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By Chris Wilman - 2025
Image: (ref 4) - Birch Chapel
Burials in Birch Chapel (demolished 1846) - at side of present-day St James’ Church
Ancient chapel – Birch family.
Book: History of the Ancient Chapel of Birch – Google books free read
Pg155 (Ref 1)
Birch Chapel the earlier structure was erected, as already intimated, in the reign of Elizabeth. It was of brick covered with grey slates and consisted of a nave, the roof of which at its eastern extremity bore a plain cross and at the west a small octagonal turret or bell cot there was no chancel. A small cottage-like erection with a separate entrance on the south was known as the Dickenson Chapel. The entrance to the main structure itself was in the western gable.
Internally it was filled with oaken pews supplying accommodation for about three hundred and fifty persons: none of the sittings being free. The pulpit also of oak was situated in the centre of the nave near to the east end.
On the 4th of May 1753 a faculty was granted to John Dickenson of Manchester: merchant owner and proprietor of divers messuages or tenements and lands in the township and chapelry empowering him at his own cost to raise the roof of the chapel seven feet and to enlarge the chapel by taking down the wall at the east end and rebuilding it twelve feet beyond,
Excerpt pg156
extending at the same, the north and south walls.
In 1803 the chapel being out of repair, substantial alterations were affected by the curate the Rev Rowland Blayney at a cost of about £200, and in 1811 it was further decorated and an organ added towards the expense, of which Mr Dickenson the patron contributed £20.
The rapid increase which has taken place in the population of Rusholme since the beginning of the present century having rendered increased church accommodation necessary in 1845 the foundation stone of a new church designed to supersede the older structure was laid
The present church is situated about twenty yards to the east of site of the old chapel It is an exceedingly beautiful specimen of ecclesiastical architecture built from designs furnished by Mr James Macduff Derick of Oxford The style adopted is that known lancet...
Artware fine art painting of Birch Chapel (Ref 3):
Birch Chapel was built by the Birch family in the late 16th century. During the Commonwealth Period it was in the hands of the Presbyterians and was not restored to the Church of England until the ejection of Henry Finch in 1697. Until 1838 it was a chapelry of the ancient parish of Manchester. It was assigned as its District Rusholme and part of Moss Side by Order of Council, 14 September 1838, (London Gazette, 29 March 1839). On 13 May 1845 the foundation stone of a new church was laid and work completed in 1846. The old chapel was demolished, and the new church consecrated on 1 July 1846.
Map: NLS side by side: only evidence of Birch Chapel & new build replacement St James’ 1846 
Where are the burials of all the Dickensons etc. from the chapel? How to find out? It’s no longer a working church; renamed St James’ House.
Before John Dickenson 1 (grandfather) moved to Birch, here’s where they lived before. (Ref 6)
From the article (Ref 6)
John Dickenson (ca 1726-1810) who had the house when Prince Charles stayed, (this was the house in which in 1745 Bonny Prince Charlie was quartered) served as Boroughreeve of Manchester in 1749. The Palace Inn, Market Street.
In 1738 he was Lord of the Manor of Taxal and purchased four lime kilns there, maintaining a town house in Manchester. He sold the lime into Manchester. At the time the Peak Forest Canal had not been built so the lime had to be carried by horse to the customer. This involved over 85,000 horse loads being transported, carrying around 5,600 tons of lime per annum. He married Sarah Cheetham (1726-1780) of Mellor, and they had one son and two daughters. Sarah Dickenson (d 1836) remained unmarried, Elizabeth Dickenson married a knight of the Order of Malta, Chevalier Giovanni Domenico Palombi in Taxal in 1791, and settled in Naples.
His son, also John (1757-1842) we met briefly before when he purchased Birch Hall¹. He was born in Taxal and married Mary Hamilton (1756-1816).
References
1. Booker, J. (1859). A History of the Ancient Chapel of Birch: In Manchester Parish, Including a Sketch of the Township of Rusholme, for the Convenience of which Township the Chapel was Originally Erected: Together with Notices of the More Ancient Local Families, and Particulars Relating to the Descent of Their Estates. United Kingdom: Chetham Society.
2. Rusholme Archive: ‘A background to the family names & Birch Hall' : https://rusholmearchive.org/birch-in-rusholme
3. Artware - St James’ Church , Birch, Rusholme https://www.artwarefineart.com/gallery/st-james-church-birch-rusholme-manchester
4. Birch in Rusholme Parishmouse - https://parishmouse.co.uk/lancashire/birch-in-rusholme-lancashire-family-history-guide/
5. Manchester Libraries – 47 images Birch Hall https://images.manchester.gov.uk/collections/?s=birch+hall
6.Mr Dickenson’s House https://100hallsaroundmanchester.wordpress.com/category/halls/mr-dickensons-house/
