In the early nineteenth century a number of chapels and small churches were built in Cheshire at the instigation of a select committee, which included several leading gentry of the county, called the Cheshire Rural Chapel Society whose aim was to promote the building of chapels in the agricultural districts of the County.
Between 1837 and 1839 it was decided to build the church on waste land on the corner of Old Hall Lane and Chester Road. In 1841 the church was completed. It is of simple design, being built of brick with stone used only for the rectangular, mullioned windows, and other architectural features. A church of almost identical design, but without a tower, was built in 1837 at Handforth. These two were known as the ‘Sister Churches’, and in fact shared the same minister for twenty-six years. However, the old church at Handforth was demolished in about 1898 following the building of the new St Chad’s.
The granting of a licence to perform divine services at Christ Church is recorded in the Bishop’s register, 10th Feb 1842. Woodford was still part of the Prestbury parish and therefore only had a priest-in-charge, the Rev Benjamin Mashiter who was also in charge of St Chad’s, Handforth, and he was able to hold services in Woodford church only in the afternoon.
In those days the interior of the church was very bare, the western half of it being filled with forms, and at the west end, in the gallery, stood a small organ.
The second incumbent was the Rev Peter Wild, of Gawsworth, near Macclesfield who, on coming to Woodford in 1868, found the interior far from pleasing, the woodwork decaying, and the foundation of the north-west angle of the building giving way.
RENOVATION PRIOR TO CONSECRATION
In December 1869 renovation began, and Mr Bromley Davenport of Capesthorne met the cost of this himself. In addition, the church was enriched at this time by the gift of five stained glass windows, and a wealth of carved woodwork planned by Mr Wild. The woodwork was executed by a Mr W. Leicester of Macclesfield. In 1870 Mr Bromley Davenport became patron of the living, and on 29th July 1872 the church was consecrated by Dr Jacobson, Bishop of Chester. A district chapelry was assigned to the church in 1873, which meant that Christ Church ceased to be a chapel of ease to Prestbury, and Woodford therefore became a separate parish. - CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE