St Mary Magdalene's Church is a Grade II listed building located on Crewe Road in Alsager. It is an active Anglican parish church in the deanery of Congleton, the archdeaconry of Macclesfield, and the diocese of Chester.
The Grade II listed description given by Historic England can be seen at the following link: (
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St Mary Magdalene's was built as the parish church of Alsager in 1898. The only building in the town where over 400 people can gather in warmth and comfort, it's used not only for services and quiet prayer, but also for meetings, classes, concerts, exhibitions and fund-raising events - by schools, charitable organisations. Alsager Music and Arts and other non-profit organisations.
The church has been re-ordered internally - comfortable chairs have replaced the pews; kitchen, toilet and office facilities have been added along with AV equipment and a nave altar. SOURCE: (
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The three-manual organ was built in 1905 by Steele and Keay, organ builders who flourished in Burslem for around 30 years from the end of the 19th century. The organ was paid for with subscriptions from the congregation and parishioners of the church. It was dedicated on 1st February 1905 by the Venerable A Maitland Wood M.A, who was the Archdeacon of Macclesfield from 1904 to 1918.
Alterations to the organ were made by Rushworth and Dreaper in 1945, and by Ward and Shutt in 1978.
The National Pipe Organ Register lists the following information about the organ;
Cheshire Alsager,
St. Mary Magdalene [N04388]
Anglican Parish Church
Grid ref: SJ7955
Survey date: 1998
Organ playable
Builders:
1905 - Steele & Keay
1945 - Rushworth & Dreaper
1978 - Ward & Shutt
1979 - Unknown
Pedal action changed to electric;
Cases: Position N Chancel aisle Type Architectural
chancel case - Great diapasons; W case - Choir Viol de Gamba & Dulciana (all spotted metal);
Department and Stop list: Table with detailed description can be seen on the NPOR website.
Console: Stop type drawstop Label type ivory Label font Gothic Pedalboard radiating concave
Drawstops in a row of 3 in each department;
all couplers on left hand side unser Swell stops;
Couplers:
Swell to Pedal
Swell to Great
Swell to Choir
Swell octave to Great
Swell octave
Choir to Great
Choir to Pedal
Great to Pedal
Details: Blowing electric/hand Tuning Eq Tmp Pitch A=440
Accessories: 3 combination pedals Great, 3 Swell;
gt-pd reverser pedal
balanced swell pedal, right hand side;
Further information: Musical Opinion, July 1964
BBE.6.App; because of rebuild at St. Giles, Newcastle, Staffs, this is now the largest Steele & Keay organ untouched tonally (PhSm, 2002);
SOURCE: (
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