Christ Church, Princess Road and Darley Avenue, West Didsbury, Manchester,

The church and its associated rectory were built at the expense of William Roberts of Darleydale, Derbyshire a brewer in Manchester who owned the Crown Brewery in Hulme in 1851. In the 1870s he employed 62 men and lived at Oaks Farm, Barlow Moor Lane, Didsbury. He died on 3 August 1888, aged 82.  The church was situated on Christ Church Avenue, a new tree-lined road accessed from Barlow Moor Road through an impressive arch and presumably laid out at the time to serve both the church and Oaks Farm, the home of its benefactor. In 1932 work commenced on the extension of Princess Road southwards from Barlow Moor Road to link Manchester with the Wythenshawe estate. Christ Church Avenue disappeared under this new dual carriageway. Further road improvements were carried out during the 1970s to improve access to Manchester Airport and the M56 motorway. Originally the principal entrance to the church was by way of a large west door opening on to Christ Church Avenue.However, the road improvements of the 1970s led to this door being closed off and a new entrance created on Darley Avenue. The Rectory stood on Christ Church Avenue  and has since been demolished. Historically the area was part of West Didsbury and is still referred to as such by postcode.

The erection of a new church in Barlow Moor lane, Didsbury, has just been commenced. The structure, which is in Gothic style of Geometric character, or 13th century, from the drawings of Mr Henry Littler, architect, of Manchester, will consist of a nave with north and south aisles, transepts, chancel, and vestries. Provision has been made for 602 sittings. The entire cost of the erection will be about £11,000. [Building News 27 May Page 609]

The large and elegant place of worship called Christ Church, erected in Barlow Moor Road, within the parish of St James, Didsbury, at a cost of £11,500 was consecrated on Saturday by the Bishop of Manchester… The church has been erected in accordance with the plans of Mr Henry Littler, architect, Manchester. It occupies an admirable site at a point about a mile along Barlow Moor Road, and a little back from the roadway. It contains 605 sittings, half of them free. The entire cost of erection has been borne by Mr William Roberts of the Oaks, Didsbury. [Manchester Guardian 7 August 1882 page 6]

Reference    Pevsner: Lancashire: South
Reference    Hartwell and Pevsner Page 442
Reference    Manchester Guardian 7 August 1882 page 6
Reference    Building News 27 May Page 609

Revised January 2024