Christ Church, Macclesfield

The north elevation of the church

The church is built in brick with stone facings in Georgian style. Its plan consists of a tower at the west end, a nave and a short chancel. The tower has west and north doors. Above the west door is a window with an elliptical head. The third stage contains elliptical windows, some of which are blind, and above these clock faces. The belfry windows are of two lights and louvred. The top has an embattled parapet above a cornice. The exterior of the nave and chancel are expressed as two storeys, with a cornice between. Above is a parapet over another cornice. At the east end is a Palladian window with round windows and doors on each side. In the middle of the north elevation is a door with a pediment above. This is surrounded with rusticated stone extending up to the parapet with another pediment at the top.[1] The parapets of the tower and body of the church were originally surmounted by pinnacles but these are no longer present.[4]

Inside the church a continuous gallery curves round the north, west and south sides, which is supported by columns of cast iron which are encased in wood.[1] This is a very early use of cast iron in a church.[2] The organ is in the west gallery. The ceiling is coved with plain plaster panelling. The church contains box pews and a small marble font.[1] The stained glass in the east window is by William Wailes. There is glass in a window on the south side of the church by Morris & Co. On the south wall is a monument to Charles Roe in black and white marble dated 1784 by John Bacon. It is in low relief and carries a bust of Roe, with images of the church, Roe's silk mill and his copper works.[9] Also on the south wall is a monument to David Simpson.[4] The three-manual organ was made by Gray & Davison in 1875.[10] There is a ring of ten bells which are still used regularly.[2] Ten bells were cast in 1777 by Rudhall of Gloucester. In 1815, the two lightest bells were sold, and the 9th was recast by William Dobson of Downham. The tenor bell was recast by Taylors of Loughborough in 1902, and in 1947 they added two trebles to make a ring of ten again. Being a redundant church, there is no ringing for Sunday services, but there is a regular practice on Monday evening (usually 19:00 to 21:15), though it is advisable to enquire, particularly for Bank Holidays.

The three-decker pulpit and choirstalls have been dismantled and put into storage.[3] There are several items of carving from the "Macclesfield School of Carving" within the church. The most notable is a fine Edwardian reredos altar screen. This was dis-assembled during a restoration programme by over enthusiastic conservators to return the look of the Church to its Georgian original.