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We have been here for some time |
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Before 1558 the area now known as Newchapel was called Thursfield (a more modern village of that name still exists within the current parish) and was then a part of the much larger parish of Wolstanton. In the reign of Edward I, a document called "Taxates Ecclesiastics" from the year 1288, states that a chapel was built at the cost of £26-13s-6d. This chapel may have been at Thursfield as there was no other in the parish of Wolstanton.
 At the beginning of the reign of Queen Elizabeth I in 1558, a new Chapel of stone was built, so giving the village its present name. This chapel stood until the rebuilding in 1766/7. A new church was built in 1766/7 to replace the stone one and is described as being a modern and very plain brick building. The interior measured 48 feet by 36 feet. There was a large porch at the west end in which was a vestry room and a small gallery staircase. Over the gallery was a cupola bell tower containing one bell.
The church remained in the parish of Wolstanton and was a perpetual curacy until 14th July 1846 when it became a parish and the living a vicarage. The vicar at this time was the Rev. Thurston Forshaw who died in 1878 and is buried in the churchyard along with his son, daughter and wife.
The vicarage was built in 1850 at a cost of £700.
The church was rebuilt in 1880 at a cost of £2,675 and this is the current church which was concecrated on 14th February 1880. The style is early English, and consisted of a nave with south porch. It has a western turret containing one bell and originally had seating for 300 people.
 A chancel, vestries and organ chamber were added in 1914 at a cost of £1,370. The foundation stone was laid by Robert Heath Esq. whose family employed many men from the parish in the mines and forges. He built and owned many of the houses in which they lived. A Flemish window at the east end, depicting the Ascension was given by Mr W. Myatt. Choir stalls, pulpit and chancel screen were made by men of the villiage and four memorial windows were added in 1921. One window commemorates the fallen of the 1914-18 war, another window and a processional cross were presented to the church by the Wall's family of Packmoor.
During the 1950's the bell became unsafe and recording apparatus was presented to the church.
Inside the church, extensive alterations have taken place which reflect the church's aim to adapt to the needs of its contempory congregation. Thus the foyer and coffee bar area, a popular after service gathering spot, leads upstairs to fully fitted kitchen, meeting room and quiet prayer room. This utilisation of the roof space provides a venue for various church groups, from the elderly luncheon club, 'Tiddlers Toddlers & Friends' Club, Teenage groups and Sunday morning 'Trekkers' (Sunday School) group.
Directly opposite the church gates is situated the building which once housed Newchapel Free Grammer School, bequeathed by Dr. Robert Hulme of Sandbach in 1708. The house next to it was for the boys who boarded at the school to lodge in.
Turning left from the church gates, walking down past the 'Grapes' public house, the building at the junction which is now Electrowind, once housed the National School, which was an Anglican system of education before the days of compulsory state education. The National School at Newchapel could take 240 children, but in 1896 the average attendance was 180, perhaps due to competition from the Board Schools.
This building was for many years used by St James as its church hall until it was bought by Electrowind.
Acknowledgment - Some information of the early history taken from "The History of the Parish of Newchapel" by B. Machin
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Our Stained Glass Windows |
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 This group of Flemish windows rise above the Holy Table at the East end of the church.
They depict the Ascension of Jesus from the Mount of Olives following his death, resurrection and appearances to the disciples and others. It stands in front of the congregation and is a constant reminder of the certain hope of new life in heaven that awaits all those who believe in Jesus. His disciples are around him and in two small round windows above the main group are images of heavenly cherubim.
The window was given by Mr William Myatt of Harriseahead in memory of his wife, Tamar Myatt in 1914.
This pair of windows, on the North side of the church, were erected as a tribute of appreciation of the loyalty and service of our returned soldiers in their efforts for Englands honour and safety during the first world war 1914-1918.
The left-hand window has the caption Here I am, send me and echos the words of Isaiah chapter 6 verse 8 as he declared his willingness to answer Gods call.
The right-hand window has the caption Well done good and faithful servant, Gods words of appreciation and encouragement from Matthew chapter 25 verses 21 and 23 to those who use well the resources he gives them.
 This window, on the South side of the church, shows Jesus carrying a lantern, and has the caption I am The Light of the World.
It was presented by the Wall family in loving memory of Henry, son of Joseph and Harriet Wall, who died 6th September 1957.
Miss Ester was a teacher at what was the National School (now a private dwelling) across the road from the church.
This window, on the North side of the church, shows Jesus as our Healer. It has the caption I say unto thee arise. A reminder that if we have need of healing, either physical or spiritual, then Jesus is both willing and able to meet our need.
The window was given in sweet remembrance of Lilian Dora Wright of Newchapel. Erected by the members of her family in 1921.
Church records show that Dora Wright died in 1917 aged 16 years. She lived in High Street, Newchapel and was possibly the daughter of the local policeman.
 This window, on the North side of the church, shows Jesus as The Good Shepherd.
It was erected by the choir and parishioners in memory of Mr W.R. Green, late organist, choirmaster and schoolmaster of Newchapel.
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James Brindley - Canal Builder |
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 The most famous person to have lived in the Newchapel area was James Brindley, known for his contribution to the waterway system of this country. He was responsible for inventing canal locks, a model of which, he constructed in the garden at Turnhurst Hall (now demolished) which he rented from the Alsager family.
Josiah Wedgwood, the famous potter, took a great interest in his work, since with the construction of canals, an easy and smooth means of transport was provided between the Potteries and Liverpool for the growing pottery industry, to replace transport by pack horse along rough and muddy tracks.
On 8th December 1765 at St. Margarets Parish Church, Wolstanton, James Brindley married Anne Henshall, daughter of John Henshall, land surveyor who lived at Bent House (Packmoor - then known as Bent) New Chapel. Anne was just 19 years of age, whilst James was 49. They went to live at Turnhurst Hall which was a country mansion. It provided an ideal base for Brindleys activities, being close to his workshops in the nearby town of Burslem, the work he was doing at Goldenhill colliery and the forthcoming project of constructing the Grand Trunk Canal, which would connect the river Trent to the Mersey.
Unfortunately, the hall was demolished in 1929 and all that remained to show its location was a pond with an island in the middle, off Turnhurst Road. The model lock gates of James Brindley were removed to the science museum in London. A public house named 'Brindleys Lock' is now built on the site and other discovered remains of his work were removed to the local city museum.
Josiah Wedgwood and the management trust of the Trent and Mersey Canal Company decided to construct a branch canal from the summit at Etruria, Stoke-on-Trent, to Froghall in the valley of the river Churnet. Brindley surveyed the route and in September 1772 had reached Froghall. He got soaked to the skin, caught a chill, was taken to an inn in the village of Ipstones nearby and put into a damp bed. He became seriously ill and was taken to his home at Turnhurst. The eminent scientist and physician Erasmus Darwin, friend of Josiah Wedgwood, and the grandfather of Charles Darwin was called in. He diagnosed the malady that had troubled Brindley for several years as diabetes.
It was now too late, the patient was beyond human help. On September 26th 1772 Wedgwood wrote to his partner Thomas Bentley: "Poor Mr. Brindley has nearly finished his course in this world. He says he must leave us, and indeed I do not expect to find him alive in the morning. His disorder, I think I told you, is a diabetes, and this malady he has had upon him for seven years past most probably, which occasioned his constant fever and thirst, though I believe not one of his doctors found it out till Dr Darwin discovered it in the present illness, which, I fear, will deprive us of a valuable friend, and the world of one of the great Geniuses who seldom live to see justice done to their singular abilities, but must trust to future ages for that tribute of praise and fair fame they so greatly merit from their fellow mortals."
On September 28th 1772 Wedgwood wrote again: "I told you in my last letter that Brindley was extremely ill, and I have the grief to tell you that he is now no more. He died on the 27th inst. about 12 noon, after giving him something to wet his mouth, he said, "It's enough, I shall need no more", and shut his eyes, never more to open."
 So, James Brindley died in 1772 and did not live to see his dream of tunnelling through Harecastle Hill realised. The work was completed by his brother-in-law.
He left a young widow, Anne and two daughters. Anne married Robert Williamson in 1775 and had seven children. She died in 1799. Of Brindley's two daughters, Susannah married John Bettington in 1795 and they emigrated to Australia, had children and lived at Brindley's Plains, Tasmania. Anne, the other daughter, died on the voyage home from Sydney, Australia in 1838.
James Brindley was buried in the churchyard on September 30th 1772 and the present church (St James) at Newchapel is dedicated to his memory. His grave lies within the churchyard, just off the main drive on the left-hand side by the trees. The grave was originally marked by a raised stone tomb surrounded by metal railings. In the 1950's it needed to be repaired and was restored in 1956 by public subscription. This raised stone tomb is now gone and the flat stone slab laid at ground level. The grave is marked by a bronze plaque, given by local historian Mr. E.J.D. Warrilow. The plaque lists the significant dates and achievements in the life of this great engineer.
A small print of James Brindley (as shown at the top of this page) hangs in the inner porch of St James in the main entrance. The 'Brindleys Lock' public house has photographs of Turnhurst Hall and prints of James Brindley hanging on the walls in the public bar.
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St James Church - Ministers, 1533 to present day |
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Year | Status | Name | Comments |
| 1533 | Curate | Thomas Tunstall | |
| 1604 | Reader | Unknown | A Reader without Orders |
| 1626 | Curate | William Bourne, M.A. | |
| 1634 | Curate | Ralph Tunstall | |
| 1641 | Curate | Richard Bourne, M.A. | |
| 1657 | Curate | Thomas Dresser | |
| 1658 | Curate | James Haydock | |
| 16?? | Curate | ?? Davenport | Ejected 1662 |
| ???? | Curate | Roger Hawson | Resigned? 1734 |
| 1734 | Curate | Ralph Baddiley | |
| 1741 | Curate | Thomas Malbon | |
| 1777 | Curate | Joshua Stonehewer | |
| 1790 | Curate | Ralph Morton | |
| 1799 | Curate | John Lawton | |
| 1832 | Curate | William Carter | |
Newchapel becomes a Parish and the living a Vicarage |
| 1842 | Vicar | Thurston Forshaw | The first vicar of the parish.
Died in 1878 and is buried in the churchyard |
| 1875 | Vicar | Thomas Frith Salmon | |
| 1885 | Vicar | Charles David Rae, M.A. | |
| 1892 | Vicar | John Parkinson Bygott, M.A. | |
| 1905 | Vicar | Elmitt Raithby Browne, M.A. | |
| 1908 | Vicar | Ernest Lloyd Stacey | |
| 1910 | Vicar | John Francis Hewitt, M.A. | |
| 1916 | Vicar | John George Hamlet, B.A. | |
| 1921 | Vicar | George Andrew Montagu Griffiths, M.A. | |
| 1927 | Vicar | John Lionel Monk, B.A., L.Th., Hon. C.F. | |
| 1949 | Vicar | Joseph John Williams | |
| 1955 | Vicar | Ronald Gordon Paisley | |
| 1961 | Vicar | Roger Lyne, M.A. | |
| 1965 | Vicar | Frank Dyson | |
| 1978 | Vicar | Edwin John Ablett | |
| 1983 to 1993 | Vicar | Paul Howard | |
| 1994 to date | Vicar | William E. Slater | Appointed as Rural Dean 1999 |
| 1997 to 2000 | Curate | Nigel Irons | The first parish Curate working under the incumbant |
| 2001 to 2004 | Curate | Martin Stephens | |
| 2006 to 2009 | Curate | Christine Broad | |
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