July 1903 and work completed in 1904. During 1938 the idea for the building of a vicar’s vestry was raised as a memorial of the occasion of the Silver Jubilee of the appointment of Canon Richmond to the living of Holy Trinity. Mr Alan Dew was appointed architect of the vestry and it was built by Messrs Crompton Brothers of Hyde and dedicated on Sunday 17th December 1939 the Rt. Rev. Bishop Chapman a personal friend of Canon Richmond, who had been appointed to the living of Holy Trinity in 1913. The work was paid for through a subscription list and a gift day was organised. The Church hall was added in 1982 on part of the old vicarage paddock. Funds were raised by members of the Church.

The Church is constructed of random horizontally coursed split faced stone with ashlar stone detailing to windows, doorways and corners. Openings have gothic spring point arch heads around window openings and include stone tracery sub-dividing the window vertically and glazed with leaded lights. The Church consists of a simple layout divided into five elements, the tower, porch, nave, chancel and transept. The layout is expressed in the external form of the building. The largest element being the nave roof supported by braced, king post trusses. The roof is finished with slates and all the gables have pierced barge boards. The 3 stage tower has paired lancet belfry openings, clock faces, angled buttresses, castellated parapet and large octagonal corner pinnacles. The tower roof is finished with lead.

A gift of a peal of eight bells was made in 1906 by Mrs Elkanah Woodhead, in memory of her husband. Until this point the clock had struck the hour on a single bell, loaned by the clock makers. The founders of the bells were Messrs John Taylor & Co of Loughborough, weigh a total of 2 tons 16 cwt. 1 qr. 11 lbs. The largest is inscribed with details of the gift by Mrs Woodhead. Due to the restrictions on space in the tower, the bells are struck rather than swung. In late 1969 the installation of electric motors to wind the clock was completed. Prior to this the clock had required winding by hand 3 times a week. During the 1920’s further gifts were made to enhance the beauty and usefulness of the Church, including two stained glass windows in the north wall, which were a gift from Agnes Annie Hillman of Kingswinford, Staffordshire in memory of her parents, Thomas Ferns Handford and Ann, his wife. The windows depict Christ the good shepherd and Christ knocking at the door. On 20th February 1927, the new east window, was consecrated by the Reverend J.H. Thorpe. This was a gift of Frederick and Gertrude Drinkwater, in memory of Frederic Drinkwater, his wife Mary, their son, Tom Harry and daughter Bertha. The window depicts Christ’s ascension and acts as a focal point for the Church. In 1929, Miss Drinkwater made a gift to the Church in memory of her brother, Harry Drinkwater and in consultation with the PCC it was decided that the pews, which up to that time had had open backs, should be panelled in. In 1947 Mr. and Mrs. Pickford made the gift of two wardens’ staves, one surmounted by a mitre for use by the Vicar’s warden and one surmounted by a crown for use by the people’s warden. In the same year the Church was blessed with a gift of a silver communion set in a specially made carrying case, in memory of George Basnett Grocott. The communion table, carved sanctuary panels and reredos panel were installed in 1958, as the gift of Mr J.E. Pickford in memory of his wife. These items were the work of Mr Frodsham of Congelton. Also in 1958, a cross for the communion table was presented by the Ladies’ Guild. In 1961 the Ladies’ Guild also offered to defray the cost of the installation of the choir stalls, prayer desk and chancel rail. Robert Thompson’s of Kilburn was commissioned for this work and also undertook the preparation of the new oak raised floor. Robert “Mouseman” Thompson is famed for the church mice he carved into almost every piece of his work and children visiting the Church love searching for these. The work was completed in 1962. Plans for a book stall (cupboards and shelving) were submitted to the PCC for approval in 1964. The book stall was made and presented by Mr J Aspin on 20th November 1964 and is now situated on the west wall of the Church near the entrance. By 1969 the old pipe organ, which had been giving trouble for many years, was replaced with a new Hammond C3 Electronic Organ, though the organ pipes were retained. Part of the original instrument was transported to St Paul’s, Compstall, for incorporation as an additional manual to the instrument already in use there. The Hammond organ continues to give sterling service to this day. The PCC received notice in October 1971 that a legacy had been given under the will of the late Mr J.E. Garside. This was subsequently used to purchase a new set of communion silver, presented in an oak box. A silver communion cup was presented to the Church by Mr John and Mrs Ann Wintle in March 2013 prior to moving away from the Church to be closer to family in Kirkham. The Wintles were both active members of the Church for many years with, amongst other things, John taking on the responsibility of treasurer and Ann becoming an authorised lay reader.