In September 2006 the parish of St.Giles church in Cheadle celebrated its 160th anniversary. The Archbishop of Birmingham, the Right Reverend Vincent Nichols joined in with the ceremony by visiting the Staffordshire church, and spoke of its importance, not only for its grandeur, but also because of the many people who have filled the church with prayer and worship over the years. | "The stones of St Giles' are full of the prayers of the people and it's a delight for me to be here for this celebration." | | Archbishop of Birmingham |
When the church was opened 160 years ago it was a phenomenon. It was commissioned by the Earl of Shrewsbury as his last throne, and was his great architect Augustus Pugin’s masterpiece. The church cost £40,000 to build, compared with the usual cost of around £5,000 for most churches. It’s known today as one of the most splendid and beautiful churches in the country. BBC Radio Stoke's Lamont Howie spoke to the Archbishop of Birmingham during the celebrations at St. Giles Church in Cheadle. Listen to the interview by clicking on the link below: You can see the church in 360 with our panoramic images, by clicking on the links below: See Also | 
