St Clement's Church

Chorlton's first church was south of Chorlton Green. The chapel, dedicated to St Clement, was established early in the 16th century, probably in 1512, as a chapel of ease to the Church of St James, Didsbury in the huge ecclesiastical parish of Manchester in the Diocese of Lichfield. The chapel was replaced by another brick-built chapel in 1779. For about 35 years it was Roman Catholic, until the separation from Rome under King Henry VIII. By 1860 there was a need for a larger church and the new St Clement's Church on Edge Lane opened in 1866, although it was not consecrated until 1896. Sir William Cunliffe Brooks, a benefactor to the township, did not support building the new church. Two of…

The architects for the new St Clement's Church were Pennington & Bridgen who used the Decorated Gothic style; building work began in 1860 and the roof was added in 1866 but the church was not consecrated until 1896. Three additions made by the architect W. Higginbottom are the north transept in 1883, the Lady Chapel in 1895 and the south transept in 1896. Features of interest are the octagonal southwest turret and the stained glass of the east window.