page_title: Tonge, Middleton
section_title: Landmarks
hierarchical_section_title: Tonge, Middleton / Landmarks
caption_attribution_description: English: Photograph of St Michael's Church, Middleton
context_page_description: Tonge is a residential and industrial area of Middleton in the Metropolitan Borough of Rochdale, Greater Manchester. It lies on the east side of Middleton between the town centre and its border with Chadderton in the Metropolitan Borough of Oldham.
  Tonge was formerly a township in its own right, until the area was incorporated into the Municipal Borough of Middleton as part of local government reforms in the late 19th century. Its area includes localities such as Moorclose and part of the districts of Mills Hill and Middleton Junction.
  Tonge Hall was the manor house for the township. The place-name of Tonge, although no longer widely used in the area, stills survives in the district in names of several streets and a long standing sports club, Tonge Social & Bowling club, established in 1923.
  Mills Hill railway station is located in this district.
  Middleton Technology School lies within this district.
context_section_description: St Michael's Church, Middleton has been a church at Townley Street since 1839. It was built to serve a new population created by the Industrial Revolution. During the 19th century changes occurred, including the coming of the railways and the growth of work in the area. The local community grew in numbers. By the end of the century it became clear that the church building was too small. The church was pulled down and a bigger building erected – its foundation stone was laid in 1901.
  In 1926, a daughter church was built on Kenyon Lane and called Holy Innocents’ Church. This was to serve the people of Tonge and remained open until 1978, when its congregation joined with those at St Michael’s.
  There have been a number of changes to the existing building since the beginning of the 20th century – the nave was built in 1912, the tower was added in 1926 and the Holy Innocents’ Chapel and Memorial area were completed in 1981.
caption: St Michael's, aka Tonge Church
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