GENUKI Contents

Rochdale

Church History

Church Records

Nearby churches

St Chad,
Sparrow Hill,
Rochdale
Lancashire

Cemeteries

Church History

The mother church of the parish is of great antiquity, and stands on a commanding eminence, the ascent to which is by a flight of 124 steps. The church was erected in the 12th century, and has undergone various changes, alterations, and renovations. The local legend is, that the site of the church was, in point of fact, the place chosen by spirits and fairies for the purpose. On several occasions, as the story relates, the materials brought together for the erection of the church, on an entirely different site, were removed from the place originally selected to the hill or eminence on which St. Chad's stands. That this removal was the work of superhuman agency, was the firm belief of our forefathers in those far-distant days; and we should be sorry to do or say anything which could in the remotest manner interfere with this time-hallowed belief, which has been handed down to us, and which, with vast numbers among us, is received with the greatest deference and respect.

The site ultimately adopted, under such supernatural pressure, led, of course, to the formation of the celebrated church steps; to ascend which is always considered a necessary piece of work to be performed by all visitors to our good old town. To come to Rochdale and not mount the steps is considered a breach of good manners, as well as a serious deprivation of a very agreeable exercise. The steps, in fact, are among our most cherished possessions; and they form a most important thoroughfare, with which it would be very unwise to intermeddle to the great prejudice of the inhabitants. [more follows on the churchyard, events associated with the church, its rectors and vicars]

'Rochdale Past and Present, a History and Guide' by William Robertson, 2nd edition, Rochdale: Schofield and Hoblyn, 1876 (pages 97-105)

Church Records

Register Transcripts

• Volume M20 - Bap, Marr, Bur 1582-1616
• Volume M28 - Bap, Marr, Bur 1617-1641
• Volume 58 - Bap, Marr, Bur 1642-1700
• Volume 62 - Marr 1701-1801

Maps

• this church marked on a Google map. (Use this to report a corrected location)
• Old Maps
• Streetmap.co.uk.
• multimap.com.
• www.magic.gov.uk
• Google maps showing nearby churches with satellite image option.

This site provides historical information about churches, other places of worship and cemeteries. It has no connection with the churches themselves. For current information you should contact them directly.

Help required

The information provided has been obtained from a number of sources and although every effort is made to avoid errors, just a few may be present. So if there are any please let us know. [Use the link at the bottom of this page].

We do not currently have the following information, and if you can provide it then please do so:

	We think we have the exact location of the church. If not please select the following link and please click on the exact location. The arrow should move to the point you have selected. Please cut and paste the URL displayed in the Address/Location box at the top of your screen and send it to us along with the name of the church. Click here.
	Have the Monumentals Inscriptions on the gravestones been transcribed and published, and by whom?
	Have you any details about the history of the church? Old directories frequently contain such information, and if you can transcribe such information and let us have it, we can add it to this page.
	Who holds the records of baptisms, marriages or burials? Have any transcripts of the registers been published?

If you have any further information about the church that you think would be useful to other researchers then do get in touch.

Find help, report problems, and contribute information. Copyright © GENUKI 2004.