St John the Evangelist
Dukinfield, Greater Manchester
We are a lively, evangelical Anglican church in Dukinfield on the eastern edge of Greater Manchester.
The present building dates from the 15th century although much of the church was reconstructed in Victorian times.
St Michael's was built in the Perpendicular style with large windows and the church boasts some of the best examples of 15th century stained glass left in Britain, with 18 panels illustrating the life of St Helena. Buttresses were required with this type of building as the large window area reduced the strength of the walls.
The nave of the church is dominated by a 19th century three tiered pulpit, which is placed halfway along the north side.
The pews face towards it rather than the altar, showing that more emphasis was placed on the sermon than on the ceremonial part of the service that took place at the altar. The pews themselves are boxed with small doors for access.
They are of different sizes and would have been reserved for particular families, with the better off families nearer the front.