All Saints Church, Marple

The first church on the site was a small timber-framed building erected in the second half of the 16th century. The first recorded service took place in 1588. In 1803 the building was in a ruinous condition and it was decided that a new church should be built. In 1808 Robert Goldsmith was appointed as architect and the church was completed in 1811 at a cost of £4,000 (). A major financial contributor to the building of the church was Samuel Oldknow, a local cotton manufacturer. In 1816 a peal of bells arrived and in 1826 an organ was installed. By the 1870s the church was too small for the congregation and the building was unsuitable for expansion so it was decided that a new church should be built. The new church was built to the south of the old church. J. Medland Taylor and Henry Taylor were appointed as architects and the church cost £6,056 (). It was consecrated on 30 June 1880. In the following years some services were still held in the old church but its condition deteriorated and by 1964 it was considered to be dangerous and (save its tower) it was demolished. The tower was strengthened and the bells re-hung in it, making it a free-standing bell-tower. ==Architecture==

Tower The separate tower is in four stages with string courses between the stages. At the west is a door with a rusticated surround and a two-light window. In the third stage is a clock face. Above this are lancet bell openings. The parapet has plain pilasters and square pinnacles. There is a ring of eight bells. Six of these, which came from Stockport parish church in 1816, were cast by Rudhall of Gloucester in 1731. The other two bells are by John Taylor and Company and are dated 1963. Church The church is built in stone with a patterned tiled roof. Its plan consists of a three-bay nave with a clerestory, north and south aisles, and a two-bay chancel. At the east end is a five-light window and at the west end is a rose window. and extended by Walker in 1972. The parish registers date from 1655. ==External features==

The lych gate dated 1893 is listed at Grade II. Also listed at Grade II are a stable and coach house from the early 19th century erected for the use of the owner of Marple Hall when visiting the church, and the adjacent hearse house, also dating from the early 19th century. The churchyard contains the war graves of nine soldiers of World War I and two soldiers and two airmen of World War II. == Gallery ==

Image:All Saints Church, Marple 01.jpg|The stables (left) and the coach house (right) with the tower of the old church in the background Image:All Saints Church, Marple 02.jpg|The tower of the old church with the coach house in the foreground Image:All Saints Church, Marple 03.jpg|The gate to the old church Image:All Saints Church, Marple 04.jpg|The lych gate to All Saints' Church from Church Lane ==See also==