History of St James

Didsbury is generally thought to date from Saxon times. The word 'Didsbury' probably derives from the Saxon 'Daeda's Burgh', meaning 'Daeda's fortified place'.

It is not recorded whether there was a church here in Saxon times, although traces of Saxon workmanship are evident in the stones used in the present tower which was built in 1620, when the 'Wattle and Daub' church was rebuilt.

It is thought that in 1235 Nicholas de Longford, Lord of the Manor of Withington, founded his own chapel in Didsbury by taking over the Saxon chapel.

The oldest written record of the church is that of the Bishop of Lichfield in 1532 giving permission to consecrate the churchyard for the burial of 'such as died from the Pestilence [the Black Death]'.

The 1620 church was dismantled, and a new one was built by Sir Edward Moseley of Hough End House who had become the Lord of the Manor of Withington. This is commemorated by the stone over the North Door which gives the date and names Sir Edward as patron:

Sr.EMK: FOUN Sir Edward Moseley Knight: Founders
AMWID: DERS Anne Moseley, Widow
EMESQ: SrGBK Edward Moseley Esq. Patron
PATRON: BARONET Sir George [Booth or Barlow] Knight, Baronet
16 Erected Anno Domini 1620
ANO DMN/20 -

In the eighteenth century, Lady Ann Bland, a daughter of Edward Moseley of Hulme, became Patron. Lady Ann was responsible for the building of St Ann's Church in Manchester. In 1770 she obtained permission to rebuild the nave and chancel of St James' Church, and today the church is substantially the same as it was in Lady Ann's time.

In 1871 a new chancel was built by Miss Barnes in memory of her father and mother.

In 1885 the church was thoroughly restored, and the old-fashioned, high-backed pews were removed. A large entrance was opened out through the tower to the West Door, and the walls were lined with brick. The Lych Gate dates from 1879; the organ, built by Messrs. Jardine & Co. of Manchester, was installed in 1896.

On the South wall of the transept is a monument to Sir Edward Moseley, his two wives, two sons and two daughters (behind the sons). Sir Nicholas was Lord Mayor of London in 1599. He was also Lord of the Manor of Manchester and was buried in Didsbury in 1612.

The lectern (1905) is a replica of one in Worcester Cathedral and represents the Angel with the Everlasting Gospel (Revelation 14:6).

The chancel floor was laid in 1911 and is white Sicilian marble and green Swedish marble. The pulpit and chancel screen are of marble and onyx. The Holy Table is carved out of solid oak, grown near Lichfield, and represents the call of St James (our patron saint). It is placed on a base of Tinos marble. The Communion rail is of white marble with onyx coping. The Cross dates from 1927.

The sounding board over the pulpit is of English oak, and the three medallions are a mosaic of mother-of-pearl and ebony.

The stained glass is from the nineteenth century and is mostly commemorative.

The peal of six bells dates from 1727. The bells were retuned and rehung in 1976.

The Communion silver is of various dates and includes a Flagon from 1753 and a small Paten dated 1741.

The Registers date from 1561 and include the record of the baptism of Edward Barlow on 30 November 1585. He became a Benedictine priest and took the name Father Ambrose. He was arrested on Easter Sunday 1615 and was accused of being a papist. He was beheaded in Lancaster in September of the same year. In 1929 he was canonised and is the patron saint of the Roman Catholic church on Princess Road, West Didsbury.

Another entry in the Registers recalls the Civil War: '1642 - Mr Thomas Hebblethwaite was buried at Didsburie the xxiiith [23rd] of September. This gentleman came Anno Dni 1642 against Manchestr & was slaine at the seige there & was brought to Didsburie to bee buryed by Mr Turner Schoolmaster.'
The Parish formerly extended over Moss Side, Burnage, Chorlton, Levenshulme, Rusholme, Withington, Birch, Reddish, Heaton Norris, Barlow Moor and Didsbury. During its existence the church has belonged to three dioceses: Lichfield, Chester and Manchester.

Our ancient churches like St James are treasure-houses of history and tradition. Our church today needs to be aware of its history, for our roots can nourish us and quicken our faith to embrace God's adventure for our future.
More important than these stones are the living stones of the people who week by week worship in this building, as generations have done for countless years, and are strengthened by the reality of the presence of the Living God and go forth to serve Him in His world.

We welcome you as visitors and hope that the evidence of the faith of our forefathers will strengthen your faith in Christ today.

Most of all, if you live in this area, we hope that you will feel that you can belong to Christ's Church and join in the worship in the church on Sundays. If you are a visitor from afar, we pray that you will be blessed in your walk with Christ, and that your Church Fellowship will grow in the power of the Holy Spirit.